On the evening of April 9, 2025, the Free State of Bavaria awarded its new Hightech Prizes for the first time, across four categories. Recipient of the “Hightech Prize of the Bavarian Prime Minister” is MPQ Director Immanuel Bloch, honored for his pioneering work in experimental quantum sciences, particularly in the study of quantum many-body systems. The award includes a prize of €300,000, which is to be reinvested into research. more

The theorist explored the potential of tensor networks as a tool for describing chiral gapped condensed matter systems. His work showed how methods from quantum field theory could extend the range of applicability of tensor network theory. His results effectively render tensor networks a more complete and powerful theory for condensed matter, allowing them to describe a wider variety of systems using exclusively analytical techniques. more

In the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, the member institutes of the Munich Quantum Valley Initiative open their doors to the public. The first regular event in the series “MQV-Einblicke” took place at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics. During an introductory lecture and a subsequent tour of the quantum optics laboratories, the audience gained insights into quantum simulation and quantum computing with neutral atoms. more

In his PhD project, Kritsana Srakaew investigated how tunable long-range interactions of Rydberg atoms can be utilised in quantum many-body systems. His research focused on two key settings: subwavelength atomic arrays and itinerant Hubbard systems. His findings deepen our understanding of how Rydberg interactions shape quantum systems, opening new avenues for controlling light-matter interactions and studying complex quantum phases. more

Researchers at MPQ, in collaboration with the chemicals company Covestro, have developed a method for simulating chemical models using fermionic quantum simulators. The key advantage: The energetic states produced in the lab intrinsically mirror molecular behaviour. Mapping chemistry algorithms onto their fermionic quantum simulator marks a major step toward harnessing quantum computing for fundamental chemistry. more

A research team at MPQ has confirmed surprising properties of thermalisation in two-dimensional quantum systems using a quantum simulator with neutral atoms. The study demonstrates how the initial state can significantly influence the thermodynamic behaviour of such systems—unlike in classical physics. The results were recently published in Nature and provide new insights into the behaviour of quantum systems out of equilibrium. more

Philipp Preiss, independent research group leader, has secured an ERC Proof of Concept grant. These grants aim to bridge the gap between fundamental research and practical applications, helping to transform new scientific insights into tangible societal or commercial benefits. With his project, FermiChem, Preiss and his team will further explore the use of quantum simulators based on ultracold fermions to tackle complex problems in quantum chemistry.  more

For decades, quantum mechanics assumed all observable particles fall into two categories: fermions and bosons. Now, this dichotomous view of particles is being questioned. Researchers from MPQ and Rice University have investigated the intricacies of particle exchange statistics and shown that a third category, paraparticles, can exist under specific physical conditions. more

In his dissertation, Julian Wienand studied chaotic quantum systems and their description. His work demonstrated for the first time that such systems can be understood macroscopically as diffusion processes. The model of fluctuating hydrodynamics (FHD), which simplifies the description of complex systems, is therefore also applicable to quantum processes. These results could significantly simplify the analysis of quantum systems. more

A team of researchers at MPQ has found first signs of stripe formation in a cold-atom Fermi Hubbard model. Using a quantum gas microscope and a special mixed-dimensional geometry, they were able to observe special properties associated with superconductivity - a huge advance in the fundamental understanding of this phase of matter and in the academic application of quantum simulators. more

What does it mean to complete a doctorate or build a career in academia and science at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics? In two new video productions, students, young scientists, the scientific community as well as the interested public can gain a vivid impression of the ideal conditions for researchers to start or continue their careers at MPQ - and see why our institute is the perfect place for it. more

For 13 years, students have been visiting the PhotonLab to explore the fundamentals of quantum physics. Through guided tours of the institute, hands-on experiments, and lectures, they learn how light and matter interact and discover the role of quantum particles as the building blocks of matter. Recently, the student lab reached a special milestone: Silke Stähler-Schöpf, head of the MPQ student lab, and her team welcomed its twenty-two thousand two hundred and twenty-second guest. more