Ferenc Krausz, Director at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics and Professor at the Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, has been awarded the Széchenyi Prize, the highest state distinction for scientific achievement in Hungary, and the Jedlik Ányos Prize, recognising his pioneering contributions to ultrafast and attosecond science. more

The postdoctoral researcher in the Theory division at MPQ has been awarded the American Physical Society’s (APS) 2026 Irwin Oppenheim Award, which recognises exceptional early-career research published in the APS journal Physical Review E. He receives the distinction “for showing that the second law of thermodynamics limits the ability to distinguish between quantum states.” more

MPQ Director Ignacio Cirac has been awarded the IMPRS-MCQST Supervision Award 2025. The IMPRS-MCQST community honours him for his outstanding dedication to mentoring PhD students and postdocs. Johannes Knolle, Professor at TU Munich, is recognised alongside Cirac. The award underlines the importance of excellent supervision for successful research careers and an inclusive academic environment. more