Congratulations to TU Dresden on retaining its University of Excellence status! +++ All eyes now turn to JMU Würzburg, whose own Excellence evaluation in mid-April is fast approaching. We wish everyone the very best of luck and every success in securing the title this October!

Welcome to ctd.qmat 

ctd.qmat, the Cluster of Excellence for Complexity, Topology and Dynamics in Quantum Matter  at Julius-Maximilians-Universität (JMU) Würzburg and Technische Universität (TU) Dresden, brings together around 300 scientists from more than 30 countries to develop tailored quantum materials with extraordinary properties.

 

We harness topological effects and explore the dynamics of quantum processes. Working at the intersection of physics, chemistry, and materials science, we are laying the foundation for tomorrow’s technologies — from efficient electronics to robust quantum systems.

 

The cluster unites two of the leading research hubs in condensed matter physics, and entered its second funding period under the German Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State Governments in 2026.

 

More about ctd.qmat

300

researchers

33

nationalities

14

years funding period

2019–25 & 2026–32

1,700

publications since 2019

Events

    15 – 17 Apr 2026

    BeWISE - Women in Science and Engineering 2026

    The three-day English-language conference will take place in Dresden from April 15–17, 2026, and offers workshops and coaching sessions. Through discussions with established female professors, participants gain insights into academic career paths. The conference targets female researchers in the qualification phase of DFG-coordinated programs.
  • Wuerzburg-Festung

    01 – 03 Jul 2026

    Early Career Researchers on Flat Bands 2026

    Flat band systems have emerged as as a rapidly developing research area in condensed matter physics. From strongly correlated electronic phases to topological phenomena and unconventional superconductivity, flat bands provide a powerful platform for exploring interaction-driven quantum states. This workshop will focus on recent theoretical and experimental advances in flat band physics from the perspective of early-career researchers working in the field.
  • Circular, colorful logo with honeycomb structure on blue background and text CTD.QMAT26.

    28 Sept – 02 Oct 2026

    CTD.QMAT26: International Conference on Complexity and Topology in Quantum Matter

    CTD.QMAT26 is the third international conference of the Cluster of Excellence ctd.qmat on emerging quantum phenomena resulting from topological physics and its interplay with many-body interactions in diverse quantum matter settings, from topological electron materials to quantum spin systems and photonics. It will be taking place in the city of Würzburg, Germany.

Research

The Cluster of Excellence ctd.qmat develops tailored topological quantum materials and explores their potential for real-world applications. Focusing on the dynamics of quantum processes, ctd.qmat is laying the foundations for tomorrow’s high tech and pioneering new material concepts that go far beyond the silicon age, ushering in an entirely new era of innovation.

 

ctd.qmat brings together the world-class research of two leading universities – Julius-Maximilians-Universität (JMU) Würzburg and Technische Universität (TU) Dresden – and connects with outstanding partner institutions worldwide. Leading scientists from condensed-matter physics, photonics, chemistry, materials science, and nanoscience work together to translate fundamental research into revolutionary applications.

 

Beyond research, ctd.qmat nurtures scientific talent, strengthens public understanding of quantum technologies, and inspires the next generation of researchers.

 

More about our Research

Research Areas

Our latest Publications

Careers & Support

ctd.qmat advances the frontiers of theoretical and experimental research on topological quantum materials. Interdisciplinary teams work in state-of-the-art facilities at two leading research universities – Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg and Technische Universität Dresden – creating a vibrant environment for discovery and collaboration.

 

More about careers

Outreach

Kitty Q
Mädchen präsentiert Tablet mit der Katze-Q-App, Foto: Tobias Ritz.

Kitty Q

The mobile game “Kitty Q – A Quantum Adventure” invites kids and teens to explore the wacky world of quantum physics.

More

QUANTube
Mädchen mit Schrödingers Katze im Escape-Room Warum ist die Katze halb tot?

QUANTube

In the video series “QUANTube – Short Break Science,” young researchers explain fascinating phenomena from the world of quantum physics.

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Escape Room
Zwei Frauen vor orangefarbener KatzeQ-Wandgrafik, ziehen an einer Tür im Escape-Room-Stil.

Escape Room

Solve mind-bending puzzles in the Quantum Apartment to free Kitty Q from her half-dead quantum state!

 

More

RETHINKING PHYSICS
Frau betrachtet das Porträt von Merit Springer auf einer Ausstellungswand mit Beschreibungstext.

RETHINKING PHYSICS

A traveling exhibition celebrating women in quantum physics – featuring portraits of inspiring female scientists.

 

More

Jobs

News

  • Pressebild-2026-07-Abbildungjochenthamm

    How Surfaces Grow: Research Team Demonstrates Universal 2D Growth

    Crystals, bacterial colonies, flame fronts: the growth of surfaces was first described in the 1980s by the Kardar–Parisi–Zhang equation. Now—forty years later—a Würzburg-based research team from the Cluster of Excellence ctd.qmat has achieved the first experimental demonstration of KPZ behavior on 2D surfaces in space and time. The results have been published in Science.
  • Pressebild-Topologieimlicht-Abbildungjochenthamm-1920x1080

    Topology in Light: Würzburg Researchers Create Optical Phenomenon Inspired by the Quantum Hall and Spin Hall Effects

    Researchers at the Würzburg site of the Cluster of Excellence ctd.qmat have successfully transferred the topological quantum Hall and spin Hall effects to a hybrid light–matter system using targeted material design.
  • 2026-German-Japanese-Workshop-Hdslide-Text-1920x1080

    “A Fruitful Collaboration”: German–Japanese Quantum Workshop in Sapporo Brings Leading Scientists Together

    The Cluster of Excellence ctd.qmat is continuing its successful German–Japanese research collaboration. From March 2 to 4, 2026, the 2nd Japan–Germany Workshop on Correlated and Topological Quantum Materials was held at Hokkaido University in Japan.
  • Rethinking-Physics-At-Ifw-Dresden-Fotopatriciabaeuchlerifwdresden-1920x1080

    Women Quantum Physicists Take Center Stage: RETHINKING PHYSICS Concludes International Tour in Dresden

    After 61 stops across Germany, Australia, Austria, and the United States, the traveling exhibition “RETHINKING PHYSICS: A Century of Quantum Mechanics — Time for a Female Perspective!” is drawing to an end. It remains on view at the IFW Dresden through March 10, 2026. A public colloquium will mark the official closing event.
  • Adobestock-1664546096-1920x1080

    ctd.qmat Team Deciphers Moiré Superconductivity

    Writing in Nature, an international team of researchers has, for the first time, demonstrated a direct link between electronic states in quantum materials and moiré superconductivity. The theoretical framework was provided by a multi-site team from the Cluster of Excellence ctd.qmat.
  • Pressebild-2026-02-Ctdqmat-Fototobiasritz-1920x1080

    New Name, Expanded Focus: ctd.qmat Launches into the Future of Quantum Research

    Marked by a new focus on dynamics and a distinctive quantum vibe, the Würzburg–Dresden Cluster of Excellence ctd.qmat — Complexity, Topology and Dynamics in Quantum Matter — is entering the second funding period of the German Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State Governments.
  • 2026-03-Ercgrant-Vaynzof-1920x1080

    European Funding to Bring New Technology to Market

    The European Research Council (ERC) is supporting a feasibility study led by Professor Yana Vaynzof, Principal Investigator at ctd.qmat, with a Proof of Concept Grant. The €150,000 award will be used to explore a new, high-speed production process for efficient photovoltaic technologies.
  • Aparajita Singha standing with arms crossed in a lab, surrounded by technical equipment.

    Measuring a Single Magnetic Moment New Quantum Chair Launched in Dresden

    Aparajita Singha can measure single magnetic moments in quantum materials — a crucial foundation for future quantum technologies. She has now assumed her professorship in Nanoscale Quantum Materials at the Würzburg–Dresden Cluster of Excellence ctd.qmat and is based at TU Dresden.

  • Period 2: ctd.qmat


    Period 1: ct.qmat

  • Abstrakte Illustration eines kristallartigen blauen Objekts in einer nebligen Umgebung, Symbolisierung von Quanten‑Materialforschung.

    Surface-Only Superconductor Is the Strangest of Its Kind

    A new study by researchers at IFW Dresden and the Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat shows that although PtBi₂ looks like an ordinary shiny gray crystal, the electrons moving across its surfaces behave in ways never seen before. Intriguingly, the edges of the superconducting surfaces host long-sought Majorana particles — promising candidates for fault-tolerant quantum bits (qubits) in future quantum computers.