JOŽEF STEFAN INSTITUTE
Department of Complex Matter
Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Dynamics of Quantum matter

We explore non-equilibrium many-body dynamics in quantum systems that experience symmetry-breaking, topological, or jamming transitions. These systems encompass superconductors, charge-density wave, and magnetic materials.

Experimental Soft Matter Physics

The research is conducted within the “Light and Matter” research program. The interaction of light with matter is one of the most important fields of physics and optical processes are indispensable in many branches of modern industry.

For students

Are you searching for an exciting and innovative topic for your seminar, summer work, or perhaps for a Masters or Diploma research? Check available topics an start your research journey with us.

Job opportunities

We are searching for talents! If you are searching for PhD position, if you are a motivated postdoc or senior researchers, check open positions and proposed research topics.

Our partners

We strongly believe that collaboration helps provide opportunities. We collaborate with other research institutions, businesses and industry. Learn here about our associates and how to become our partner.

December 14 - 18, 2025, Krvavec, Slovenia
The Department of Complex Matter and the Department of Theoretical Physics at the Jožef Stefan Institute will host the 14th Nonequilibrium Quantum Workshop (NQW) from December 14–18, 2025, at Krvavec, ...

JOŽEF STEFAN INSTITUTE

Department of Complex Matter | F7

Understanding complexity through fundamental and applicative research.

Dynamics of Quantum Matter

We explore non-equilibrium many-body dynamics in quantum systems that experience symmetry-breaking, topological, or jamming transitions. These systems encompass superconductors, charge-density wave systems, magnetic materials and heterostructures.

Experimental Soft Matter Physics

Our research comprises experimental investigations of optical phenomena in soft matter, interactions of light with soft matter, as well as possible applications in photonics, information technology and medicine.

Department of Complex Matter

The research within the department of Complex Matter encompasses a variety of research fields, ranging from the synthesis of new materials to fundamental investigations of elementary excitations, self-organising behaviour and adaptive functionality in complex systems. These include anything from nano-biosystems and bio molecules to superconductors and nanowires.

The experimental methods used are suitably diverse, from synthetic chemistry to biomedicine, femtosecond laser spectroscopy and magnetometry. The experimental research within the department is strongly supported by theory.

Projects

Check the exciting projects that we are currently working on. Our projects page provides detailed information about the research we are conducting.

Publications

Learn more about latest and most cutting-edge research. The page provides the up-to-date list of our recent publications.

Facilities & Labs

Excellent experimental research is possible only with state-of-the-art equipment. Learn more about our labs and facilities.

Recent News

August 4, 2025
Researchers at Jožef Stefan Institute and Nanocenter (Center of Excellence in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology), led by Ass. Prof. Dr. Tomaž Mertelj, have discovered a new magnetic component that appears at the ...
July 27, 2025
Peter Medle-Rupnik, Nerea Sebastian and Alenka Mertelj from the Department of Complex Matter and Darja Lisjak from the Material Synthesis Department, in collaboration with researchers from Otto-von-Guericke University, ...
June 24, 2025
This month, we part ways with our colleague, dr. Hui Zhao, who will soon embark on an exciting new career chapter as an associate researcher in the Quantum Science Center of Guangdong- HongKong-Macao Greater Bay Area. ...

Events and Seminars

December 14 - 18, 2025, Krvavec, Slovenia
The Department of Complex Matter and the Department of Theoretical Physics at the Jožef Stefan Institute will host the 14th Nonequilibrium Quantum Workshop (NQW) from December 14–18, 2025, at Krvavec, ...
June 17, 2025, 15:00, Physics Seminar Room
Speaker: Jaka Vodeb, Department of Complex Matter, Jožef Stefan Institute
False vacuum decay – the transition from a metastable quantum state to a true vacuum state – plays an important role in quantum field theory and non-equilibrium phenomena such as phase transitions and dynamical ...
June 9, 2025, 11:00, MPŠ lecture room
Speaker: Giorgos Kastaros, Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA)
While Ge was used for the realization of the first transistor at Bell labs in 1947, only recently has it moved into the focus of attention for its potential for quantum information . In particular, hole gases in ...

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Would you like to work with us?

Are you searching for an exciting and innovative topic for your seminar, summer work, or perhaps for a Masters or Diploma research? Check the list of available topics an start your research journey with us.

We are searching for talents! If you are searching for PhD position, if you are a motivated postdoc or senior researchers, check open positions and proposed research topics.