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100 years Schrödinger Equation - chemical landmark in Arosa
In Arosa, Erwin Schrödinger laid the foundations of quantum physics and quantum chemistry, subsequently revolutionizing science and society. This site has now been recognized as Chemical Landmark by SCNAT.
Erwin Schrödinger was a professor at the University of Zurich from 1921 to 1927, and during this time he revolutionized physics by creating a new atomic theory: matter – for example, electrons – has both particle and wave properties. This contradicted the prevailing opinion of leading physicists of the time, who assumed that electrons were particles. With this, he laid the foundation for quantum physics and quantum chemistry and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1933. Arosa played a central role in this scientific achievement and has now received a Chemical Landmark from the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT).
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Chiral surface states from 3D Landau bands
In a collaboration with the group of Philip J. W. Moll (MPI Hamburg), Mark H Fischer and Titus Neupert have studied the enhanced surface conduction in the quantum limit of the 3D semimetal bismuth. In particular, the researchers found an increase in conductivity as material is removed by a focused ion beam, a finding contrasting the intuitive expectation. Three-dimensional chiral surface states – 3D analogues of the well-known quantum Hall states in 2D – naturally account for the observed increase. The researchers' results, published in the journal Nature Physics, introduce a new approach for utilizing chiral conduction on the surfaces of 3D materials, offering a host of design options lacking in two-dimensional systems.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-025-03146-7
The figure shows the Surface spectral function of a Bi slab in a strong magnetic field, the inset scanning electron microscopy images of a microstructured bismuth.
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Physicists Met at UZH to Empower Tensor Networks
From 14–16 January 2026, the Department of Physics at the University of Zurich hosted FIXNET 2026, a three‑day in‑person workshop dedicated to fixed-point optimization in tensor networks for quantum matter. The event brought together leading experts and early‑career researchers to discuss recent advances in numerical methods for simulating strongly correlated quantum materials—systems central to phenomena such as high‑temperature superconductivity, quantum magnetism, and topological phases.
The workshop was organized as a Pauli Center workshop by a team spanning UZH, ETH Zurich, and international partners with support from the MaNEP Network and the Swiss National Science Foundation. With a strong lineup of speakers from major research institutions across Europe and beyond, FIXNET 2026 strengthened Zurich’s role as a hub for innovation in computational quantum physics.
Additional Information
- 01/26 100 years Schroedinger equation
- 01/26 Chiral Surface States
- 01/26 FIXNET: UZH Workshop on Tensor Networks
- 11/25 Zurich Instruments Award for Julia Küspert
- 11/25 Publication of Gehrmann group on Neutrino-Nucleon Scattering
- 11/25 Nico Serra: Bridge Discovery Grant
- 10/25 Johan Chang: Publication in Nature Physics
- 9/25 New Fundamental Physics Laboratory at the BedrettoLab
- 05/25 Quantum Century Exhibition
- 1/25 Zurich and the birth of quantum mechanics
- More News
Poster Award
Congratulations to Christiane Mayer, Johannes Wüthrich and Jona Motta for winning the awards for the best posters of the institute
