Invitation to Black Hole Thermodynamics

Abstract

The speaker will provide a basic introduction to black hole thermodynamics, an old and new topic that provides a fascinating window to the relation between gravity and quantum mechanics.

About the Speaker

Prof. Edward WITTEN obtained his BA from Brandeis University in 1971 and subsequently earned his MA and PhD from Princeton University in 1974 and 1976, respectively. He held a fellowship at Harvard University (1976–77), was a junior fellow in the Harvard Society of Fellows (1977–80), and held a MacArthur Foundation fellowship (1982). He held an appointment at Princeton (1980–87) before moving to the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, in 1987. He is currently a Professor Emeritus at the School of Natural Sciences of the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton.

Prof. Witten’s work exhibits a unique combination of mathematical power and physics insight, and his contributions have significantly enriched both fields. He has greatly contributed to the modern interest in superstrings as a candidate theory for the unification of all known physical interactions. Most recently, he has explored quantum duality symmetries of field theories and string theories, opening significant new perspectives on particle physics, string theory, and topology.

Prof. Witten has received numerous awards in recognition of his work, including the prestigious Fields Medal in 1990 — becoming the first physicist to win the prize. Further accolades include the US National Medal of Science (2002), the Crafoord Prize in Mathematics (2008), the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics (2012), the Kyoto Prize in Basic Sciences (2014), the Hamburg Prize for Theoretical Physics (2023), and the Basic Science Lifetime Award of the International Congress of Basic Science (2024). His distinguished affiliations include membership in the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (2006) and election as a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society (2012) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2020).

For Attendees' Attention

Seating is on a first come, first served basis.