3 Feb 2026
In a quantum simulator LMU and MPQ physicists reveal how subtle magnetic patterns shape one of the most puzzling states of matter - an important step towards understanding superconductivity.
Superconductivity – the ability to carry electricity without resistance – has driven decades of research. Yet, in many high-temperature superconductors, the transition to this state is not abrupt. Instead, the material first enters a curious intermediate regime known as the pseudogap. This mysterious phase of matter appears in certain strongly-correlated materials just above the temperature at which they become superconducting. In this phase electrons start behaving in unusual ways, and fewer electronic states are available for conduction. Understanding the pseudogap is widely considered essential for unravelling the mechanisms behind superconductivity and designing materials with improved properties.Continue