Czech physicists awarded Europhysics Prize for altermagnetism discovery

Czech physicists Libor Šmejkal, Jairo Sinova, and Tomáš Jungwirth have been awarded the Europhysics Prize 2026 for their discovery of altermagnetism. This discovery identifies a third fundamental class of magnetic ordering, alongside ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism, challenging over a century of scientific understanding.

Altermagnets possess a highly ordered internal structure that allows them to control electron flow similarly to classical magnets, but without producing a disruptive external magnetic field. This unique combination of properties makes them highly promising for the development of faster, more energy-efficient electronics and advanced quantum materials.

The researchers, who were affiliated with the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences at the time of their work, provided a systematic classification of magnetic phases in 2021 that identified hundreds of potential materials. Their theoretical predictions have since sparked rapid experimental research and new scientific programs across Europe, North America, and Asia.