Symposium in Memory of Professor Emmanuel Rashba

Symposium in Memory of Professor Emmanuel Rashba

   Sunday, 18 January 2026

Where: Lev Hall (9), Shenkar Physics Building

The Institute of Advanced Studies is honored to host Professor Allan MacDonald as part of the Rashba Symposium within the Emilio Segre Distinguished Lectures in Physics series.

Professor MacDonald, Sid W. Richardson Foundation Regents Chair in Physics at the University of Texas at Austin, is a leading theoretical condensed matter physicist whose research focuses on interacting electrons in quantum materials, including the quantum Hall effect, superconductivity, and two-dimensional systems. He is internationally recognized for predicting the “magic angle” in twisted bilayer graphene, a discovery that opened new frontiers in superconductivity and twistronics, and is a laureate of the Wolf Prize in Physics (2020).

Professor MacDonald’s lecture will focus on ferromagnetic states in many-electron systems within the quantum Hall regime, exploring the connection between exciton condensation and Rashba spin-orbit coupling in optical cavities, and its implications for quantum materials research.

 Symposium Program

14:00 – Gathering

14:10 – Opening Remarks and Greetings
Mrs. Julia Rashba-Step

14:20 – Scientific Perspectives on Emanuel Rashba’s Legacy:
Prof. Ora Entin and Prof. Alex Efros

14:30 – Plenary Lecture
Prof. Allan MacDonald – Rashba Spin-Orbit Coupling, Exciton-Condensation and Cavity-Tuned Ferromagnetism

15:30 – Coffee Break, Light Refreshments and Poster Session

16:10 – Rashba Excellence Award Ceremony & Student Talks:

Omer Yaniv – Phonon-Polariton Hall Effect (award recipient)

Shiri Gvishi – Resolving the Phase of a Topological State via Interferometric Photoemission

Shilo Avraham – Reentrant Superconductivity in a Josephson Junction Array

16:45 – Closing

Professor MacDonald’s lecture will be conducted in English and is open to the public.

Click here to see the event flyer