Yakir Aharonov

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Yakir Aharonov
Yakir aharonov.jpg
Born (1932-08-28) 28 August 1932 (age 86)
ResidenceUnited States
NationalityIsraeli
Alma materTechnion
Bristol University
Known forAharonov–Bohm effect
Weak values
Two-state vector formalism
AwardsNational Medal of Science (2009)
Wolf Prize (1998)
Elliott Cresson Medal (1991)
Scientific career
FieldsPhysicist
InstitutionsPerimeter Institute
Chapman University
Tel Aviv University
University of South Carolina
George Mason University
Brandeis University
Yeshiva University
Doctoral advisorDavid Bohm
Doctoral studentsDavid Albert
Avshalom Elitzur
Lev Vaidman
Sandu Popescu
Notes
He is the uncle of Dorit Aharonov.

Yakir Aharonov (Hebrew: יקיר אהרונוב‎; born on August 28, 1932)[1] is an Israeli physicist specializing in quantum physics. He is a Professor of Theoretical Physics and the James J. Farley Professor of Natural Philosophy at Chapman University in California. He is also a distinguished professor in the Perimeter Institute[2] and a professor emeritus at Tel Aviv University in Israel. He is president of the IYAR, The Israeli Institute for Advanced Research.[3]

Biography[edit]

Yakir Aharonov was born in Haifa. He received his undergraduate education at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, graduating with a BSc in 1956. He continued his graduate studies at the Technion and then moved to Bristol University, UK together with his doctoral advisor David Bohm, receiving a PhD degree in 1960.

Academic career[edit]

His research interests are nonlocal and topological effects in quantum mechanics, quantum field theories and interpretations of quantum mechanics. In 1959, he and David Bohm proposed the Aharonov–Bohm effect for which he co-received the 1998 Wolf Prize.

In 1988 Aharonov et al. published their theory of weak values.[citation needed] This work was motivated by Aharonov's long time quest to experimentally verify his theory that apparently random events in quantum mechanics are caused by events in the future (two-state vector formalism). Verifying a present effect of a future cause requires a measurement, which would ordinarily destroy coherence and ruin the experiment. He and his colleagues claim that they were able to use weak measurements and verify the present effect of the future cause.[citation needed]

2008–Present: Professor of Theoretical Physics and the James J. Farley Professor of Natural Philosophy at Chapman University

2006–2008: Professor at George Mason University

1973–2006: Joint professorship at Tel Aviv University and the University of South Carolina

1967–1973: Joint professorship at Tel Aviv University and Yeshiva University

1964–1967: Associate Professor, Yeshiva University

1961–1964: Assistant Professor, Yeshiva University

1960–1961: Research Associate, Brandeis University

Awards and recognition[edit]

1978: Elected Fellow of the American Physical Society[4]

1984: Weizmann Prize in Physics

1984: Rothschild Prize in Physics

1989: Israel Prize in exact science[5]

1990: Elected to the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities

1991: The Elliott Cresson MedalThe Franklin Institute

1992: Honorary Doctor of Science, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology

1993: Elected Member of the National Academy of Sciences, USA

1993: Honorary Doctor of Science, University of South Carolina, USA

1995: Hewlett–Packard Europhysics Prize

1997: Honorary Doctor of Science, Bristol University, UK

1998: Wolf Prize in Physics[6]

1999: Honorary Doctor of Science, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina

2006: EMET Prize in Exact Science

In 2009, the information service Thomson Reuters named Aharonov as leading candidate for the 2009 Nobel prize in physics, based on his work's influence on quantum physics.[7]

2010: National Medal of Science (2009), awarded and presented by President Barack Obama. [8]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Yakir Aharonov's Homepage at Chapman University". Chapman University. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  2. ^ "Nine Leading Researchers Join Stephen Hawking as Distinguished Research Chairs at PI - Perimeter Institute". www.perimeterinstitute.ca. Archived from the original on 31 October 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  3. ^ "אייר - המכון הישראלי למחקר מתקדם - סגל המכון". www.iyar.org.il. Archived from the original on 1 March 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  4. ^ "APS Fellow Archive". www.aps.org. Archived from the original on 11 March 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  5. ^ "Israel Prize Official Site – Recipients in 1989 (in Hebrew)". Archived from the original on 2012-03-07.
  6. ^ Simply-Smart. "תוצאות חיפוש". www.wolffund.org.il. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  7. ^ Analytics, Clarivate. "ScienceWatch.com - Clarivate Analytics". science.thomsonreuters.com. Archived from the original on 10 August 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  8. ^ "Error Page 404 File Not Found - National-Academies.org - Where the Nation Turns for Independent, Expert Advice". www.nationalacademies.org. Archived from the original on 20 October 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2018.

External links[edit]