Mark B. Wise
Encyclopedia
Mark Brian Wise is a Canadian
-American
theoretical physicist
. He has conducted research in elementary particle physics and cosmology
. He is best known for his role in the development of heavy quark effective theory (HQET), a mathematical formalism that has allowed physicists to make predictions about otherwise intractable problems in the theory of the strong nuclear interactions. He has also published work on mathematical models for finance
and risk assessment
.
Wise was born in Montreal
, Canada. He was educated at the University of Toronto
(B.S.
, 1976; M.S.
, 1977) and Stanford University
(Ph.D.
, 1980). While still a student, he co-authored a book on mathematical methods in physics with Toronto professor Lynn Trainor. With Fred Gilman, his graduate advisor at Stanford, Wise wrote several highly influential papers on experimental predictions of the quark
model. Wise was a junior fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows
from 1980 to 1983. He has been at the California Institute of Technology
(Caltech) since then.
Wise is currently the John A. McCone
Professor of High Energy Physics at Caltech, a fellow of the American Physical Society
, and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
and of the National Academy of Sciences
. From 1984 to 1987 he was a fellow of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
. He shared the 2001 Sakurai Prize
for Theoretical Particle Physics with Nathan Isgur
and Mikhail Voloshin, "for the construction of the heavy quark
mass expansion and the discovery of the heavy quark symmetry in quantum chromodynamics
, which led to a quantitative theory of the decays of c and b flavored hadron
s."
Wise was the science consultant for Iron Man 2
.
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...
-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
theoretical physicist
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
. He has conducted research in elementary particle physics and cosmology
Physical cosmology
Physical cosmology, as a branch of astronomy, is the study of the largest-scale structures and dynamics of the universe and is concerned with fundamental questions about its formation and evolution. For most of human history, it was a branch of metaphysics and religion...
. He is best known for his role in the development of heavy quark effective theory (HQET), a mathematical formalism that has allowed physicists to make predictions about otherwise intractable problems in the theory of the strong nuclear interactions. He has also published work on mathematical models for finance
Finance
"Finance" is often defined simply as the management of money or “funds” management Modern finance, however, is a family of business activity that includes the origination, marketing, and management of cash and money surrogates through a variety of capital accounts, instruments, and markets created...
and risk assessment
Risk assessment
Risk assessment is a step in a risk management procedure. Risk assessment is the determination of quantitative or qualitative value of risk related to a concrete situation and a recognized threat...
.
Wise was born in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada. He was educated at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
(B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
, 1976; M.S.
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
, 1977) and Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
(Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
, 1980). While still a student, he co-authored a book on mathematical methods in physics with Toronto professor Lynn Trainor. With Fred Gilman, his graduate advisor at Stanford, Wise wrote several highly influential papers on experimental predictions of the quark
Quark
A quark is an elementary particle and a fundamental constituent of matter. Quarks combine to form composite particles called hadrons, the most stable of which are protons and neutrons, the components of atomic nuclei. Due to a phenomenon known as color confinement, quarks are never directly...
model. Wise was a junior fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows
Harvard Society of Fellows
The Harvard Society of Fellows is a group of scholars selected at the beginning of their careers by Harvard University for extraordinary scholarly potential, upon whom distinctive academic and intellectual opportunities are bestowed in order to foster their individual growth and intellectual...
from 1980 to 1983. He has been at the California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
(Caltech) since then.
Wise is currently the John A. McCone
John McCone
John Alexander McCone was an American businessman and politician who served as Director of Central Intelligence during the height of the Cold War.- Background :...
Professor of High Energy Physics at Caltech, a fellow 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 a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
and of the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
. From 1984 to 1987 he was a fellow of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
The 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:...
. He shared the 2001 Sakurai Prize
Sakurai Prize
The J. J. Sakurai Prize for Theoretical Particle Physics, is presented by the American Physical Society at its annual "April Meeting", and honors outstanding achievement in particle physics theory...
for Theoretical Particle Physics with Nathan Isgur
Nathan Isgur
Nathan Isgur was a theoretical physicist from the U.S. and Canada.-Education:Isgur was born in South Houston, Texas and finished high school at South Houston High School. He was a scholarship student at Caltech. where his initial interest was in biology, but he moved toward physics and graduated...
and Mikhail Voloshin, "for the construction of the heavy quark
Quark
A quark is an elementary particle and a fundamental constituent of matter. Quarks combine to form composite particles called hadrons, the most stable of which are protons and neutrons, the components of atomic nuclei. Due to a phenomenon known as color confinement, quarks are never directly...
mass expansion and the discovery of the heavy quark symmetry in quantum chromodynamics
Quantum chromodynamics
In theoretical physics, quantum chromodynamics is a theory of the strong interaction , a fundamental force describing the interactions of the quarks and gluons making up hadrons . It is the study of the SU Yang–Mills theory of color-charged fermions...
, which led to a quantitative theory of the decays of c and b flavored hadron
Hadron
In particle physics, a hadron is a composite particle made of quarks held together by the strong force...
s."
Wise was the science consultant for Iron Man 2
Iron Man 2
Iron Man 2 is a 2010 American superhero film featuring the Marvel Comics character Iron Man, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It is the sequel to 2008's Iron Man, the second film in a planned trilogy and is a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Directed by Jon...
.
Works
- From Physical Concept to Mathematical Structure: an Introduction to Theoretical Physics, with Lynn E.H. Trainor (1979)
- Heavy Quark Physics, with Aneesh V. Manohar (2000)
- Quantum field theories with compact noncommutative extra dimensions. Jaume Gomis, Thomas MehenThomas Carlos MehenThomas Carlos Mehen is an American physicist. His research has consisted of primarily Quantum chromodynamics and the application of effective field theory to problems in hadronic physics...
, Mark B. Wise (Caltech & CIT-USC). CALT-68-2283, CITUSC-00-027, Jun 2000. 16pp. Published in JHEP 0008:029,2000. e-Print: hep-th/0006160
- Conformal invariance for nonrelativistic field theory. Thomas Mehen, Iain W. Stewart (UC, San Diego), Mark B. Wise (Caltech). CALT-68-2242, UCSD-PTH-99-14, Oct 1999. 11pp. Published in Phys.Lett.B474:145-152,2000. e-Print: hep-th/9910025
- Wigner symmetry in the limit of large scattering lengths. Thomas Mehen, Iain W. Stewart, Mark B. Wise (Caltech). CALT-68-2213, Feb 1999. 4pp. Published in Phys.Rev.Lett.83:931-934,1999. e-Print: hep-ph/9902370