Jan Zaanen

Who is Jan Zaanen?

Jan Zaanen is Professor of Theoretical Physics at Leiden University, The Netherlands. He is best known for his contributions to the understanding of the quantum physics of the electrons in strongly correlated material, and in particular high temperature superconductivity. Zaanen areas of interest are in the search for novel forms of collective quantum phenomena realized in systems build from mundaine constituents like electrons, spins, and atoms.

He introduced the so-called Zaanen-Sawatzky-Allen diagram, the LDA+U band structure method and he became particularly well known for his discovery of the stripe instability of the doped Mott insulator. His present research is focussed on the quantum critical point and unconventional phases of quantum matter. He is also well known for his many editorial contributions to the journals Nature and Science. He is currently on the board of reviewing editors of the latter journal and also editor of the Journal of High Energy Physics.