Xiao-Gang Wen
Encyclopedia
Xiao-Gang Wen
(born November 26, 1961)
is a Chinese
-born American
physicist
.
He is a Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His expertise is in
condensed matter theory
in strongly correlated electronic systems.
He is the author of a well-known book in advanced quantum many-body
theory entitled, Quantum Field Theory of Many-body Systems: From the Origin of Sound to an Origin of Light and Electrons (Oxford University Press, 2004)
Wen studied superstring theory
under theoretical physicist Edward Witten
at
Princeton University
where he received his Ph.D. degree in 1987.
He later switched his research field to condensed matter physics
while
working with theoretical physicists Robert Schrieffer, Frank Wilczek
,
Anthony Zee
in
Institute for Theoretical Physics, UC Santa Barbara
(1987-1989).
On September 16th, 2011 it was announced that Dr. Xiao-Gang Wen would be leaving MIT to join the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics
in Waterloo, Ontario
, Canada
. The Perimeter Institute is the largest theoretical physics research and academic organization in the world. Wen comes to Waterloo as the inaugural holder of the BMO Financial Group Isaac Newton Chair. The prestigious position was funded by a $4 million gift from the BMO Financial Group, matched by another $4 million from Perimeter’s existing endowment. The BMO Financial Group Isaac Newton Chair in Theoretical Physics at Perimeter Institute is the first of five chairs planned by the Perimeter Institute, to be named after scientists whose insights defined modern physics. The first Chair is named for Sir Isaac Newton, considered by many to be one of the most brilliant and influential thinkers in human history. He described the universal laws of gravitation and motion, laying the groundwork for the modern scientific description of the universe.
, 1987
M.A., Physics, Princeton University
, 1983
B.S., Physics, University of Science and Technology of China
, 1982
, 2011-present
Professor, MIT, 2000—2011
Associate professor, MIT, 1995—2000
Assistant professor, MIT, 1991—1995
Five-year member of IAS
, 1989—1991
Member of ITP, UC Santa Barbara
, 1987—1989
Overseas Chinese Physics Association outstanding young researcher award (1994)
Changjiang professor, Center for Advanced Study, Tsinghua University
(2000—2004)
Fellow of American Physical Society
(2002)
Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics, MIT (2004—2011)
Distinguished Moore Scholar, Caltech (2006)
Distinguished Research Chair, Perimeter Institute (2009)
Isaac Newton Chair, Perimeter Institute (announced Sep 2011)
(born November 26, 1961)
is a Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
-born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
.
He is a Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His expertise is in
condensed matter theory
Condensed matter physics
Condensed matter physics deals with the physical properties of condensed phases of matter. These properties appear when a number of atoms at the supramolecular and macromolecular scale interact strongly and adhere to each other or are otherwise highly concentrated in a system. The most familiar...
in strongly correlated electronic systems.
He is the author of a well-known book in advanced quantum many-body
theory entitled, Quantum Field Theory of Many-body Systems: From the Origin of Sound to an Origin of Light and Electrons (Oxford University Press, 2004)
Wen studied superstring theory
Superstring theory
Superstring theory is an attempt to explain all of the particles and fundamental forces of nature in one theory by modelling them as vibrations of tiny supersymmetric strings...
under theoretical physicist Edward Witten
Edward Witten
Edward Witten is an American theoretical physicist with a focus on mathematical physics who is currently a professor of Mathematical Physics at the Institute for Advanced Study....
at
Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
where he received his Ph.D. degree in 1987.
He later switched his research field to condensed matter physics
Condensed matter physics
Condensed matter physics deals with the physical properties of condensed phases of matter. These properties appear when a number of atoms at the supramolecular and macromolecular scale interact strongly and adhere to each other or are otherwise highly concentrated in a system. The most familiar...
while
working with theoretical physicists Robert Schrieffer, Frank Wilczek
Frank Wilczek
Frank Anthony Wilczek is a theoretical physicist from the United States and a Nobel laureate. He is currently the Herman Feshbach Professor of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ....
,
Anthony Zee
Anthony Zee
Anthony Zee is a Chinese American physicist, writer, and currently a professor at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics and the physics department of the University of California, Santa Barbara.Zee obtained his Ph.D. from Harvard in 1970, supervised by Sidney Coleman...
in
Institute for Theoretical Physics, UC Santa Barbara
Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics
The Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics is a research institute of the University of California, Santa Barbara. KITP is one of the most renowned institutes for theoretical physics in the world. KITP programs bring theorists in physics and related fields together to work together on topics at...
(1987-1989).
On September 16th, 2011 it was announced that Dr. Xiao-Gang Wen would be leaving MIT to join the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics
Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics
Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics is an independent, resident-based research institute devoted to foundational issues in theoretical physics located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Perimeter Institute was founded in 1999 by Mike Lazaridis...
in Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The Perimeter Institute is the largest theoretical physics research and academic organization in the world. Wen comes to Waterloo as the inaugural holder of the BMO Financial Group Isaac Newton Chair. The prestigious position was funded by a $4 million gift from the BMO Financial Group, matched by another $4 million from Perimeter’s existing endowment. The BMO Financial Group Isaac Newton Chair in Theoretical Physics at Perimeter Institute is the first of five chairs planned by the Perimeter Institute, to be named after scientists whose insights defined modern physics. The first Chair is named for Sir Isaac Newton, considered by many to be one of the most brilliant and influential thinkers in human history. He described the universal laws of gravitation and motion, laying the groundwork for the modern scientific description of the universe.
Education
Ph.D, Physics, Princeton UniversityPrinceton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, 1987
M.A., Physics, Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, 1983
B.S., Physics, University of Science and Technology of China
University of Science and Technology of China
The University of Science and Technology of China is a national research university in Hefei, People's Republic of China. It is a member of the C9 League formed by nine top universities in China...
, 1982
Professional Record
Isaac Newton Research Chair, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical PhysicsPerimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics
Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics is an independent, resident-based research institute devoted to foundational issues in theoretical physics located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Perimeter Institute was founded in 1999 by Mike Lazaridis...
, 2011-present
Professor, MIT, 2000—2011
Associate professor, MIT, 1995—2000
Assistant professor, MIT, 1991—1995
Five-year member of IAS
Institute for Advanced Study
The Institute for Advanced Study, located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States, is an independent postgraduate center for theoretical research and intellectual inquiry. It was founded in 1930 by Abraham Flexner...
, 1989—1991
Member of ITP, UC Santa Barbara
Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics
The Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics is a research institute of the University of California, Santa Barbara. KITP is one of the most renowned institutes for theoretical physics in the world. KITP programs bring theorists in physics and related fields together to work together on topics at...
, 1987—1989
Honors
A.P. Sloan Foundation fellow (1992)Overseas Chinese Physics Association outstanding young researcher award (1994)
Changjiang professor, Center for Advanced Study, Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University , colloquially known in Chinese as Qinghua, is a university in Beijing, China. The school is one of the nine universities of the C9 League. It was established in 1911 under the name "Tsinghua Xuetang" or "Tsinghua College" and was renamed the "Tsinghua School" one year later...
(2000—2004)
Fellow of 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...
(2002)
Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics, MIT (2004—2011)
Distinguished Moore Scholar, Caltech (2006)
Distinguished Research Chair, Perimeter Institute (2009)
Isaac Newton Chair, Perimeter Institute (announced Sep 2011)
See also
- Topological orderTopological orderIn physics, topological order is a new kind of order in a quantum state that is beyond the Landau symmetry-breaking description. It cannot be described by local order parameters and long range correlations...
- String-net
- Topological entanglement entropyTopological entropy (in physics)The topological entanglement entropy, usually denoted by γ, is a number characterizing many-body states that possess topological order.The short form topological entropy is often used, although the same name in ergodic theory refers to an unrelated mathematical concept .A non-zero topological...
External links
- http://dao.mit.edu/~wen