Florida State University Professor Earns Prestigious Award for Quantum Physics Breakthrough

Strategic Insights -

Florida State University assistant professor of physics, Zhengguang Lu, has received the 2025 William L. McMillan Award for his discovery of the fractional anomalous quantum Hall effect in multilayer graphene materials. This breakthrough demonstrates that electrons can appear to split into fractions of themselves under certain conditions, providing new possibilities in electronics and quantum computing. Lu's work, published in Nature in December 2023, describes a new material system that facilitates groundbreaking electronic behavior at low temperatures without a magnetic field.

Key Takeaways:

  • The 2025 William L. McMillan Award is given to outstanding young researchers in condensed-matter physics and recognizes Zhengguang Lu's contributions to quantum physics.
  • Lu earned the award for his discovery of the fractional anomalous quantum Hall effect in multilayer graphene materials, a breakthrough that demonstrates electrons can appear to split into fractions of themselves under certain conditions.
  • The discovery provides new possibilities in electronics and quantum computing and showcases how much is unknown about the simplest of materials, such as pencil graphite.
  • Lu is the first physicist from FSU to receive the award and will share the recognition with Massachusetts Institute of Technology Pappalardo Fellow in Physics Jaiqi Cai for a similar discovery.
  • Both Lu and Cai will visit the University of Illinois next month to present their research.
  • Lu's work, published in Nature in December 2023, describes a new material system that facilitates groundbreaking electronic behavior at low temperatures without a magnetic field.
  • The discovery of the fractional anomalous Hall state allows electrons to travel along the edges of a structure as fractions of a single charge without any energy loss, making the material a valuable tool in building more powerful electronics and, eventually, quantum computers.
  • Lu has been researching quantum materials at the FSU-headquartered National High Magnetic Field Laboratory for his doctoral studies.
  • Throughout his research, Lu has demonstrated a commitment to furthering our understanding of quantum physics and its applications in electronics and computing.

Statistics:

  • Since 1986, the McMillan Award has annually honored outstanding contributions by young condensed-matter physicists.
  • 29 years of honoring outstanding contributions by young condensed-matter physicists.
  • Lu is the first physicist from FSU to receive the award.
  • Graphene has been a key material in discovering and studying novel electron behaviors for more than 20 years.
  • New fractional states emphasize how much is unknown about the simplest of materials, even something as common as pencil graphite.
  • FSU's National High Magnetic Field Laboratory has played a crucial role in Lu's research, providing resources for his studies.

Sources:

  • Florida State University
  • McKenzie Harris, Published: October 17, 2025 | 10:22 am | SHARE:
  • University of Illinois
  • William L. McMillan Award