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A new study by researchers at IFW Dresden and the Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat shows that although PtBi₂ looks like an ordinary shiny gray crystal, the electrons moving across its surfaces behave in ways never seen before. Intriguingly, the edges of the superconducting surfaces host long-sought Majorana particles — promising candidates for fault-tolerant quantum bits (qubits) in future quantum computers.
At the Frontiers of Quantum Physics
Roderich Moessner to Receive Max Born Prize
Professor Roderich Moessner, director of the Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems in Dresden and a Principal Investigator of the Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat, will be awarded the 2026 Max Born Prize in recognition of his outstanding scientific contributions to physics.
Highly Cited Researchers 2024 Unveiled
ct.qmat Celebrates Five Among World’s Most Cited Researchers
Achieving a high citation count globally is a significant benchmark in research excellence. At ct.qmat, affiliated with the universities JMU Würzburg and TU Dresden, five esteemed members have been named among the world’s most frequently cited scientists, solidifying the cluster’s status as a forefront leader in global topological and quantum matter research.
Topological Insulator at Elevated Temperatures
New Structure for the Electron Highway
Topological insulators could form the basis for revolutionary electronic components. However, as they generally only function at very low temperatures, their practical application has been severely limited to date. Researchers at the University of Würzburg have now developed a topological insulator that also works at higher temperatures.
children's university Würzburg
Of quanta and cats
In keeping with the international quantum year "Quantum 2025", around 600 children experienced the fascinating phenomena of quantum physics live at the Würzburg children's university.
Nature Rev. Phys. Shines Light on Grete-Hermann Workshop
Visibility of female scientists
Female physicists from across the world came together in Würzburg this summer for the Grete Network workshop on quantum physics. One of them, Dr. Julia Hannukainen, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Cambridge, UK, reports on the event in the latest issue of Nature Reviews Physics. Her insights were also featured in the journal’s editorial on women speakers at scientific conferences.
2nd Funding Period Approved by DFG
Cluster Renewed! 7 More Years
+++ The Würzburg-Dresden Cluster of Excellence is officially heading into its second funding period starting in 2026, as just announced by the German Research Foundation (DFG). +++ Our groundbreaking research into topological quantum materials will continue – now with an exciting new focus on dynamics. To reflect this expanded scope, the cluster will relaunch under a new name in the upcoming funding phase: ctd.qmat. +++
Quasiparticles Discovered on the Surface of Semiconductor Magnets
Luminous Magnets
A research team from ct.qmat, in a collaboration with an international team, has detected optical quasiparticles on the surface of an antiferromagnetic quantum material for the very first time. Previously, scientists only knew that these excitons could form inside these materials. The breakthrough results have been published in Nature Materials.
Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat’s Quantum Adventure Levels Up
Kitty Q – A Quantum Adventure: Dresden Escape Room Celebrates its First Birthday and Launches Mission 2.0
Germany’s first quantum physics-themed escape room for young people – “Kitty Q – A Quantum Adventure” hosted by the Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat and Technische Sammlungen Dresden – is celebrating its first birthday with an even more exciting gameplay experience.
Quantum Power on World Quantum Day
RETHINKING PHYSICS: A Century of Quantum Mechanics – Time for a Female Perspective!
+++ Traveling exhibition RETHINKING PHYSICS by the Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat opens April 14, 2025, at the Nicolaus Copernicus Planetarium in Nuremberg +++ Launch event features a lecture on electronic quantum music +++ Impressive portraits of female physicists promote diversity and equal opportunity in science +++ Part of Quantum2025 – the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, the exhibition will tour more than 50 locations worldwide +++
Prime Conditions for Future Quantum Breakthroughs
Groundbreaking for New Joint Quantum Research Facility in Dresden
Construction is now officially underway on a new research building that will house both the Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat and the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden – creating a world-class hub for international research into quantum materials.
Würzburg-Dresden Research Team Delivers First Experimental Proof of a New Quantum Phenomenon
Quantum Tornadoes in Momentum Space
A breakthrough that’s turning heads in the scientific community: A young research team from Würzburg has experimentally demonstrated a quantum tornado for the first time by refining an established method. The discovery has now been published in Physical Review X.
Welcome to ct.qmat
We are the Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat – Complexity and Topology in Quantum Matter. Established in 2019, the Würzburg-Dresden Cluster ct.qmat is a leading international center for research on topological and complex quantum matter. Our aim is to develop a deep understanding of quantum phenomena in general and to identify materials in which those phenomena are observed in the laboratory. This is supported by educating and attracting top-level students and scientists as well as by supplementing infrastructure in both Würzburg and Dresden.
ct.qmat in a Nutshell
ct.qmat unites two of the leading research hubs in condensed matter physics: Dresden and Würzburg.
Powerful Network for Cutting-Edge Research. ct.qmat’s Würzburg spokesperson Ralph Claessen highlights its remarkable achievements:
"At the heart of our research are complexity and topology, two exciting key areas in modern condensed matter physics. We’ve developed quantum materials with unprecedented features, such as manganese bismuth telluride. Our team has made significant strides in superconductivity, topological insulators, and topological lasers. From two universities and our external partners, a network has grown that’s truly greater than the sum of its parts."
Continuing the Quantum Revolution. ct.qmat is leading the way, says its Dresden spokesperson Matthias Vojta:
"We’re leading the field with our discoveries. Developing a wide variety of materials using state-of-the-art synthesis techniques, we’ve firmly established Würzburg and Dresden as Germany’s premier centers of topological materials physics. We’re driven by curiosity and a commitment to systematically understanding topological physics. We also reach out to the public, including by launching an escape room for kids in 2024. That’s something we’re really passionate about!"
ct.qmat Report Reveals Trends in Quantum Materials Research
In its Mid-Term Report, the ct.qmat Cluster of Excellence offers a snapshot of its research activities and highlights key developments. The publication illustrates the strong connections fostered by the collaborative project between JMU Würzburg and TU Dresden, linking two leading research centers in condensed matter physics. New ideas are already in the works.
