Altermagnets: A New Phase of Magnetic Quantum Matter
Prof. Marcel Franz
Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of British Columbia
Thursday, October 8, 2026
4:00 p.m.
In-person: RCH 101
Abstract: Ferromagnetism has been known since antiquity, with records dating back to the 6th century BC. Antiferromagnetism, by contrast, was understood only in the 20th century, following the work of Lev Landau and Louis Néel roughly 80 years ago. Altermagnetism has emerged only very recently — first as a theoretical concept in 2022 and shortly thereafter as experimental reality. In this talk, I will discuss the symmetry principles and electronic structure that distinguish altermagnets from conventional ferro- and antiferromagnets, and that make them compelling for both theorists and experimentalists. I will also highlight their potential for applications in spintronics and information technologies. Time permitting, I will discuss how recently discovered metallic altermagnets may host unconventional superconducting phases which further expand the reach and the utility of this new phase of matter.