Juan Martín Maldacena
Encyclopedia
Juan Martín Maldacena is a theoretical physicist
born in Buenos Aires
, Argentina
. Among his many discoveries, the most famous one is the most reliable realization of the holographic principle
- namely the AdS/CFT correspondence, the conjecture about the equivalence of string theory
on Anti de Sitter (AdS) space
, and a conformal field theory
defined on the boundary of the AdS space.
Maldacena obtained his "licenciatura" (a 6 years degree) in 1991 at the Instituto Balseiro
from the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Bariloche, Argentina, under the supervision of G. Aldazabal. He then obtained his Ph.D. at Princeton University
under the supervision of Curtis Callan
in 1996, and went on to a post-doctoral position at Rutgers University
. In 1997, he joined Harvard University
as associate professor, being quickly promoted to Professor of Physics in 1999. Since 2001 he has been a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study
in Princeton, New Jersey
.
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...
born in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. Among his many discoveries, the most famous one is the most reliable realization of the holographic principle
Holographic principle
The holographic principle is a property of quantum gravity and string theories which states that the description of a volume of space can be thought of as encoded on a boundary to the region—preferably a light-like boundary like a gravitational horizon...
- namely the AdS/CFT correspondence, the conjecture about the equivalence of 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...
on Anti de Sitter (AdS) space
Anti de Sitter space
In mathematics and physics, n-dimensional anti de Sitter space, sometimes written AdS_n, is a maximally symmetric Lorentzian manifold with constant negative scalar curvature...
, and a conformal field theory
Conformal field theory
A conformal field theory is a quantum field theory that is invariant under conformal transformations...
defined on the boundary of the AdS space.
Maldacena obtained his "licenciatura" (a 6 years degree) in 1991 at the Instituto Balseiro
Instituto Balseiro
Balseiro Institute is an academic institution chartered by the National University of Cuyo and the National Atomic Energy Commission...
from the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Bariloche, Argentina, under the supervision of G. Aldazabal. He then obtained his Ph.D. 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....
under the supervision of Curtis Callan
Curtis Callan
Curtis Callan is a theoretical physicist and a professor at Princeton University. He has conducted research in gauge theory, string theory, instantons, black holes, strong interactions, and many other topics...
in 1996, and went on to a post-doctoral position at Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
. In 1997, he joined Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
as associate professor, being quickly promoted to Professor of Physics in 1999. Since 2001 he has been a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study
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...
in Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
.
Awards
Maldacena has received these awards:- Edward A. Bouchet Award of the American Physical SocietyAmerican Physical SocietyThe 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...
, 2004 - XanthopoulosBasilis C. XanthopoulosBasilis C. Xanthopoulos was a Greek theoretical physicist, well known in the field of general relativity for his contributions to the study of colliding plane waves....
International Award for Research in Gravitational Physics, 2001 - Sackler PrizeSackler PrizeThe Raymond and Beverly Sackler International Prize is a $40,000 prize in the disciplines of either physics or chemistry awarded by Tel Aviv University each year for young scientists who have made outstanding and fundamental contributions in their fields. It was created through the generosity of...
in Physics - UNESCO Husein Prize for Young Scientists
- Alfred P. Sloan FoundationAlfred P. Sloan FoundationThe Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a philanthropic non-profit organization in the United States. It was established in 1934 by Alfred P. Sloan, Jr., then-President and Chief Executive Officer of General Motors.-Overview:...
Fellowship - MacArthur Fellowship 1999
- Dirac Medal, 2008