Dresden – world capital of solid-state physics

Vojta is researching quantum materials together with more than 300 other scientists in the Cluster of Excellence ‘ct.qmat – Complexity and Topology in Quantum Materials ’, a collaboration between Dresden and Würzburg research institutions. In the future, these materials will be able to conduct electricity without loss and store huge amounts of information, for example. They are usually researched under extreme conditions such as ultra-low temperatures, high pressure or strong magnetic fields. If they can be utilised in everyday life, they will form the basis for revolutionary technical applications. For example, ct.qmat has succeeded in developing a laser network the size of a grain of sand. At the end of August, ct.qmat applied for 70 million euros in new funding – with a good chance of success. 

After all, Dresden has not only made a name for itself in the global research community when it comes to quantum physics, but also through innovative science communication. Since spring this year, the Dresden Technical Collections have had a new, very special pet: Katze (‘Kitten’) Q. The cute, half-dead cuddly toy is the main character and namesake of the first escape room on quantum physics  for children and young people in Germany: 17 puzzles from the crazy world of quantum physics have to be solved – accompanied by the voice of comedian Olaf Schubert. The project was developed by ct.qmat together with award-winning game designer Philipp Stollenmayer. The escape room is modelled on the game app ‘Kitty Q – a Quantum Adventure’ by ct.qmat, which has been downloaded more than half a million times worldwide and won international awards. 

The Dresden Economic Development Office is also breaking new – and very successful – ground in science communication with its ‘Dresden Ambassadors’ video series. In its recently launched second season, Anne-Julie Zichner from Fraunhofer IPMS also introduces viewers to the amazing world of quantum technology  – and also takes a look inside the ‘Kitten Q’ escape room.  

So there's a lot going on in Dresden, the world capital of solid-state physics!

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