Alan Kostelecký
Encyclopedia
Alan Kostelecký is a theoretical physicist
who is currently a distinguished professor of physics at Indiana University, Bloomington. He is noted for his work on Lorentz symmetry breaking in particle physics
. He has been described as the world's leading authority on violations of space-time symmetry.
Kostelecký got his undergraduate degree in science from Bristol University in 1977, and his Ph.D.
in physics from Yale University
in 1982. He has been a faculty member at the Indiana University in Bloomington since joining there in 1985.
In 1989, Kostelecký and his colleagues demonstrated the existence of an anisotropy
in string theory
models, and proposed a new version of the Standard Model
of particle physics, called the Standard-Model Extension
that catalogs the various ways in which space-time symmetry can be violated. The Standard-Model Extension
has various "coefficients", which are parameters that can be adjusted to the requirements of the model. The theory has now become the benchmark for classic tests of relativity
theory. Kostelecký's work hypothesizes possible asymmetries in the space-time at length scales of 10−35 m, that is, the Planck length scale. He has enlisted the help of several physicists from diverse areas such as astrophysics
and particle physics
to experimentally detect the presence of these asymmetries. Kostelecký, along with Stuart Samuel was the first to use the Bumblebee model
in gravity as a simple model for investigating the consequences of spontaneous Lorentz violation.
Kostelecký has hosted a series of Meetings on CPT and Lorentz Symmetry at Indiana University.
Kostelecký was named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
(AAAS) in 2006, a Fellow of the American Physical Society
(APS) in 2004, and a Fellow of the English Institute of Physics
in 2000. He chaired the APS committees for the Heineman Prize and the Pipkin award in 2005. He received the Indiana University award for excellence in teaching in 1988 and 1992, the Frederic Bachman Lieber Teaching Award in 1997, and a Gravity Research Foundation
Award twice, in 1993 and 2005.
Theoretical physics
Theoretical physics is a branch of physics which employs mathematical models and abstractions of physics to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena...
who is currently a distinguished professor of physics at Indiana University, Bloomington. He is noted for his work on Lorentz symmetry breaking in particle physics
Particle physics
Particle physics is a branch of physics that studies the existence and interactions of particles that are the constituents of what is usually referred to as matter or radiation. In current understanding, particles are excitations of quantum fields and interact following their dynamics...
. He has been described as the world's leading authority on violations of space-time symmetry.
Kostelecký got his undergraduate degree in science from Bristol University in 1977, and his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in physics from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1982. He has been a faculty member at the Indiana University in Bloomington since joining there in 1985.
In 1989, Kostelecký and his colleagues demonstrated the existence of an anisotropy
Anisotropy
Anisotropy is the property of being directionally dependent, as opposed to isotropy, which implies identical properties in all directions. It can be defined as a difference, when measured along different axes, in a material's physical or mechanical properties An example of anisotropy is the light...
in string theory
String theory
String theory is an active research framework in particle physics that attempts to reconcile quantum mechanics and general relativity. It is a contender for a theory of everything , a manner of describing the known fundamental forces and matter in a mathematically complete system...
models, and proposed a new version of the Standard Model
Standard Model
The Standard Model of particle physics is a theory concerning the electromagnetic, weak, and strong nuclear interactions, which mediate the dynamics of the known subatomic particles. Developed throughout the mid to late 20th century, the current formulation was finalized in the mid 1970s upon...
of particle physics, called the Standard-Model Extension
Standard-Model Extension
Standard-Model Extension is an effective field theory that contains the Standard Model, General Relativity, and all possible operators that break Lorentz symmetry.Violations of this fundamental symmetry can be studied within this general framework...
that catalogs the various ways in which space-time symmetry can be violated. The Standard-Model Extension
Standard-Model Extension
Standard-Model Extension is an effective field theory that contains the Standard Model, General Relativity, and all possible operators that break Lorentz symmetry.Violations of this fundamental symmetry can be studied within this general framework...
has various "coefficients", which are parameters that can be adjusted to the requirements of the model. The theory has now become the benchmark for classic tests of relativity
Theory of relativity
The theory of relativity, or simply relativity, encompasses two theories of Albert Einstein: special relativity and general relativity. However, the word relativity is sometimes used in reference to Galilean invariance....
theory. Kostelecký's work hypothesizes possible asymmetries in the space-time at length scales of 10−35 m, that is, the Planck length scale. He has enlisted the help of several physicists from diverse areas such as astrophysics
Astrophysics
Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties of celestial objects, as well as their interactions and behavior...
and particle physics
Particle physics
Particle physics is a branch of physics that studies the existence and interactions of particles that are the constituents of what is usually referred to as matter or radiation. In current understanding, particles are excitations of quantum fields and interact following their dynamics...
to experimentally detect the presence of these asymmetries. Kostelecký, along with Stuart Samuel was the first to use the Bumblebee model
Bumblebee models
Bumblebee models are effective field theories describing a vector field with a vacuum expectation value that spontaneously breaks Lorentz symmetry....
in gravity as a simple model for investigating the consequences of spontaneous Lorentz violation.
Kostelecký has hosted a series of Meetings on CPT and Lorentz Symmetry at Indiana University.
Kostelecký was named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
(AAAS) in 2006, a Fellow of the American Physical Society
American Physical Society
The American Physical Society is the world's second largest organization of physicists, behind the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. The Society publishes more than a dozen scientific journals, including the world renowned Physical Review and Physical Review Letters, and organizes more than 20...
(APS) in 2004, and a Fellow of the English Institute of Physics
Institute of Physics
The Institute of Physics is a scientific charity devoted to increasing the practice, understanding and application of physics. It has a worldwide membership of around 40,000....
in 2000. He chaired the APS committees for the Heineman Prize and the Pipkin award in 2005. He received the Indiana University award for excellence in teaching in 1988 and 1992, the Frederic Bachman Lieber Teaching Award in 1997, and a Gravity Research Foundation
Gravity Research Foundation
The Gravity Research Foundation, established in 1948 by businessman Roger Babson , was an organization designed to find ways to implement gravitational shielding...
Award twice, in 1993 and 2005.