Katherine Freese
Encyclopedia
Dr. Katherine Freese, a theoretical astrophysicist, is the George Eugene Uhlenbeck
Collegiate Professor of Physics at the University of Michigan
and Associate Director of the Michigan Center for Theoretical Physics. She is known for her work in theoretical cosmology at the interface of particle physics
and astrophysics
.
, her MA from Columbia University
, and her PhD in 1984 at the University of Chicago
. After postdoctoral fellowships at Harvard University
, at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics
at University of California, Santa Barbara
, and as a Presidential Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley
, she became an Assistant Professor at MIT in 1988. She moved to the University of Michigan in 1991.
and dark energy
science. She was one of the first to propose ways to discover dark matter. Her idea of indirect detection in the Earth is being pursued by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory experiment, and the "wind" of dark matter particles felt as the Earth orbits the Milky Way
(work with David Spergel
) is being searched for in worldwide experiments. Her work decisively ruled out MACHO
(Massive compact halo object) dark matter in favor of WIMPs (weakly interacting massive particles). She has proposed a model known as "Cardassian
expansion," in which dark energy is replaced with a modification of Einstein's equations. Recently she proposed a new theoretical type of star, called a dark star
, powered by dark matter annihilation rather than fusion.
Freese has also worked on the beginnings of the universe, including the search for a successful inflationary theory to kick off the Big Bang
. She has studied the Ultimate fate of the universe
, including the fate of life in the universe. To quote New Scientist: "Katherine Freese and William Kinney don't look much like superheroes, but this pair of astrophysicists may just have rescued all life in the Universe."
Dr. Freese has served on the Board of the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics
in Santa Barbara and the Board of the Aspen Center for Theoretical Physics. Currently she is Councilor of the American Physical Society
and member of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee (AAAC).
George Eugene Uhlenbeck
George Eugene Uhlenbeck was a Dutch-American theoretical physicist.-Background and education:George Uhlenbeck was the son of Eugenius and Anne Beeger Uhlenbeck...
Collegiate Professor of Physics at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
and Associate Director of the Michigan Center for Theoretical Physics. She is known for her work in theoretical cosmology at the interface of 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...
and 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...
.
Education and Academic Career
Dr. Freese received her BA from 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....
, her MA from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, and her PhD in 1984 at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
. After postdoctoral fellowships at 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...
, at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics
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...
at University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
, and as a Presidential Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, she became an Assistant Professor at MIT in 1988. She moved to the University of Michigan in 1991.
Contributions
Dr. Freese has been an early force in dark matterDark matter
In astronomy and cosmology, dark matter is matter that neither emits nor scatters light or other electromagnetic radiation, and so cannot be directly detected via optical or radio astronomy...
and 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...
science. She was one of the first to propose ways to discover dark matter. Her idea of indirect detection in the Earth is being pursued by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory experiment, and the "wind" of dark matter particles felt as the Earth orbits the Milky Way
Milky Way
The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains the Solar System. This name derives from its appearance as a dim un-resolved "milky" glowing band arching across the night sky...
(work with David Spergel
David Spergel
David Nathaniel Spergel , is an American theoretical astrophysicist and Princeton University professor known for his work on the WMAP mission. Professor Spergel is a MacArthur Fellow. He has served as the chair of the Astrophysics Subcommittee of the NASA Advisory Council and was once the W.M...
) is being searched for in worldwide experiments. Her work decisively ruled out MACHO
Macho
Macho typically refers to machismo. Other uses include:*Macho , a short-lived disco group in the late 1970s*Pique macho, Bolivian dish*Macho Man , a 1978 disco song performed by the Village People...
(Massive compact halo object) dark matter in favor of WIMPs (weakly interacting massive particles). She has proposed a model known as "Cardassian
Cardassian
The Cardassians are an extraterrestrial species in the Star Trek science fiction franchise. First introduced in the 1991 Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Wounded", the species originating on the fictional Alpha Quadrant planet Cardassia Prime...
expansion," in which dark energy is replaced with a modification of Einstein's equations. Recently she proposed a new theoretical type of star, called a dark star
Dark star (dark matter)
A dark star is a theoretical type of star that may have existed early in the history of the universe before conventional stars were able to form. They would be composed mostly of normal matter, like modern stars, but a high concentration of neutralino dark matter within them would generate heat via...
, powered by dark matter annihilation rather than fusion.
Freese has also worked on the beginnings of the universe, including the search for a successful inflationary theory to kick off the Big Bang
Big Bang
The Big Bang theory is the prevailing cosmological model that explains the early development of the Universe. According to the Big Bang theory, the Universe was once in an extremely hot and dense state which expanded rapidly. This rapid expansion caused the young Universe to cool and resulted in...
. She has studied the Ultimate fate of the universe
Ultimate fate of the universe
The ultimate fate of the universe is a topic in physical cosmology. Many possible fates are predicted by rival scientific theories, including futures of both finite and infinite duration....
, including the fate of life in the universe. To quote New Scientist: "Katherine Freese and William Kinney don't look much like superheroes, but this pair of astrophysicists may just have rescued all life in the Universe."
Dr. Freese has served on the Board of the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics
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...
in Santa Barbara and the Board of the Aspen Center for Theoretical Physics. Currently she is Councilor 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...
and member of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee (AAAC).
External links
- Dr. Katherine Freese Home Page from http://www.umich.edu/~ktfreese -or- http://www-personal.umich.edu/~ktfreese
- Freese's Faculty Listing from the University of Michigan Physics Department
- Dr. Katherine Freese Other Links from http://www.umich.edu/~ktfreese/otherLinks.html -or- http://www-personal.umich.edu/~ktfreese/otherLinks.html
- Katherine Freese on the opening panel of the Quantum to Cosmos Festival
- Video of Katherine Freese on a panel discussion, "State of the Universes," with Jennifer Ouellette, Lawrence Krauss and Neil TurokNeil TurokNeil Geoffrey Turok is the Director of Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. He is the son of Mary and Ben Turok, activists in the anti-apartheid movement and the African National Congress.-Career:...
, at the Quantum to Cosmos festival