Europhysics Prize awarded for discovery of altermagnetism

The European Physical Society’s Condensed Matter Division has awarded its 2026 Europhysics Prize—one of the continent’s most prestigious honors in the field—to Professor Jairo Sinova of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Dr Libor Šmejkal, and Professor Tomas Jungwirth for their joint discovery of altermagnetism. The award recognizes the breakthrough identification of this previously unknown fundamental class of magnetism, which challenges conventional classifications of magnetic order and opens new avenues for both theoretical research and technological applications.

Altermagnetism, characterized by a distinct symmetry‑based spin texture that combines features of ferromagnets and antiferromagnets, promises to expand the functional landscape of spintronic devices and deepen the understanding of magnetic phenomena in solids. The trio’s work, conducted across collaborative institutions in Europe, has already prompted a reassessment of magnetic materials and is expected to influence future experimental and computational studies. The Europhysics Prize underscores the significance of their contribution to condensed‑matter physics and highlights the growing impact of altermagnetism on the broader scientific community.