F-Electron Materials – from Fundamental to Functional

The frontiers of both fundamental understanding and practical technology lie in quantum materials. These materials exhibit unusual quantum behaviors - superconductivity, topological states, and strong correlations - that are absent in conventional systems. Understanding and controlling these behaviors can transform both science and technology, opening the door to new functionalities and paradigms.

Quantum materials with elements from the bottom of the periodic table have recently been shown to host a wide range of exotic properties. Despite these advances, many open questions remain. Progress has been further invigorated by recent theoretical and experimental breakthroughs in f-electron systems. This topic now lies at the forefront of inorganic chemistry, materials science, and condensed matter physics, underscoring the value of a synergistic, interdisciplinary approach. This workshop will bring together scientists from the United States, Canada, Germany, and Austria to address these open questions. A collaborative framework that integrates both chemistry and physics perspectives is central to the workshop’s design. Participants will range from early-career researchers to distinguished scientists, ensuring a broad diversity of expertise and ideas.

Although exceptional research is conducted in both Germany and Austria as well as in the United States and Canada, the field remains fragmented. This Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Seminar, to be held at Physikzentrum Bad Honnef, aims to bridge the transatlantic divide and unify researchers working on f-electron materials. This meeting will provide a vital platform to consolidate scientific efforts, foster new collaborations, and help shape the future of this emerging field - not only in Germany, but globally.

The conference language will be English. The Wilhelm and Else Heraeus-Foundation bears the cost of full-board accommodation for all participants.