Dr. Kajetan Fijalkowski received the Helmholtz Prize, worth €20,000, on August 25, 2026, recognizing his team’s achievement in precisely measuring electrical resistance without relying on an external magnetic field, the company says. Building on the work of 1980 Nobel laureate Klaus von Klitzing, researchers from Topological Insulators and the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) demonstrated the quantum anomalous Hall effect could define electrical resistance with accuracy to within a few parts per billion. “Our goal is to trace electrical units directly back to unchanging properties of nature,” says Fijalkowski, and this new standard promises a more reliable foundation for the ohm, volt, and ampere.
Quantum Anomalous Hall Effect Enables Magnet-Free Resistance Measurement
Achieving a deviation of only a few parts per billion from the internationally recognized reference value for electrical resistance, Kajetan Fijalkowski and colleagues have demonstrated a new method for determining electrical resistance without relying on external magnetic fields. This advancement builds upon the 1980 discovery of the quantum Hall effect by Nobel laureate Klaus von Klitzing, but crucially distinguishes itself by eliminating the need for strong magnetic fields, a simplification that broadens potential applications. The research, conducted in collaboration with scientists from the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), earned Fijalkowski the Helmholtz Prize on August 25, 2026, recognizing its contribution to the foundations of metrology.
The team’s work centers on the quantum anomalous Hall effect, a phenomenon that allows for a stable and precise electrical standard determined by fundamental constants like Planck’s constant and the elementary charge, according to the company. They were able to demonstrate this new type of resistance standard, thereby contributing to the foundations of metrology. This precision is particularly relevant for linking electrical units, the ohm, volt, and ampere, and could eventually be combined with the Josephson effect to create a comprehensive quantum-electrical measurement system.
Beyond refining electrical standards, this research has implications for realizing the kilogram, as modern methods connect mechanical and electrical quantities for this purpose. While industrial implementation remains costly due to the need for extremely low temperatures and small electric currents, the work demonstrates the potential of fundamental quantum phenomena to underpin future measurement technologies, connecting fundamental research into topological quantum materials with long-term prospects for science, technology, and industry. The findings were originally published in Nature Electronics in 2024, further solidifying the significance of this magnet-free resistance measurement.
Fijalkowski’s Precision Validates Novel Quantum Resistance Standard
Unlike the foundational 1980 work of Klaus von Klitzing, which relied on strong magnetic fields to achieve the quantum Hall effect, Fijalkowski’s method operates without one, simplifying potential applications and opening new avenues for metrological research. He says, explaining the long-term vision for a more robust and reliable electrical standard, and this capability moves beyond the limitations of traditional quantum Hall effect-based standards.
We were able to demonstrate this new type of resistance standard, thereby contributing to the foundations of metrology.
The team’s success builds upon the quantum anomalous Hall effect, allowing for stable and precise resistance measurements independent of sample characteristics. The research was supported by projects including EURAMET’s TOCHA and QuAHMET initiatives, highlighting a collaborative European effort to advance metrological infrastructure.
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