19 November 2025

Outstanding contributions to the application and development of analog quantum simulators

Dr. Lukas Homeier has been awarded the Theodor Hänsch PhD Prize by the LMU Faculty of Physics for his outstanding contributions to the application and development of analog quantum simulators to investigate unsolved quantum many-body problems.

In his dissertation, “Parton Phenomena in Doped Quantum Magnets and Quantum Simulators”, Homeier explores how modern quantum simulators can be used to address central open questions in high-temperature superconductivity and strongly correlated systems. Building on experiments with ultracold atoms, he formulated the Feshbach hypothesis, proposing a novel pairing mechanism for cuprate superconductors, bridging concepts from atomic and particle physics.

Homeier’s works spans a wide range of strongly interacting systems, from modern topics in quantum many-body physics to models with relevance in particle physics. His research explores new frontiers in quantum simulators to realize exotic phases of matter, where quantum fluctuations play a dominate role. His work opens new research directions at the interface of materials science and quantum simulation, demonstrating how quantum simulators can increasingly contribute to the theoretical understanding of complex quantum systems.

“I believe that the methods and concepts developed in his doctoral thesis will play an important role in the coming years in answering long-standing research questions in modern physics. Congratulations on this special and well-deserved award, Lukas!” said Prof. Fabian Grusdt during his laudation at the award ceremony.

Lukas earned his B.Sc. in Physics from LMU Munich and subsequently worked as an experimentalist in Munich and at Stanford University. He then pursued a Master’s in Theoretical and Mathematical Physics and completed his PhD in Theoretical Physics at LMU Munich under the supervision of Prof. Fabian Grusdt, during which he also spent extended research periods at Harvard University.

Lukas is currently a Simons Postdoctoral Fellow in Ultra-Quantum Matter at the JILA Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder.

About the Award

The Theodor Hänsch PhD Award honors particularly excellent dissertations in the field of physics. The award is named after Professor Theodor W. Hänsch, 2005 Nobel Prize winner in Physics and Chair of Experimental Physics at the LMU Faculty of Physics, Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics director and MCQST member. The prize is donated by the Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Foundation, a private institution that supports scientific research and education with an emphasis on physics. The award is donated to the Faculty of Physics and is endowed with 4,000 euros.