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

research institute A research institute, research centre, 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 implies natural ...

of the Direction of Fundamental Research (DRF) of the

French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...

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 The French National Centre for Scientific Research (, , CNRS) is the French state research organisation and is the largest fundamental science agency in Europe. In 2016, it employed 31,637 staff, including 11,137 tenured researchers, 13,415 engi ...

(CNRS). It is associated to the

Paris-Saclay University Paris-Saclay University (, ) is a combined technological research institute and public research university in Orsay, France. Paris-Saclay was established in 2019 after the merger of four technical ''grandes écoles,'' as well as several technol ...

. IPhT is situated on the

Saclay Plateau The Plateau de Saclay (), also called Silicon Valley Européenne (in English, European Silicon Valley), is located north of Essonne and south-east of Yvelines, 20 km south of Paris. It is bounded by the valley of the Yvette (''Vallée de Chevre ...

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 Field theory (physics), field theory and the principle of relativity with ideas behind quantum mechanics. QFT is used in particle physics to construct phy ...

became a major research topic, together with

statistical physics In physics, statistical mechanics is a mathematical framework that applies statistical methods and probability theory to large assemblies of microscopic entities. Sometimes called statistical physics or statistical thermodynamics, its applicati ...

. Subsequently, new topics such as conformal theories and matrix models,

cosmology Cosmology () is a branch of physics and metaphysics dealing with the nature of the universe, the cosmos. The term ''cosmology'' was first used in English in 1656 in Thomas Blount's ''Glossographia'', with the meaning of "a speaking of the wo ...

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 intera ...

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 State of matter, phases, that arise from electromagnetic forces between atoms and elec ...

and out-of-equilibrium statistical physics,

quantum information Quantum information is the information of the state of a quantum system. It is the basic entity of study in quantum information theory, and can be manipulated using quantum information processing techniques. Quantum information refers to both t ...

, 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 Cosmology () is a branch of physics and metaphysics dealing with the nature of the universe, the cosmos. The term ''cosmology'' was first used in English in 1656 in Thomas Blount's ''Glossographia'', with the meaning of "a speaking of the wo ...

and astroparticule physics *

Particle Physics Particle physics or high-energy physics is the study of Elementary particle, fundamental particles and fundamental interaction, forces that constitute matter and radiation. The field also studies combinations of elementary particles up to the s ...

quantum chromodynamics In theoretical physics, quantum chromodynamics (QCD) is the study 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 of ...

, hadron physics, Collider physics, scattering amplitudes,

physics beyond the standard model Physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM) refers to the theoretical developments needed to explain the deficiencies of the Standard Model, such as the inability to explain the fundamental parameters of the standard model, the strong CP problem, neut ...

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 v ...

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 intera ...

Mathematical Physics Mathematical physics is the development of mathematics, mathematical methods for application to problems in physics. The ''Journal of Mathematical Physics'' defines the field as "the application of mathematics to problems in physics and the de ...

Quantum field theory In theoretical physics, quantum field theory (QFT) is a theoretical framework that combines Field theory (physics), field theory and the principle of relativity with ideas behind quantum mechanics. QFT is used in particle physics to construct phy ...

conformal field theory A conformal field theory (CFT) is a quantum field theory that is invariant under conformal transformations. In two dimensions, there is an infinite-dimensional algebra of local conformal transformations, and conformal field theories can sometime ...

integrable systems In mathematics, integrability is a property of certain dynamical systems. While there are several distinct formal definitions, informally speaking, an integrable system is a dynamical system with sufficiently many conserved quantities, or first ...

, topological recursion,

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

, 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 State of matter, phases, that arise from electromagnetic forces between atoms and elec ...

Statistical Physics In physics, statistical mechanics is a mathematical framework that applies statistical methods and probability theory to large assemblies of microscopic entities. Sometimes called statistical physics or statistical thermodynamics, its applicati ...

: out of equilibrium systems,

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

network theory In mathematics, computer science, and network science, network theory is a part of graph theory. It defines networks as Graph (discrete mathematics), graphs where the vertices or edges possess attributes. Network theory analyses these networks ...

biophysics Biophysics is an interdisciplinary science that applies approaches and methods traditionally used in physics to study biological phenomena. Biophysics covers all scales of biological organization, from molecular to organismic and populations ...

Quantum information science Quantum information science is a field that combines the principles of quantum mechanics with information theory to study the processing, analysis, and transmission of information. It covers both theoretical and experimental aspects of quantum phys ...

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 Claude Georges Itzykson, (11 April 1938 – 22 May 1995) was a French theoretical physicist who worked in quantum field theory and statistical mechanics. Biography Separated from his parents by World War II, his father was taken to a Na ...

, 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 Ile or ILE may refer to: Ile * Ile, a Puerto Rican singer * Ile District (disambiguation), multiple places * Ilé-Ifẹ̀, an ancient Yoruba city in south-western Nigeria * Interlingue (ISO 639:ile), a planned language * Isoleucine, an amino aci ...

(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 Édouard Brézin (; born 1 December 1938 Paris) is a French theoretical physicist. He is professor at Université Paris 6, working at the laboratory for theoretical physics (LPT) of the École Normale Supérieure since 1986. Biography 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. Bio ...

, Michel Gaudin,

Stanislas Leibler Stanislas Leibler (born 1957) is a Polish-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 L ...

, Madan Lal Mehta,

Albert Messiah Albert Messiah (23 September 1921, Nice – 17 April 2013, Paris) was a French physicist. He studied at the Ecole Polytechnique. He spent the Second World War in the Free France forces: he embarked on 22 June 1940 at Saint-Jean-de-Luz for Engla ...

, Stéphane Nonnenmacher,

Yves Pomeau Yves Pomeau, born in 1942, is a French mathematician and physicist, emeritus research director at the French National Centre for Scientific Research, CNRS and corresponding member of the French Academy of Sciences, French Academy of sciences. He w ...

, Volker Schomerus,

Raymond Stora Raymond Félix Stora (18 September 1930 – 20 July 2015) was a French theoretical physicist. He was a researcher at Service de Physique Théorique at CEA Saclay, then a research director at the French National Centre for Scientific Research ...

Lenka Zdeborová Lenka Zdeborová (born 24 November 1980) is a Czech physicist and computer scientist who applies methods from statistical physics to machine learning and constraint satisfaction problems. She is a professor of physics and computer science and com ...

Jean Zinn-Justin Jean Zinn-Justin (born 10 July 1943 in Berlin) is a French theoretical physicist. Biography Zinn-Justin was educated in physics (undergraduate 1964) at the École Polytechnique, and did graduate work in theoretical physics at Orsay, (Ph.D. 1968 ...

Jean-Bernard Zuber Jean-Bernard Zuber is a French theoretical physicist. Education Zuber studied at the École polytechnique from 1966 to 1968 and then as a CNRS researcher at ththeoretical physics departmentof the Nuclear Research Center in Saclay. In 1974, he re ...

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 the French Academy of Sciences. His important works include the ...

, Jean-Paul Blaizot, François David, Philippe Di Francesco, David Kosower, Vincent Pasquier, Mannque Rho, 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