Assoc. Prof. Dr. Denis Golež from the Jožef Stefan Institute and the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at the University of Ljubljana appeared on the RTV podcast Podobe znanja. In the episode, he presented his newly awarded European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant project titled Metastability in Quantum Materials and Simulators. The project also reaches into the realm of practical applications, as it opens up possibilities for the development of quantum switches, the discovery of a new state of matter, and novel approaches to quantum information storage.
Within this project, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Denis Golež addresses fundamental questions concerning the understanding of nonequilibrium phenomena in quantum systems and their potential technological relevance. At its core, the project investigates metastable states as a key mechanism for uncovering and harnessing the unconventional properties of quantum materials. The podcast highlights how the rapid progress in quantum computing, quantum simulation, and quantum sensing relies on the ability to control subtle quantum effects, which must be stabilized within specific physical platforms to become technologically viable. In the discussion, Dr. Golež emphasizes that metastability often provides access to otherwise hidden phases and properties of matter that may enable new functionalities in quantum technologies. At the same time, he points to the gap between the wealth of experimental discoveries and the still incomplete theoretical framework needed to systematically predict where and how such states emerge. The project therefore combines the advancement of theoretical understanding with the ambition of enabling long-term technological applications.
Listen to the podcast (in Slovene) at the following link.