Dr. Thore Posske
I. Institute for Theoretical Physics
University of Hamburg
Jungiusstrasse 9
22607 Hamburg, Germany
room: 4008, Notkestr. 9
phone: +49 40 42838 4997 (office)
email: tposske at physnet.uni-hamburg.de
Thore Posske at Twitter, ResearchGate,
Google Scholar,
and
Arxiv.
Research Interests
My research is about topology in condensed matter systems, quantum technology, and machine learning.
I am particulary interested in the application of topology and differential geometry for analyzing spin chains,
anyons, and Majorana fermions in the realm of topological quantum computing.
I also work on the Kondo effect with special focus on the Kondo cloud as well as the
influence of magnetic and superconducting materials on the edge states of topological insulators and hybrid
systems consisting of trivial and a topological states of matter.
CV
Professional Career
| 2023 - Present |
Head of Group & ERC Starting Grant QUANTWIST (Permanent), Universität Hamburg and Cluster of Excellence CUI:AIM, Germany. Focus on topological quantum magnetism. |
| 2020 - 2023 |
Head of Junior Group (Permanent), Universität Hamburg and Cluster of Excellence CUI:AIM. Focus on topological effects in solid states, quantum gases, and light. |
| 2017 - 2020 |
intermittet Parental leaves (14 months in total across 2017-2020, parts of it part-time work). |
| 2015 - 2020 |
Postdoctoral Researcher, Universität Hamburg. Focused on Majorana zero modes, topological quantum computing, and noncollinear magnetism. |
| 2014 |
Research Stay, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel. Research on topological states of matter. |
| 2012 - 2016 |
Researcher, Universität Würzburg, Germany. |
| 2011 |
Research Stay, University of Bristol, UK. Focus on self-criticality and artificial neural networks. |
Education
| 2012 - 2016 |
Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics, summa cum laude, Universität Würzburg. Thesis: "Dressed Topological Insulators". |
| 2009 - 2012 |
M.Sc. with honors in Physics (Grade 1.0), Universität Würzburg. Focus program (FOKUS) as part of the Elite Network Bavaria. |
| 2007 - 2010 |
B.Sc. in Nanostructure Technology (Grade 1.1), Universität Würzburg. Thesis on the Kane-Mele model with Hubbard interactions. |
Funding & Grants
Total Funding Acquired: €2,423,000
| 2023 - 2028 |
ERC Starting Grant QUANTWIST: Topologically protected spin states and quantum information processing. |
| 2020 - 2023 |
DFG Sachbeihilfe (Eigene Stelle): "Quantum-crossover of classical topological protection". |
| 2020 - 2023 |
Next Generation Partnership Programme: Funding for scientific partnership network on topology, spin, and superconductivity. |
| 2020 - 2025 |
Cluster of Excellence CUI:AIM: Multiple PhD positions and postdoc seed funding for machine learning and topological magnetism projects. |
| 2009 - 2012 |
Full Scholarship, Max Weber Program: Elite Network Bavaria (German National Academic Foundation). |
Patents & Awards
| 2024 |
US Patent No. 11,934,917: High-speed Majorana quantum computing. |
| 2017 |
Award of the "Unterfränkische Gedenktagstiftung" for an excellent PhD. |
| 2016 |
Teaching Award, Physics Department, Universität Hamburg (Best advanced lecture: Topology in Condensed Matter Physics). |
| 2016 |
Wilhelm-Conrad-Röntgen-Award for an excellent PhD, Universität Würzburg. |
| 2016 |
3rd Place, "Verständliche Wissenschaft": Klaus Tschira Foundation award for public science communication. |
| 2012 |
Wilhelm-Conrad-Röntgen-Award for an excellent MSc, Universität Würzburg. |
Selected Publications
Metrics: 1406 citations, h-index 17. Total 36 peer-reviewed publications (12 in high-impact journals).
| 2025 |
Chirally-protected state manipulation by tuning one-dimensional statistics. Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 063401. |
| 2025 |
Non-local detection of coherent Yu-Shiba-Rusinov quantum projections. Nature Physics. |
| 2024 |
Quantum skyrmion dynamics studied by neural network quantum states. Phys. Rev. Research 110, 104411. |
| 2023 |
Proximity superconductivity in atom-by-atom crafted quantum dots. Nature 621, 60. |
| 2022 |
Unique Signatures of Topological Phases in Two-Dimensional THz Spectroscopy. Phys. Rev. Lett. 129, 017401. |
| 2021 |
Bosonic Continuum Theory of One-Dimensional Lattice Anyons. Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 163201. |
| 2019 |
Winding up quantum spin helices: Avoided level crossing vs. topological protection. Phys. Rev. Lett. 122, 097204. |
| 2018 |
Toward tailoring Majorana bound states in artificially constructed magnetic atom chains. Science Adv. 4, 5. |
| 2015 |
Coexisting edge states and gapless bulk in topological states of matter. Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 136801. |
Teaching & Supervision
| Lectures |
Special Relativity (BSc.), Quantum Technology for Engineers (BSc.), Topology in Condensed Matter Physics (MSc.), Mathematical Foundations of Physics B (BSc.), Hands-on Quantum Computing (Practical). |
| Supervision |
In total employed 5 Postdoctoral Researchers and supervised 4 PhD students, and numerous MSc. and BSc. students |
| Theses |
Supervised 6 Master's theses and 11 Bachelor's/Internship projects (including MIT and DAAD exchange students). |
Public Science & Outreach
| 2022 - Now |
Public Engagement: Talks at "Kinderuniversity", schools (Girls' and Boys' Days), and "Ring-a-scientist" participation. |
| 2017 |
KlarText (Klaus-Tschira-Foundation): Science communication workshop. |
| 2016 |
3rd Prize, "Verständliche Wissenschaft": Helmholtz-Center Geesthacht, public explanation of topological matter. |
| 2014 |
Winner: First Physics Science slam of the Universität Würzburg. |
