Symposium on Frontiers of Solid State Theory
Scientist for all over the world gathered at MPI to discuss the research directions of solid state theoretical physics
On April 28-29, 2026, the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research hosted the Symposium on the Frontiers of Solid State Theory.
This event brought together an international group of researchers and experts from different fields of theoretical solid-state physics for two days of scientific talks and discussion.
The list of speakers included Frank Pollmann (TU Munich), Pietro Bonetti (MPI-FKF), Julia Link (TU Dresden), Agnes Valenti (Flatiron Institute), Bartomeu Monserrat (Cambridge University), Johannes Knolle (TU Munich), Miguel Marques (University of Bochum), Jenny Coulter (Flatiron Institute), and Hanna Türk (EPFL).
New Frontiers: Quantum Materials and Method Development
In which directions is research moving? What are the main challenges the scientific community still faces today?
One of the central themes was the baffling phenomenon of quantum entanglement, and more generally, the behavior of massively entangled systems of electrons.
Needless to say, several of our speakers are actively working to tackle exactly this problem in their research
Frank Pollmann, from the Technical University of Munich (TUM), spoke about the possibility of utilizing different quantum computing platforms to simulate the behavior of quantum materials. Quantum chips can be “programmed” to simulate entangled states, allowing us to gain insights into the properties of these systems.
Still within the quantum realm, Johannes Knolle, also from TUM, discussed quantum spin liquids—a still-debated phase of matter with potentially far-reaching applications in quantum technologies—and how these exotic systems may help us understand materials that, somewhat puzzlingly, exhibit both insulating and conducting behavior.
Some long-standing open questions concern the famous cuprate phase diagram and the so-called pseudogap phase. Pietro Maria Bonetti, an independent research group leader at MPI, presented his work, discussing a potential explanation for the pseudogap phase based, once again, on highly entangled electron systems. (All roads lead to entanglement.)
The efforts of the theoretical physics community are also directed toward developing new methods to calculate the properties of materials in real-world conditions, with applications in energy materials and sustainability. Hanna Türk, from EPFL, discussed her work on surface–interface dynamics to understand the behavior of materials such as lithium triphosphate for use in next-generation lithium batteries.
Furthermore, Jenny Coulter, from the Flatiron Institute in New York, explained how interactions between electrons and phonons (lattice vibrations) can influence experimental outcomes. Her talk clearly highlighted how the continuous interplay between theoretical calculations and experimental results leads to a deeper understanding of the underlying physical mechanisms.
It was also inspiring to see how modern theoretical physics benefits from advances in other fields, particularly through the use of neural networks and machine learning.
In her talk, Agnes Valenti, from the Flatiron Institute, described how she uses neural networks to better understand two-dimensional materials, while Miguel Marques, from Ruhr University Bochum, discussed how machine learning methods can be used to discover novel quantum materials.
Another highly active area of research today is topology and quantum geometry. An expert in this field, Marton Monserrat from the University of Cambridge, presented his work on topological excitons. Excitons are bound states of electrons and holes, and due to their non-trivial topology, they behave differently from conventional excitons and could potentially be detected experimentally.
The symposium was a great opportunity to gain insight into cutting-edge research, while also fostering stimulating discussions among the scientific staff at MPI and the invited speakers.
We thank all the speakers for this fantastic symposium and look forward to the exciting developments in their research.
