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Chiara Nappi
EdWittenChiaraNappiJune2011.jpg
Nappi (right) with her husband Ed Witten in 2011
Born
Chiara Rose Nappi

(1951-02-21) 21 February 1951 (age 74)
Naples, Italy
Alma mater University of Rome
Spouse(s) Edward Witten
Children 3, including Ilana B. and Daniela Witten
Relatives
  • Louis Witten (father-in-law)
  • Matt Witten (brother-in-law)
Scientific career
Fields Physics
Institutions
Doctoral advisor Giovanni Jona-Lasinio

Chiara Rosanna Nappi was born on February 21, 1951, in Naples, Italy. She is a very respected Italian physicist. Her work has focused on understanding the universe through mathematical physics, which uses math to solve physics problems. She also studies particle physics, which looks at the tiny parts that make up everything, and string theory, a big idea about how the universe works.

Chiara Nappi's Journey in Science

Early Education and Research

Chiara Nappi studied physics at the University of Naples Federico II in Italy. She earned her special diploma in physics in 1976. Her main teacher and guide during this time was Giovanni Jona-Lasinio from the Sapienza University of Rome.

After finishing her studies in Italy, Nappi moved to the United States. She wanted to continue her important research there. She worked at famous places like Harvard University, Princeton University, and the Institute for Advanced Study.

Teaching and Professorship

Later, Chiara Nappi became a professor of physics. She taught at the University of Southern California from 1999 to 2001. Then, she moved to Princeton University in 2001, where she has been teaching ever since. In May 2013, she became a professor emerita at Princeton. This means she is a retired professor but still holds an honored title.

Chiara Nappi's Discoveries and Work

Understanding the Universe

Chiara Nappi's early research looked at something called statistical mechanics. This field uses math to understand how large groups of tiny particles behave. She worked with other scientists, R. Figari and R. Hoegh-Krohn. Together, they suggested a new way to think about quantum field theory in a special kind of space called de Sitter space.

In the 1980s, Nappi teamed up with G. Adkins and Edward Witten. They studied baryons, which are particles like protons and neutrons, using a model called the Skyrme model. She also worked with A. Abouelsaood, C. G. Callan, and S. A. Yost. They explored how open strings act when they are in electromagnetic fields.

Black Holes and String Theory

Nappi has also helped us understand black holes. These are areas in space where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape. She has also contributed to ideas about noncommutativity in string theory. This is a complex idea about how space and time might behave at very tiny levels. Her work also includes studying how string theories and gauge theories can be "integrable," which means they can be solved in a special mathematical way.

Women in Science

Beyond her scientific research, Chiara Nappi has also written articles about education. She is a strong supporter of women in science. She wants to encourage more girls and women to study and work in scientific fields.

Chiara Nappi's Family Life

Chiara Nappi is married to Edward Witten. He is also a very famous mathematical physicist and a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. They have three children together: Ilana, Daniela, and Rafael. Both Ilana and Daniela have also become successful scientists.

See also

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