our mission

We explore the physics at low and ultra-low temperatures with special focus on superconductivity and magnetism as well as on the control of quantum systems in the field of quantum technologies.

 
06-06-25
High quality factor parametric quantum devices

WMI succeeds in fabricating Josephson junction-based parametric devices with exceptionally high quality factors

22-05-25
Cluster of Excellence MCQST continued

WMI to receive funding within the Cluster of Excellence MCQST for seven more years through 2032

31-05-25
Cryogenic link for Quantum Local Area Networks

WMI develops a cryogenic link for Quantum Local Area Networks (QLAN), serving as a backbone for distributed superconducting quantum computing

what we do
Our field
of research
01
Quantum Systems
We study the fundamental physics of solid-state based quantum systems and advance their fabrication technology to lay the basis for applications in quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum sensing.
02
Quantum Communication and Sensing
We study the foundations of quantum microwave communication and sensing. We also develop quantum microwave technologies for the realization of quantum local area networks and advanced sensing methods.
03
Quantum Computing and Information Processing
Our mission is to investigate complex quantum systems, engineer novel devices and educate students to advance quantum technologies for scientific and societal impact.
04
Quantum Theory
We develop analytic and numerical methods for modelling the quantum properties of superconducting circuits, nanomechanical devices, spin ensembles and hybrid quantum systems. Our goal is to identify improved protocols for practical quantum communication and quantum information processing applications, but also to explore novel quantum many-body phenomena that arise in such artificial quantum devices with specifically engineered properties and interactions.
05
Magnetism and Spintronics
We study the ordering of spins, magnetization dynamics and spin transport in magnetic materials to understand the formation of complex spin textures, their high-frequency response and the transport of angular momentum. We fabricate complex magnetic heterostructures and nanostructures required for advanced data storage and the next-generation spintronic devices.
whats happening
News & Events
06-06-25

Applications of superconducting quantum circuits in scalable quantum computing, microwave quantum networks, or quantum-limited amplifiers require the fabrication of low-loss Josephson junction-based devices. Now, by combining advanced fabrication steps, including rigorous surface treatment and argon ion milling, WMI researchers have achieved devices based on nonlinear Josephson resonators with record-high internal quality factors exceeding 10⁵ at the single-photon level. The low loss rates have been verified through microwave scattering and squeezed state microwave measurements. The low-loss superconducting devices are crucial for the quantum-limited amplification, frequency conversion, and generation of high-purity squeezed microwave states.

31-05-25

Quantum communication in the microwave regime is set to play an important role in distributed quantum computing and hybrid quantum networks. To this end, WMI has developed the foundations of microwave-based quantum local area networks (QLAN) for more than a decade. Now, we have reached an important milestone by demonstrating a cryogenic microwave link connecting two dilution fridges over a distance of 6.6 m. We demonstrate the successful distribution of quantum entanglement through this QLAN. The system was set up within the EU flagship project QMiCS and the BMBF project QUARATE with support from VTT Finland, Rohde&Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG, Germany, and Oxford Instruments NanoScience, UK. 
WMI Press Release

22-05-25
Cluster of Excellence MCQST continued

The Walther-Meißner-Institute of BAdW and its partners at TUM, LMU, MPQ, and Deutsches Museum were once again successful in the highly competitive Excellence Strategy of the German federal and state governments. As announced by the German Research Foundation (DFG), the Cluster of Excellence Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology (MCQST) will receive funding for seven more years through 2032 to further strengthen its role as a world-leading hub for quantum research. MCQST succeeded in building a vibrant ecosystem of over 60 research groups working across all areas of quantum science and we are very happy that we can continue this success story, the former MCQST spokesperson Rudolf Gross points out.
MCQST Press ReleaseDFG Press Release

22-05-25
Universality in Quantum Traffic

The world around us is made up of two different types of particles: fermions and bosons. Fermions  behave like cars on a road, where the motion of one particle is blocked by the one in front of it. In contrast, bosons are much more social. They like to cluster together, and traffic jams are unknown for bosonic quantum vehicles. Despite these differences, we (Y. Minoguchi et al., PRL discover a hidden connection in the transport of fermionic and bosonic particles, which only reveals itself when examining fluctuations on top of the average particle currents. Surprisingly, these fluctuations obey the same universal scaling law for both types of particles—a law that is also known to describe the growth of surfaces, the spread of wildfires, and many other seemingly unrelated physical phenomena.

02-05-25
Johanna Fischer receives EMA Young Scientist Award

Our former Bachelor and Master student Johanna Fischer (now at Spintec Grenoble, France) receives the 2025 EMA Young Scientist Award. This Prize is awarded every year by the European Magnetism Association in the fields of fundamental or applied magnetism to a scientist in an early career stage (PhD no more than 5 yeras ago). Johanna did both her Bachelor's thesis (2014) and her Master's thesis (2017) with us in the Walther-Meißner-Institut. We congratulate Johanna on this great success!

04-04-25
Educating the youngest generations

On April 4th, the Schoolkindergarten Weltentdecker from Neufahrn b. Freising visited Walther-Meißner-Institut to learn more about magnetism and low temperature physics. The visit was aligned with the pedagogical concept of the Schoolkindergarten, where the children have a weekly natural science class, performing various simple experiments and getting first insights into physics and chemistry sciences. During this visit, total of 19 pre-school children got their first touch to the superconducting levitation (Meißner effect), freezing of matter and Gummi Bärchen in liquid nitrogen (this was full success!), and other fascinating properties of the cryogenic liquids.