Research

Quantum Information and Computation
Hans J. BRIEGEL

Bio and Nano Physics
Thomas FRANOSCH

Many-Body Quantum Optics
Hannes PICHLER

Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Helmut RITSCH

Mathematical Quantum Physics
Gemma DE LES COVES

Quantum Computing
Wolfgang LECHNER
News

Two new research networks
The University of Innsbruck is coordinating a new FWF special research area on the dark universe, which seeks answers to the biggest questions in modern cosmology. The University of Innsbruck is also involved in the new special research area on quantum systems of neutral atoms. The Austrian Science Fund (FWF) is funding the networks over a period of four years with around €4 million each.

Noise-proof quantum sensors
Researchers at the University of Innsbruck have shown that quantum sensors can remain highly accurate even in extremely noisy conditions. It’s the first experimental realization of a powerful quantum sensing protocol, outperforming all comparable classical strategies—even under overwhelming noise.
Events
Current Guests
Nov. 3 - March. 31: Arnau Lira-Solanilla, Universität Köln, Germany
Contact: Michael Buchhold |Topic: Scientific collaboration
Dec. 1 - Dec. 5: Lukáš Lachman, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
Contact: Arpita Pal|Topic: Scientific collaboration, seminar talk
Dec. 1 – Dec. 5: Karim Chahine, Universität Köln, Germany
Contact: Michael Buchhold | Topic: Scientific collaboration
Dec. 7 - Dec.12 : Ivan Vybornyi, Leibniz-Universität Hannover, Germany
Contact: Klemens Hammerer |Topic: Scientific collaboration
Dec. 8 - Dec. 13: Giacomo Franceschetto, ICFO, Spain
Contact: Hans Briegel |Topic: scientific collaboration
Dec. 10 - Dec. 12: Michael Scherer, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Germany
Contact: Michael Buchhold |Topic: Theory Colloquium
Jan. 12 - Jan. 17: Robert Raußendorf, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Germany
Contact: Hans Briegel |Topic: scientific collaboration
Talks & Seminars
Dec.10, 17:00 "Theory Colloquium "UV complete field theory in (2+1)D with symmetry breaking at all temperatures"
Speaker: Michael Scherer, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Germany | Location: SR 1, ICT building
Workshops & Conferences
Feb. 22, 2026 - Feb. 28, 2026: "International Conference on Quantum Optics 2026"
Location: Obergurgl University Center | Organizer ITP: Helmut Ritsch, Nicole Jorda, Laurin Ostermann
Jun. 21, 2026 - Jun. 26, 2026: "7th Seefeld Workshop on Quantum Information 2026"
Location: Seefeld in Tirol | Organizer ITP: Wolfgang Dür, Nicole Jorda
About us
The Department of Theoretical Physics is part of the Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Physics at the University of Innsbruck. With over 80 employees our department is one of the largest ones of the University of Innsbruck.
The doctoral college „Atoms, Light and Molecules“ installed in the year 2016 and funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF serves as a training center for highly qualified and motivated academic talents from the national and international scientific community and we are glad to be part of it. This further intensifies the cooperation among scientists within the Special Research Program BeyondC (SFB F71), which connects theoretical and experimental research groups from Innsbruck and Vienna. The consortium aims to develop and exploit new methods and tools to describe, characterize, validate, and manipulate quantum systems in order to achieve the experimental regime of quantum systems for quantum superiority, the ability of quantum computing devices to solve problems that their classical counterparts cannot. The Department of Theoretical Physics is also part of the Quantum Science Austria (quantA) cluster of excellence, which is further advancing fundamental research in the quantum sciences.
Additionally the technological capabilities have been improved recently by jointly used state-of-the-art facilities.
Contact
Department of Theoretical Physics
ICT-Gebäude
Technikerstraße 21A
A-6020 Innsbruck
Österreich
Institutsleiter:
Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Wolfgang Dür
Institutsreferentin:
Birgit Laimer
Tel. +43 512 507 52203
Fax +43 512 507 52299
theoretical-physics@uibk.ac.at
www.uibk.ac.at/th-physik









