ScienceScience DailyScientists who discovered a third form of magnetism win major physics prize
Three physicists have won a major European prize for discovering altermagnetism, a third form of magnetism that had gone undetected for over 100 years.
Physicists have uncovered a hidden third form of magnetism that challenges more than 100 years of established physics. Called altermagnetism, the discovery could transform future computing and electronics while opening an entirely new frontier in quantum research.
Three physicists have been awarded the 2026 Europhysics Prize for establishing altermagnetism as a distinct third form of magnetism alongside ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism.
Professors Jairo Sinova, Tomas Jungwirth and Dr Libor Smejkal developed the theoretical framework by combining symmetry mathematics with spintronics over years of collaboration.
The discovery has already sparked research efforts across Europe, North America and Asia, and could eventually transform computing and electronics, scientists say.
Altermagnetism is now one of the most active research areas in physics and could eventually transform computing and electronics, though practical applications are still in early stages.
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