Awards in the field of condensed matter physics for three JGU physicists
German Physical Society honors outstanding scientific achievements of Spin+X young researchers at the spring conference in Regensburg
At its spring meeting of the Condensed Matter Section in Regensburg, the German Physical Society (DPG) honored three young physicists with research awards for their scientific work at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU): Dr. Libor Šmejkal received the Walter Schottky Prize 2025, Dr. Robin R. Neumann the INNOMAG Dissertation Prize 2025, and Grischa Beneke the INNOMAG Master Prize 2025. The research results of the three were partly produced in the working groups of Spin+X scientists Univ.-Prof. Dr. Jairo Sinova, Dr. Alexander Mook, and Univ.-Prof. Dr. Mathias Kläui at the Institute of Physics at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. Dr. Libor Šmejkal has since moved to the Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems in Dresden as head of an independent research group.
Walter Schottky Prize for prediction of altermagnetism
Libor Šmejkal received the Walter Schottky Prize according to the DPG for his prediction of altermagnetism - a new class of magnetic order that brought an unexpected turn in the scientific community and opened up many fundamental and application-related perspectives. With his analyses of spin in magnetic crystals, Šmejkal has identified altermagnets and opened up new paths to sustainable nanoelectronics.
The Walter Schottky Prize for contributions to condensed matter physics honors outstanding work published in the last two years by one or more young physicists in the field of solid-state research. The award consists of prize money of € 10,000 and a certificate.
INNOMAG dissertation prize for investigation of excitations in magnetic insulators
Robin Richard Neumann, who moved from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg to JGU in September 2024, has been awarded the INNOMAG e.V. dissertation prize for his dissertation entitled “Theoretical prediction for probing magnon topology”, which he wrote while still in Halle. Neumann investigated excitations in magnetic insulators in which electrons are bound and do not conduct electricity, but nevertheless enable the transport of spin and heat currents. Magnons - collective excitations of atomic magnetic moments, also known as spin waves - play a central role here. Due to their special transport properties, magnons offer potential for low-loss energy and information transfer, which has led to the development of the research field of “magnonics” as an alternative to electronics.
INNOMAG Master's Prize for further development of Brownian reservoir computing
Grischa Beneke was awarded the INNOMAG e.V. Master Prize for his master thesis “Reservoir computing with geometrically confined skyrmions and their manipulation with ion irradiation”. Together with other experimental and theoretical physicists from Mathias Kläui's team, Beneke succeeded in further developing Brownian reservoir computing and transferring simple hand gestures to the system so that the individual gestures can be detected using skyrmions. Another focus was on investigating how skyrmions behave when the magnetic material is locally irradiated with ions - and how this process can in turn be used to improve reservoir computing.
The INNOMAG Diploma/Master Prize and a Dissertation Prize are awarded annually by the DPG Magnetism Working Group. The INNOMAG e.V. Dissertation Prize is awarded with prize money of € 1,000, the INNOMAG e.V. Master Prize with € 500. The aim of the prizes is to recognize outstanding research in the context of a diploma/master thesis or doctoral thesis and its excellent communication in speech and writing.
There was another fruitful contribution from Mainz at the Regensburg Spring Meeting: Kilian Leutner from Mathias Kläui's team initiated a successful and well-attended PhD Focus Session, with support from the group of Prof. Dr. Karin Everschor-Sitte of the University of Duisburg-Essen and from the group of Junior Prof. Dr. Philipp Pirro of the University of Kaiserslautern-Landau. The topic was the use of AI tools in science, particularly in the field of magnetism. The session also provided a practical and interactive introduction to the application of artificial intelligence in magnetism research.
Further links:
INNOMAG-Awards by DPG Working Groug Magnetism
For further information:
Dr. Alexander Mook
Institute of Physics
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
55128 Mainz
e-mail | web
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Mathias Kläui
Institute of Physics
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
55128 Mainz
e-mail | web
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Jairo Sinova
Institute of Physics
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
55128 Mainz
e-mail | web