A team of three physicists has been awarded one of Europe's top honors in condensed matter physics for identifying a completely new form of magnetism. The 2026 Europhysics Prize, given by the European Physical Society, recognizes Professor Jairo Sinova of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Dr. Libor Šmejkal, and Professor Tomas Jungwirth for their discovery of altermagnetism. This adds a third fundamental class of magnetism to the two previously known types: ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism.
Ferromagnetism is the familiar kind that makes refrigerator magnets work, where atomic magnetic moments align in the same direction. Antiferromagnetism involves moments that align in opposite directions, canceling each other out. Altermagnetism is different: its magnetic structure combines features of both, leading to unique properties. The discovery has major implications for the future of electronics and spintronics, which uses electron spin instead of charge to process information. Altermagnetic materials could enable faster and more energy-efficient devices.
The Europhysics Prize is awarded every two years by the Condensed Matter Division of the European Physical Society. It honors outstanding contributions to the field. The three scientists' work was recognized for fundamentally reshaping our understanding of magnetism. The award highlights how basic research can uncover hidden phenomena that may lead to practical applications in technology.