RESEARCH
Chair of Theoretical Nanophysics
Quantum matter, many-body physics and quantum simulation
The chair studies the physics of strongly correlated quantum matter, with a focus on the development and application of tensor-network and matrix-product-state methods, quantum simulation, and quantum many-body dynamics far from equilibrium. Our work spans low-dimensional magnets and superconductors, cold atoms in optical lattices, lattice gauge theories, quantum information in many-body systems and the numerical methods that make these problems tractable.
Research at the chair is carried out in close collaboration with the Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology (MCQST) and the Munich Quantum Valley, and is embedded in a wide network of national and international partnerships.
Research Areas
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Tensor-network and matrix-product-state methods
Development of numerical methods (DMRG, TDVP, PEPS, MERA) for the simulation of one- and two-dimensional strongly correlated quantum systems, including fermionic, bosonic and spin models.
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Quantum simulation and cold atoms
Ultracold atoms in optical lattices as a platform for quantum simulation of Hubbard and related models, polaron physics, and analog quantum simulators of lattice gauge theories.
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Quantum many-body dynamics out of equilibrium
Thermalization, quantum many-body scars, Hilbert-space fragmentation, many-body localization, and prethermalization in isolated quantum systems.
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Strongly correlated electrons and frustrated magnetism
Hubbard and t–J models, unconventional superconductivity, quantum spin liquids, frustrated magnets and topological phases of matter.
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Reduced density matrices and quantum information
Reduced density matrix functional theory, entanglement structure of many-body states, and the interface between quantum information and condensed matter physics.
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Grants & Funding
Research at the chair is supported by the European Research Council (ERC), the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), the Max Planck Society, the Free State of Bavaria and further national and international funding bodies. Our groups participate in the following major initiatives and hold the following individual research grants:
Clusters of Excellence & Consortia
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Cluster of Excellence · DFG EXC-2111
MCQST — Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology
Funded under Germany’s Excellence Strategy, MCQST brings together physicists, mathematicians, computer scientists, chemists and engineers across the Munich research area to advance the foundations and applications of quantum science and technology. Members of the chair (Schollwöck, Pollet, Halimeh, Schilling) contribute to research areas on quantum many-body physics, quantum simulation and tensor-network methods.
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Bavarian Initiative
Munich Quantum Valley (MQV)
A joint initiative of LMU, TUM, FAU, the Max Planck Society, Fraunhofer and the German Aerospace Center, funded by the Free State of Bavaria. Its goal is to build a competitive quantum ecosystem in Bavaria and to develop hardware and software for quantum computers based on different qubit platforms. Members of the chair (Schollwöck, Pollet, Schilling) contribute expertise in quantum many-body theory and simulation methods.
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International Graduate School
IMPRS-QST — International Max Planck Research School on Quantum Science and Technology
Joint doctoral programme of the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, LMU Munich and TU Munich, offering structured PhD training in quantum science and technology. The Pollet group participates as faculty.
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European Research Council (ERC) Grants
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ERC Starting Grant · Prof. Grusdt
SimUcQuam — Simulating Ultracold Quantum Matter
ERC Starting Grant held by Prof. Fabian Grusdt, devoted to the theoretical description and simulation of strongly correlated ultracold quantum matter, with a focus on Hubbard-type models, magnetic polarons and analog quantum simulators.
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ERC Starting Grant · Prof. Halimeh
QuSiGauge — Quantum Simulation of Gauge Theories
ERC Starting Grant held by Prof. Jad Halimeh, focused on (i) the quantum simulation and computing of gauge theories on analog and digital platforms, and (ii) the exploration of exotic far-from-equilibrium gauge-theory dynamics. The project develops methods to stabilise gauge theories on cold-atom and superconducting-qubit platforms and to probe far-from-equilibrium criticality.
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DFG Programmes & Research Units
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DFG Emmy Noether Programme · Dr. Schilling
Emmy Noether Independent Junior Research Group
Emmy Noether Fellowship of the DFG held by Dr. Christian Schilling since 2019, supporting his independent junior research group on reduced density matrix functional theory, entanglement structure of many-body states and quantum information in many-body systems.
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DFG Research Unit · FOR 2414
FOR 2414 — Artificial Gauge Fields and Interacting Topological Phases in Ultracold Atoms
DFG Research Unit studying artificial gauge fields and interacting topological phases in ultracold atomic gases. The Schollwöck group contributes DMRG studies of interacting quantum gases in artificial gauge fields.
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DFG Research Unit · FOR 1807
FOR 1807 — Advanced Computational Methods for Strongly Correlated Quantum Systems
DFG Research Unit devoted to the development and benchmarking of advanced numerical methods for strongly correlated electronic and bosonic systems. The Schollwöck group contributes matrix-product-state based impurity solvers.
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DFG Individual Grants
Further DFG Funding
Further individual DFG grants are held by members of the chair across the Pollet, Grusdt and Schilling groups, supporting research on bosonic lattice systems, quantum simulation and reduced density matrix theory.
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Max Planck Society
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Max Planck W2 Research Group · Prof. Halimeh
Independent Max Planck Research Group at MPQ
Prof. Jad Halimeh heads an independent (free-floating) Max Planck W2 Research Group at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics (MPQ) in Garching, working on synthetic quantum systems and far-from-equilibrium quantum many-body phenomena.
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Collaborations
The chair maintains close scientific collaborations with research groups at LMU Munich, TU Munich, the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, the Walther-Meißner-Institute, and with international partners in Europe, North America and Asia. We welcome inquiries from prospective collaborators, guests and visiting researchers.
Contact
For scientific enquiries and collaboration requests please contact the principal investigators directly. For all organisational matters concerning the chair — including visitor arrangements, institutional partnerships and research coordination — please contact the Chair Manager, Kathrin Higgen: kathrin.higgen@lmu.de