V. Alan Kostelecký is a

theoretical physicist Theoretical physics is a branch of physics that employs mathematical models and abstractions of physical objects and systems to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena. This is in contrast to experimental physics, which uses experime ...

who is a distinguished professor of physics at

Indiana University, Bloomington Indiana University Bloomington (IU Bloomington, Indiana University, IU, or simply Indiana) is a public research university in Bloomington, Indiana. It is the flagship campus of Indiana University and, with over 40,000 students, its largest campu ...

. He is noted for his work on Lorentz symmetry breaking in

particle physics Particle physics or high energy physics is the study of fundamental particles and forces that constitute matter and radiation. The fundamental particles in the universe are classified in the Standard Model as fermions (matter particles) an ...

. He has been described as the world's leading authority on violations of space-time symmetry. Kostelecký was a student at the International School of Geneva, Switzerland (1965-1973). Subsequently, he began as an undergraduate in

biology Biology is the scientific study of life. It is a natural science with a broad scope but has several unifying themes that tie it together as a single, coherent field. For instance, all organisms are made up of cells that process hereditary i ...

, switched his degree to chemistry, and eventually switched for the last time to

physics Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which r ...

and obtained his undergraduate degree in science from Bristol University in 1977, and his

Ph.D. A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields. Because it is ...

in physics from

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Sta ...

in 1982. He has been a faculty member at the Indiana University in Bloomington since joining there in 1985. In 1989, Kostelecký and his colleagues demonstrated the existence of an

anisotropy Anisotropy () is the property of a material which allows it to change or assume different properties in different directions, as opposed to isotropy. It can be defined as a difference, when measured along different axes, in a material's physic ...

in string theory models, and proposed a new version of the Standard Model of particle physics, called the '' Standard-Model Extension'' that catalogs the various ways in which space-time symmetry can be violated. The Standard-Model Extension has various "coefficients", which are parameters that can be adjusted to the requirements of the model. The theory has now become the benchmark for classic tests of relativity theory. Kostelecký's work hypothesizes possible asymmetries in the space-time at length scales of 10⁻³⁵ m, that is, the Planck length scale. He has enlisted the help of several physicists from diverse areas such as astrophysics and

to experimentally detect the presence of these asymmetries. Kostelecký, along with Stuart Samuel was the first to use the Bumblebee model in gravity as a simple model for investigating the consequences of spontaneous Lorentz violation. Kostelecký has hosted a series of ''Meetings on CPT and Lorentz Symmetry'' at Indiana University. Kostelecký was named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in 2006, a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS) in 2004, and a Fellow of the English

Institute of Physics The Institute of Physics (IOP) is a UK-based learned society and professional body that works to advance physics education, research and application. It was founded in 1874 and has a worldwide membership of over 20,000. The IOP is the Physic ...

in 2000. He chaired the APS committees for the

Heineman Prize Heineman is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Benjamin W. Heineman (1914–2012), American railroad executive * Benjamin W. Heineman, Jr. (born 1944), American journalist, lawyer and business executive * Dannie Heineman (1872 ...

and the Pipkin award in 2005. He received the Indiana University award for excellence in teaching in 1988 and 1992, the Frederic Bachman Lieber Teaching Award in 1997, and a

Gravity Research Foundation The Gravity Research Foundation is an organization established in 1948 by businessman Roger Babson (founder of Babson College) to find ways to implement gravitational shielding. Over time, the foundation turned away from trying to block gravity ...

Award twice, in 1993 and 2005.

References

External links

Faculty page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kostelecký, Alan 21st-century American physicists Particle physicists Living people Yale University alumni Indiana University faculty Year of birth missing (living people) Theoretical physicists International School of Geneva alumni