The Institute of Theoretical Physics ("Institut de physique théorique") (IPhT) is a

research institute A research institute, research centre, research center or research organization, is an establishment founded for doing research. Research institutes may specialize in basic research or may be oriented to applied research. Although the term often i ...

of the Direction of Fundamental Research (DRF) of the

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA). The Institute is also a joint research unit of the Institute of Physics (INP), a subsidiary of the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). It is associated to the Paris-Saclay University. IPhT is situated on the Saclay Plateau South of Paris.

History

The IPhT was created in 1963 as the "Service de Physique Théorique" (SPhT), in succession of the "Service de Physique Mathématique" (SPM) of CEA. It became an Institute (and took the name IPhT) in 2008. It was initially devoted to nuclear physics and superconductivity. Particle physics quickly became an important theme. After its move in 1968 from the main CEA-Saclay site to the present site of Orme des Merisiers,

quantum field theory In theoretical physics, quantum field theory (QFT) is a theoretical framework that combines classical field theory, special relativity, and quantum mechanics. QFT is used in particle physics to construct physical models of subatomic particles and ...

became a major research topic, together with statistical physics. Subsequently, new topics such as conformal theories and matrix models, cosmology and

string theory In physics, string theory is a theoretical framework in which the point-like particles of particle physics are replaced by one-dimensional objects called strings. String theory describes how these strings propagate through space and interac ...

condensed matter physics Condensed matter physics is the field of physics that deals with the macroscopic and microscopic physical properties of matter, especially the solid and liquid phases which arise from electromagnetic forces between atoms. More generally, the sub ...

and out-of-equilibrium statistical physics, quantum information, found their place there. IPhT is usually considered one of the top theoretical physics research institute in Europe.

Present research themes

Research at IPhT covers most areas of theoretical physics: * Cosmology and astroparticule physics * Particle Physics :

quantum chromodynamics In theoretical physics, quantum chromodynamics (QCD) is the theory of the strong interaction between quarks mediated by gluons. Quarks are fundamental particles that make up composite hadrons such as the proton, neutron and pion. QCD is a type ...

, hadron physics, Collider physics,

scattering amplitudes In quantum physics, the scattering amplitude is the probability amplitude of the outgoing spherical wave relative to the incoming plane wave in a stationary-state scattering process.physics beyond the standard model *

Quantum Gravity Quantum gravity (QG) is a field of theoretical physics that seeks to describe gravity according to the principles of quantum mechanics; it deals with environments in which neither gravitational nor quantum effects can be ignored, such as in the vi ...

String theory In physics, string theory is a theoretical framework in which the point-like particles of particle physics are replaced by one-dimensional objects called strings. String theory describes how these strings propagate through space and interac ...

* Mathematical Physics :

Quantum field theory In theoretical physics, quantum field theory (QFT) is a theoretical framework that combines classical field theory, special relativity, and quantum mechanics. QFT is used in particle physics to construct physical models of subatomic particles and ...

, conformal field theory, integrable systems, topological recursion,

combinatorics Combinatorics is an area of mathematics primarily concerned with counting, both as a means and an end in obtaining results, and certain properties of finite structures. It is closely related to many other areas of mathematics and has many appl ...

, random geometries *

Condensed matter physics Condensed matter physics is the field of physics that deals with the macroscopic and microscopic physical properties of matter, especially the solid and liquid phases which arise from electromagnetic forces between atoms. More generally, the sub ...

* Statistical Physics: out of equilibrium systems,

complex systems A complex system is a system composed of many components which may interact with each other. Examples of complex systems are Earth's global climate, organisms, the human brain, infrastructure such as power grid, transportation or communication s ...

network theory Network theory is the study of graphs as a representation of either symmetric relations or asymmetric relations between discrete objects. In computer science and network science, network theory is a part of graph theory: a network can be defi ...

, biophysics * Quantum information science IPhT organizes each spring the "Itzykson Conference", an international meeting centered on theme which is different every year. Its name is a tribute to Claude Itzykson, former IPhT researcher.

Teaching

IPhT is not part of a teaching department, but graduate and postgraduate courses of theoretical physics are organized at IPhT. They are aimed at graduate students and researchers of Paris area. The lecturers are researchers from IPhT or other Paris Area labs, and senior visitors of IPhT. Most courses are part of the courses of the Ecole Doctorale Physique en Ile de France (EDPIF). IPhT hosts numerous master and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral researchers.

Research dissemination and outreach

Talks and conferences of IPhT are usually available by live streaming and are available for replay on the IPhT YouTube channel. Outreach talks and presentations for the general public are also available there. Many scientific books are being published by researchers from IPhT, aiming at students and researchers as well as at the general public.

Researchers of IPhT

Some researchers who held permanent positions at SPM/SPhT/IPhT:

Claude Bloch Claude Bloch (18 March 1923 – 29 December 1971) was a French theoretical nuclear physicist. He authored over 60 published articles and made significant impact on the fields of quantum field theory, nuclear physics, and the many-body problem. Bl ...

, Édouard Brézin, Gilles Cohen-Tannoudji, Cirano de Dominicis,

Bernard Derrida Bernard Derrida (; born 1952) is a French theoretical physicist. He is best known for his work in statistical mechanics, and is the eponym of ''Derrida plots'', an analytical technique for characterising differences between Boolean networks. Biogr ...

, Claude Itzykson,

Stanislas Leibler Stanislas Leibler (born 1957) is a French-American theoretical and experimental biologist and physicist. He is Systems Biology Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton and the Gladys T. Perkin Professor and Head of the Laboratory ...

Madan Lal Mehta Madan Lal Mehta (1932–2006) was a theoretical physicist of Indian origin, particularly known for his work in random matrix theory. Biography Madan Lal Mehta was born on 24 December 1932 in Relmagra, Rajasthan, a small village near Udaipur i ...

, Albert Messiah, Stéphane Nonnenmacher,

Yves Pomeau Yves Pomeau, born in 1942, is a French mathematician and physicist, emeritus research director at the CNRS and corresponding member of the French Academy of sciences. He was one of the founders of thLaboratoire de Physique Statistique, École No ...

, Volker Schomerus, Raymond Stora, Lenka Zdeborová, Jean Zinn-Justin, Jean-Bernard Zuber Some researchers who are presently members of IPhT:(2023)

Roger Balian Roger Balian (born 18 January 1933) is a French-Armenian physicist who has worked on quantum field theory, quantum thermodynamics, and theory of measurement. Balian is a member of French Académie des sciences (Academy of Sciences). His importan ...

, Jean-Paul Blaizot, François David, Philippe Di Francesco, Michel Gaudin, David Kosower, Vincent Pasquier,

Mannque Rho Mannque Rho (born December 14, 1936) is a South Korean-frenchtheoretical physicist. He has contributed to theoretical nuclear/hadron physics and suggested Brown-Rho Scaling with Gerald E. Brown which predicts how the masses of the hadrons disappe ...

, Hubert Saleur, Pierre Vanhove, André Voros

Directors of IPhT

: 1963–1971 * Cirano de Dominicis: 1971–1979 *

: 1979–1987 * André Morel: 1987–1992 * Jean Zinn–Justin: 1993–1998 * Jean–Paul Blaizot: 1998–2004 * Henri Orland: 2004–2011 * Michel Bauer: 2011–2016 * François David: 2017–2021 * Catherine Pépin: 2022–

Campus

The IPhT is located on the Plateau de Saclay, about 20 km southwest of Paris, on the Orme des Merisiers site, which is an annex of the main CEA-Saclay center.

References

External links

*
IPhT lectures web site

IPhT YouTube channel
(seminars, talks, outreach presentations) {{authority control French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission Theoretical physics French National Centre for Scientific Research Paris-Saclay University 1963 establishments in France