Wave functions describing bound states of electronic systems satisfy high-dimensional Schrödinger equations whose potentials exhibit Coulomb singularities at particle-collision configurations. These singularities generate cusps that limit the global regularity of the wave function in spectral Barron spaces, which are particularly relevant to the analysis of Fourier-based approximation methods and neural networks.
\r\nIn this talk, we study the effect of extracting a truncated Jastrow factor designed to capture the leading coalescence singularities while preserving the asymptotic behavior of the wave function at infinity. We show that the resulting quotient gains one full order of spectral Barron regularity: whereas the original wave function typically belongs to spaces of order (s<1), the Jastrow quotient belongs to those of order (s<2). An explicit hydrogenic example shows that the threshold (s=2) is natural.
\r\nThe proof relies on conjugating the Hamiltonian by the Jastrow factor and carrying out a global Fourier-space analysis. It combines resolvent estimates, precise control of singular coefficients, and a fixed-point argument separating low and high frequencies.
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\r\nThe electronic structure reading group brings together researchers and students interested in mathematical aspects of electronic structure problems and adjacent topics, including:\r\n
Chirality is omnipresent in nature through a fundamental coupling between chirality and angular momentum. Despite extensive experimental evidence, the underlying mechanisms of this coupling remain debated. Here, we will explore how chiral magnetic textures can be stabilized in altermagnets, a new class of magnetism. Turning to structurally chiral magnetic molecules, we will show that chirality is directly linked to their intrinsic magnetic moments. Bringing both together, we will discuss how molecular design can control spin phenomena at hybrid chiral molecule-magnet interfaces. Our findings pave a pathway towards functional \"chiraltronic\" devices – turning a fundamental puzzle into a technological opportunity.
","image_description":"","creation_date":"2026-10-01T09:59:25","last_modification_date":"2026-10-01T10:00:49","link_label":"","link_url":"","canceled":"False","cancel_reason":"","place_and_room":"CM 1 5","url_place_and_room":"https://plan.epfl.ch/?room==CM%201%205","url_online_room":"","spoken_languages":["https://memento.epfl.ch/api/v1/spoken_languages/2/?format=json"],"speaker":"Prof. Angela Wittmann, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz","organizer":"Institut de Physique","contact":"vladimir.manucharyan@epfl.ch","is_internal":"False","theme":"","vulgarization":{"id":1,"fr_label":"Tout public","en_label":"General public"},"registration":{"id":3,"fr_label":"Entrée libre","en_label":"Free"},"keywords":"","file":"https://memento.epfl.ch/public/upload/files/Wittmann12oct_Bl6EtiA.pdf","icalendar_url":"https://memento.epfl.ch/event/export/122008/","category":{"id":1,"code":"CONF","fr_label":"Conférences - Séminaires","en_label":"Conferences - Seminars","activated":true},"academic_calendar_category":null,"domains":[],"mementos":["https://memento.epfl.ch/api/v1/mementos/1/?format=json","https://memento.epfl.ch/api/v1/mementos/5/?format=json","https://memento.epfl.ch/api/v1/mementos/6/?format=json","https://memento.epfl.ch/api/v1/mementos/8/?format=json","https://memento.epfl.ch/api/v1/mementos/81/?format=json","https://memento.epfl.ch/api/v1/mementos/191/?format=json","https://memento.epfl.ch/api/v1/mementos/389/?format=json"]},{"id":72219,"title":"Quantum Industry Day in Switzerland (QIDiS) 2026","slug":"quantum-industry-day-in-switzerland-qidis-2026","event_url":"https://memento.epfl.ch/event/quantum-industry-day-in-switzerland-qidis-2026","visual_url":"https://memento.epfl.ch/image/33499/200x112.jpg","visual_large_url":"https://memento.epfl.ch/image/33499/720x405.jpg","visual_maxsize_url":"https://memento.epfl.ch/image/33499/max-size.jpg","lang":"en","start_date":"2026-10-13","end_date":"2026-10-13","start_time":"08:15:00","end_time":"19:30:00","description":"The Quantum Industry Day in Switzerland (QIDiS) gathers academic and industrial R&D to foster exchange and accelerate the development of new quantum products through inspiring keynote talks, panel discussions, and networking opportunities. Large private and public investments are rapidly pushing quantum technologies out of labs and into real-world applications. Industrial actors are playing a key role: they provide the enabling technologies as well as the commercialization know-how driving this development. The program covers the areas of quantum computing, quantum sensing, quantum instrumentation and quantum communication.Daniel G. Nocera is the Patterson Rockwood Professor of Energy at Harvard University. Nocera is recognized for his discoveries in renewable energy, originating new paradigms that have defined the field of solar energy conversion and storage. Nocera created the field of proton coupled electron transfer (PCET) at a mechanistic level by making the first measurements that temporally resolved the movement of an electron coupled to a proton. On this experimental foundation, he provided the first theory of PCET. With PCET as a guiding framework, he invented the Artificial Leaf and the Bionic Leaf. The Artificial Leaf comprises Si coated with catalysts to capture the direct solar process of photosynthesis – the use of sunlight to split water to hydrogen and oxygen from neutral water, at atmospheric pressure and room temperature. The Bionic Leaf-C comprises a bio-engineered organism interfaced with the catalysts of the Artificial Leaf to capture the dark process of photosynthesis – the combination of carbon dioxide and hydrogen to produce biomass and liquid fuels. The integration of the light and dark processes of the Artificial Leaf and the Bionic Leaf-C, respectively, allowed Nocera to develop a complete artificial photosynthesis — sunlight + air + water to biomass and liquid fuels. The Bionic Leaf-C is much more efficient than natural photosynthesis, exceeding the biomass efficiencies of natural photosynthesis by a factor of ×10 and biomass-to-fuels efficiencies by a factor of ×100. Extending this approach to the Bionic Leaf-N, Nocera has achieved a renewable and distributed Haber-Bosch synthesis of ammonia from nitrogen in air by coupling solar-based water splitting to a nitrogen and carbon fixing microorganism to produce a living biofertilizer, resulting in increased crop yields and early harvests. In the latest field trial for leafy vegetables (90% chemical replacement of urea ammonium nitrate), use of the biofertilizer on a 400-acre farm mitigated 153 metric tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere. Additionally, the Bionic Leaf-N as a living biofertilizer avoids nitrogen runoff and thus has an important future role in sustainable farming. These science discoveries set the stage for the large scale and distributed deployment of solar energy fuels and food production using only sunlight, air and any water source. With such simple natural inputs, these discoveries are particularly useful to the poor, where large infrastructures for fuel and food production are not tenable.
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\r\nNocera’s research contributions have been recognized by several awards, some of which include the Leigh Ann Conn Prize for Renewable Energy, Italgas Prize, IAPS Award, Burghausen Prize, the United Nation’s Science and Technology Award, Firenze Award in Molecular Sciences, F. A. Cotton Medal, Clarivate Citation Laureate and from the American Chemical Society the Inorganic Chemistry, Harrison Howe, Kosolapoff and Remsen Awards and the FA Cotton Medal. He is a member of the American Philosophical Society, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the Indian Academy of Sciences. He was named as 100 Most Influential People in the World by Time Magazine and was 11th on the New Statesman’s list on the same topic.
An opportunity to celebrate the end of the year and share quantum research at EPFL with one another and the larger community. The event will include short lectures on topics in quantum for the general community, optional lab visits, and food and drinks!
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\r\nFull program and registration available in October