Leinweber Institute For Theoretical Physics at Stanford

by Eva Silverstein

Professor of Physics and Wells Family Director, LITP@S

The Department of Physics is very grateful to the Leinweber Foundation for its commitment to endow the newly named Leinweber Institute for Theoretical Physics @ Stanford. This extraordinary $20 million dollar gift, along with a highly supportive $4M contribution from the H&S Deans office, joins previous groundbreaking contributions to SITP from several generous donors. Altogether this will transform our ability to reliably support young physicists, enabling us to attract top talent in key areas including biophysics, cosmology, condensed matter physics, particle phenomenology, quantum gravity, and quantum information.

Professor of Physics Peter Graham will serve as the new LITP@Stanford scientific director starting September 1, in collaboration with Executive Director Kevin Wells and a newly constituted Institute Advisory Committee.

There is much work to be done, building on remarkable developments in the field in recent years. It is extraordinary that we have some handle on conditions in the universe nearly 14 billion years ago, and that we can understand some of the rich many-body systems on earth.

Thought experiments and mathematical calculations elucidate the enormous entropy lurking in black hole and cosmic horizons. But we cannot yet solve the equations governing matter to answer basic questions such as “what materials will superconduct at high temperatures?” We do not have a complete answer to the question, “What is the set of equations governing the quantum history of the universe as a whole?” We have yet to pin down the identity of dark matter or the cosmic inflation field, or detect the cosmic neutrino background. Modern AI systems demand a scientific understanding, benefiting from the methods of theoretical physics. Controllably scaling quantum computing and understanding biodiversity similarly present timely and important challenges.

The presence of our institute LITP@Stanford amplifies the science via strong interactions among members in different areas. Many discoveries in theoretical physics occur across boundaries, making it counterproductive to focus too narrowly. Stanford physicists have a track record of helping to pioneer such connections, including condensed matter physics and topology, quantum gravity and early universe observational cosmology, quantum information, chaotic dynamics and quantum gravity, particle phenomenology and experimental design, and statistical physics and machine learning. These developments often connect to experimental and observational work in the physics department and beyond.

Moreover, the Leinweber Foundation has built a network of similarly supported theory institutes and forums around the country, with a vision for regular conferences bound to amplify the contributions of individual centers. This includes events dedicated to young researchers in addition to general meetings, with participation from physics members and the Leinweber Foundation. Alumni and philanthropic supporters will be welcome to join us when we host here at Stanford.

For further discussion please see Leinweber Foundation Expands its Network of Theoretical Physics Institutes, Surpassing $100M With the Addition of Stanford University - Science Philanthropy Alliance and Stanford Institute for Theoretical Physics named for Leinweber Foundation gift | Stanford Report