HYBRID: Quantum Anomalies in Condensed Matter

This lecture will be held in presence at Magnus-Haus and can be followed online at the same time. Use the links above to register your attendance in person on site or to receive access data for online attendance. No admission after the start of the event. Please do not participate if you have symptoms of a respiratory infection (cold symptoms).

Topic: Quantum-mechanical systems that break a symmetry of the corresponding classical action are called quantum anomalous. Such systems challenge our understanding of fundamental physics and enable exotic and potentially useful response properties. While originally predicted in the elementary-particle quantum field theory for hypothetical massless fermions, quantum anomalies have been already realized in condensed matter, where the massless fermions arise as topologically protected quasiparticles. The perhaps most stunning phenomenon associated with quantum anomalies in condensed matter is the quantum Hall effect, which allows high-precision measurements of constants of nature using a dirty peace of metal. Other anomaly-hosting materials are considered as possible future replacements of copper as interconnects in high-performance electronic devices. In this talk I will introduce the topic of quantum anomalies in condensed matter and present some of my recent research results in this field.

CV: Maxim Breitkreiz grew up in Berlin. He completed his physics studies at Freie Universität Berlin in 2011 and completed his PhD from 2011 to 2015 at Technical University Dresden. From 2016 to 2018 he was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Leiden. After that, from 2018 to 2023, he returned to FU Berlin, working mainly as an indedendent postdoc, funded by the German Science Foundation. Since 2023 he is leading an Emmy-Noether research group at FU Berlin. His research expertise is in theoretical condensed-matter physics with the focus on fundamental quantum-mechanical problems in matter.

Following the lecture, there will be a get-together where participants can exchange ideas with each other over pizza and drinks in the Remise and the garden of the Magnus-Haus.

The event is sponsored by the Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Foundation.