Prize honors discovery of altermagnetism as a third fundamental class of magnetism

The European Physical Society’s Condensed Matter Division has awarded its prestigious 2026 Europhysics Prize to three scientists whose groundbreaking work has uncovered a third fundamental class of magnetism, altermagnetism. The honor goes to Professor Jairo Sinova of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Dr. Libor Šmejkal and Professor Tomas Jungwirth for their pioneering discovery, which challenges a century-old framework of magnetic order. Their research reveals that certain materials exhibit a novel kind of magnetic behavior distinct from both ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism, opening up new frontiers in condensed matter physics and potential advancements in quantum technologies. The discovery was made through a collaborative effort between Sinova’s team at Mainz University and Jungwirth’s group at the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague. During his time at Mainz, Šmejkal, who initially joined as a doctoral researcher and later became a postdoctoral scientist, developed key theoretical models that laid the groundwork for identifying altermagnetism. His contributions were instrumental in integrating modern symmetry theory with spintronics to uncover this previously unknown magnetic state. The breakthrough came after years of interdisciplinary research, combining computational modeling with experimental validation. Altermagnetism is characterized by the absence of net magnetization, similar to antiferromagnets, yet it exhibits electronic properties typically associated with ferromagnets. This dual nature allows altermagnetic materials to support highly spin-polarized electrical currents alongside rapid magnetic responses, making them promising for next-generation spintronic devices. The implications extend beyond technology into fundamental physics, as altermagnetism introduces a new symmetry class of matter and links to topological physics, unconventional superconductivity and strongly correlated quantum systems. The journey from theoretical prediction to global recognition began with early studies on unconventional magnetic transport phenomena, such as the crystal anomalous Hall effect. These findings hinted at deeper structural symmetries within magnetic materials, prompting the researchers to explore whether there existed a missing category of magnetic order. By applying advanced symmetry analysis, they identified a new magnetic configuration that defied existing classifications. Their initial theoretical insights quickly gained traction, leading to experimental validations in multiple laboratories across the globe. Experimental confirmation of altermagnetism followed swiftly, with researchers in diverse locations conducting spectroscopic and transport measurements to verify the existence of this new magnetic state. These efforts spanned continents, involving teams in Europe, North America and Asia, each contributing to the growing body of evidence supporting the discovery. As a result, altermagnetism has evolved into one of the most dynamic and rapidly expanding fields within condensed matter physics, attracting widespread interest and investment. The impact of this discovery extends far beyond academic circles. It has the potential to revolutionize data storage and processing technologies by enabling faster, more efficient spin-based computing. Additionally, the newfound understanding of magnetic order could lead to innovations in energy-efficient electronics and quantum information systems. Researchers are already exploring ways to harness altermagnetic properties for practical applications, with ongoing experiments aimed at optimizing material performance and scalability. Looking ahead, the scientific community anticipates further exploration into the broader implications of altermagnetism. Future studies will likely focus on refining theoretical models, improving synthetic methods for creating altermagnetic materials, and investigating how these materials interact with other exotic states of matter. With continued collaboration among international research groups, the field is poised for sustained growth and innovation, solidifying altermagnetism’s place as a transformative force in modern physics.