Christof Wetterich
Encyclopedia
Christof Wetterich is a German theoretical physicist. Born 1952 in Freiburg
(Germany
), he studied physics in Paris, Cologne and Freiburg,
where he received his PhD in 1979. He worked at CERN
in Geneva and DESY
in Hamburg. Since 1992 he has a chair for theoretical
physics at Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg. His major research interests are cosmology
and particle physics
.
The development of the theoretical method of functional renormalization
by Wetterich has found
applications in many areas of physics, e.g. it provides a suitable framework to study quantum gravity
,
Yang-Mills theories and it was also useful in non-relativistic quantum systems like the BCS
to BEC
crossover where it bridges the two theories in a unified
theoretical language.
Wetterich is best known for his proposal
of dynamical dark energy
or quintessence
in 1987. This could explain the observed
accelerated expansion of the Universe. He has done fundamental work for the theoretical understanding of tiny masses of neutrinos.
The method of functional renormalization
relates macro physical structures to micro sphysical laws in a continuous way. Its modern form is based on the exact Wetterich equation.
Research Prize
in 2005. Since 2006 he is member of the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences .
Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In the extreme south-west of the country, it straddles the Dreisam river, at the foot of the Schlossberg. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Breisgau region on the western edge of the Black Forest in the Upper Rhine Plain...
(Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
), he studied physics in Paris, Cologne and Freiburg,
where he received his PhD in 1979. He worked at CERN
CERN
The European Organization for Nuclear Research , known as CERN , is an international organization whose purpose is to operate the world's largest particle physics laboratory, which is situated in the northwest suburbs of Geneva on the Franco–Swiss border...
in Geneva and DESY
DESY
The DESY is the biggest German research center for particle physics, with sites in Hamburg and Zeuthen....
in Hamburg. Since 1992 he has a chair for theoretical
physics at Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg. His major research interests are cosmology
Cosmology
Cosmology is the discipline that deals with the nature of the Universe as a whole. Cosmologists seek to understand the origin, evolution, structure, and ultimate fate of the Universe at large, as well as the natural laws that keep it in order...
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...
.
The development of the theoretical method of functional renormalization
Functional renormalization group
In theoretical physics, functional renormalization group is an implementation of the renormalization group concept which is used in quantum and statistical field theory, especially when dealing with strongly interacting systems. The method combines functional methods of quantum field theory with...
by Wetterich has found
applications in many areas of physics, e.g. it provides a suitable framework to study quantum gravity
Quantum gravity
Quantum gravity is the field of theoretical physics which attempts to develop scientific models that unify quantum mechanics with general relativity...
,
Yang-Mills theories and it was also useful in non-relativistic quantum systems like the BCS
BCS theory
BCS theory — proposed by Bardeen, Cooper, and Schrieffer in 1957 — is the first microscopic theory of superconductivity since its discovery in 1911. The theory describes superconductivity as a microscopic effect caused by a "condensation" of pairs of electrons into a boson-like state...
to BEC
Bose–Einstein condensate
A Bose–Einstein condensate is a state of matter of a dilute gas of weakly interacting bosons confined in an external potential and cooled to temperatures very near absolute zero . Under such conditions, a large fraction of the bosons occupy the lowest quantum state of the external potential, at...
crossover where it bridges the two theories in a unified
theoretical language.
Wetterich is best known for his proposal
of dynamical dark energy
Dark energy
In physical cosmology, astronomy and celestial mechanics, dark energy is a hypothetical form of energy that permeates all of space and tends to accelerate the expansion of the universe. Dark energy is the most accepted theory to explain recent observations that the universe appears to be expanding...
or quintessence
Quintessence (physics)
In physics, quintessence is a hypothetical form of dark energy postulated as an explanation of observations of an accelerating universe. It has been proposed by some physicists to be a fifth fundamental force...
in 1987. This could explain the observed
accelerated expansion of the Universe. He has done fundamental work for the theoretical understanding of tiny masses of neutrinos.
The method of functional renormalization
Functional renormalization group
In theoretical physics, functional renormalization group is an implementation of the renormalization group concept which is used in quantum and statistical field theory, especially when dealing with strongly interacting systems. The method combines functional methods of quantum field theory with...
relates macro physical structures to micro sphysical laws in a continuous way. Its modern form is based on the exact Wetterich equation.
Honours and awards
Wetterich received the Max-PlanckMax Planck Society
The Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science is a formally independent non-governmental and non-profit association of German research institutes publicly funded by the federal and the 16 state governments of Germany....
Research Prize
in 2005. Since 2006 he is member of the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences .
External links
- Christof Wetterich's homepage at the Institute for Theoretical Physics at Heidelberg University.