Edward
Witten
(1951 - )
Edward Witten (born August 26, 1951) is an American mathematical physicist, Fields Medalist, and professor at the Institute for Advanced Study. He is one of the world's leading researchers in string theory (as the founder of M-theory) and quantum field theory. Witten is widely regarded as one of the most talented living physicists.
Biography
Witten was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of Lorraine W. Witten and Louis Witten, a physicist specializing in gravitation and general relativity. He received his bachelor's degree in history from Brandeis University. Witten planned to become a political journalist, and published articles in the New Republic and the Nation. He also worked briefly for George McGovern's presidential campaign, and then returned to academia, receiving a Ph.D. from Princeton University in 1976. Afterwards, he worked at Harvard University as a Junior Fellow and at Princeton as a professor. He also was briefly at Caltech for two years from 1999-2001. He is currently the Charles Simonyi Professor of Mathematical Physics at the Institute for Advanced Study. He is married to physicist Chiara Nappi. His brother, Matt Witten, is a screenwriter for several popular TV series.
Witten's work combines deep physical insight with a remarkable command of modern mathematics. He has been active primarily in quantum field theory and string theory, and in related areas of topology and geometry. Among his many contributions are his proof of the positive energy theorem in general relativity, his work relating supersymmetry and Morse theory, his introduction of topological quantum field theory and his related work on mirror symmetry and supersymmetric gauge theories, and his conjecture of the existence of M-theory.
Witten is widely admired among his fellows. Among those who praise him is Sir Michael Atiyah, who said,
"Although he is definitely a physicist, his command of mathematics is rivaled by few mathematicians... Time and time again he has surprised the mathematical community by his brilliant application of physical insight leading to new and deep mathematical theorems... he has made a profound impact on contemporary mathematics. In his hands physics is once again providing a rich source of inspiration and insight in mathematics."
Likewise, in his bestseller The Elegant Universe, Columbia University physicist Brian Greene writes that Witten is "widely regarded as Einstein's successor in the role of the world's greatest living physicist."
Witten has been honored with numerous awards, including a MacArthur Grant, a Fields Medal, and the National Medal of Science (2004). He also appeared in the list of TIME magazine's 100 most influential people of 2004. He was mentioned in a 1999 episode of the cartoon Futurama. Witten has the highest h-index of any living physicist.
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