Luis Álvarez-Gaumé facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Luis Álvarez-Gaumé
|
|
|---|---|
| Born |
Madrid, Spain
|
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Alma mater | Stony Brook University |
| Known for | Gravitational anomalies String theory |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Theoretical physics |
| Doctoral advisor | Daniel Z. Freedman |
Luis Álvarez-Gaumé (born in 1955) is a Spanish theoretical physicist. He studies very complex ideas about how the universe works, especially focusing on string theory and quantum gravity.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Luis Álvarez-Gaumé earned his PhD in 1981 from Stony Brook University in the United States. After that, he worked at Harvard University from 1981 to 1984. He then became a professor at Boston University.
Work at CERN and Stony Brook
From 1986 to 2016, Álvarez-Gaumé was a permanent member of the CERN Theoretical Physics unit. CERN is a very famous science lab in Europe where scientists study tiny particles. In 2016, he became the director of the Simons Center for Geometry and Physics at Stony Brook University.
Important Discoveries in Physics
In the 1980s, Luis Álvarez-Gaumé made big contributions to string theory. String theory suggests that the smallest parts of the universe are not tiny dots, but tiny vibrating strings.
Gravitational Anomalies
In 1983, working with another famous physicist named Edward Witten, he showed that some quantum field theories can have "gravitational anomalies." This means there could be unexpected problems when gravity mixes with quantum rules. Later, other scientists, Michael Green and John Schwarz, found that these problems could be avoided in certain types of string theory.
Atiyah–Singer Theorem
Álvarez-Gaumé is also known for proving a very important math idea called the Atiyah–Singer theorem. He used a physics concept called supersymmetry to do this. Supersymmetry is a theory that suggests every particle we know has a "superpartner" particle.
Other Research Areas
His work covers many different topics. He has studied how strings behave at very high levels of detail. He also looked at quantum field theories on special surfaces called Riemann surfaces. He explored quantum groups and different ways that string theory can be understood, including how it relates to black holes.
Later Work and Publications
In the 1990s, Álvarez-Gaumé researched how supersymmetry might break down at low energies. He also helped write a textbook about quantum field theory. This book helps students learn about the rules that govern tiny particles and forces.
Images for kids
-
A robot, representing technology and science.
