Jairo Sinova, Libor Šmejkal, and Tomas Jungwirth have won the 2026 Europhysics Prize from the European Physical Society's Condensed Matter Division for discovering altermagnetism, a new fundamental class of magnetism previously unknown to science.
Sinova, based at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, led research that identified altermagnetism as distinct from ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism, the two magnetism types scientists had recognized for decades. Altermagnetism represents a conceptual breakthrough in condensed matter physics, expanding the framework for understanding how magnetic materials behave at the atomic level.
The discovery emerged from theoretical and experimental work showing that certain materials exhibit magnetic properties that fit neither conventional category. In altermagnetic materials, magnetic moments alternate in direction like antiferromagnets, yet the material displays properties resembling ferromagnets in specific conditions. This hybrid behavior opens new possibilities for technological applications in spintronics and quantum computing.
The Europhysics Prize recognizes outstanding achievements in condensed matter physics across Europe. Awards target discoveries with broad impact on the field's development. Altermagnetism qualifies because it fundamentally reorders how physicists classify and predict magnetic phenomena.
Šmejkal and Jungwirth contributed critical theoretical frameworks explaining altermagnetism's existence and properties. Their work predicted material candidates where altermagnetism could occur, which experimental teams subsequently verified. This theory-to-confirmation pipeline strengthened the discovery's credibility.
The implications extend beyond academic interest. Altermagnetic materials could enable more efficient electronic devices, improved data storage, and novel quantum technologies. Unlike traditional ferromagnetic materials that require external fields to control, altermagnetic systems offer intrinsic directional properties without spontaneous magnetization, potentially reducing energy consumption in applications.
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