Abner Shimony
Encyclopedia
Abner Shimony is an American
physicist and philosopher of science specializing in quantum theory
.
in 1948, and an MA in Philosophy from the University of Chicago
in 1950. He obtained his Ph.D. in philosophy
from Yale University
in 1953, and in physics
from Princeton University
in 1962, under the supervision of Eugene Wigner. He served in the U. S. Army Signal Corps
from 1953 to 1955. He is currently Prof. Emeritus at Boston University
, where he taught for several decades as a faculty member in both the physics and philosophy departments.
Shimony is best known for his work in developing the CHSH inequality
, an empirically testable form of the Bell inequality, also known as Bell's theorem
. Since 1992, he proposed a geometric measure of quantum entanglement
and, along with Gregg Jaeger and Michael Horne, discovered two novel complementarity
relations involving interferometric visibility
in multiparticle quantum interferometry
.
He is also known for his inquiry into the question of the "peaceful coexistence" of quantum mechanics
and special relativity
. He has written numerous books and research articles on the foundations of quantum mechanics and related topics. Shimony is credited with the phrase "passion at a distance" to characterize the various phenomena described by quantum correlations.
In 1996 he was awarded the Lakatos Award
in the philosophy of science for
the two-volume collection of papers, The Search for a Naturalistic World View, spanning his career up until 1992. He served as president of the Philosophy of Science Association
from 1995 to 1996.
Shimony was married to the noted anthropologist Annemarie Anrod Shimony.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physicist and philosopher of science specializing in quantum theory
Quantum field theory
Quantum field theory provides a theoretical framework for constructing quantum mechanical models of systems classically parametrized by an infinite number of dynamical degrees of freedom, that is, fields and many-body systems. It is the natural and quantitative language of particle physics and...
.
Career
Shimony obtained his BA in Mathematics and Philosophy from Yale UniversityYale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1948, and an MA in Philosophy from the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
in 1950. He obtained his Ph.D. in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1953, and in physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1962, under the supervision of Eugene Wigner. He served in the U. S. Army Signal Corps
United States Army Signal Corps
The United States Army Signal Corps develops, tests, provides, and manages communications and information systems support for the command and control of combined arms forces. It was established in 1860, the brainchild of United States Army Major Albert J. Myer, and has had an important role from...
from 1953 to 1955. He is currently Prof. Emeritus at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
, where he taught for several decades as a faculty member in both the physics and philosophy departments.
Shimony is best known for his work in developing the CHSH inequality
CHSH inequality
In physics, the CHSH Bell test is an application of Bell's theorem, intended to distinguish between the entanglement hypothesis of quantum mechanics and local hidden variable theories. CHSH stands for John Clauser, Michael Horne, Abner Shimony and Richard Holt, who described it in a much-cited...
, an empirically testable form of the Bell inequality, also known as Bell's theorem
Bell's theorem
In theoretical physics, Bell's theorem is a no-go theorem, loosely stating that:The theorem has great importance for physics and the philosophy of science, as it implies that quantum physics must necessarily violate either the principle of locality or counterfactual definiteness...
. Since 1992, he proposed a geometric measure of quantum entanglement
Quantum entanglement
Quantum entanglement occurs when electrons, molecules even as large as "buckyballs", photons, etc., interact physically and then become separated; the type of interaction is such that each resulting member of a pair is properly described by the same quantum mechanical description , which is...
and, along with Gregg Jaeger and Michael Horne, discovered two novel complementarity
Complementarity (physics)
In physics, complementarity is a basic principle of quantum theory proposed by Niels Bohr, closely identified with the Copenhagen interpretation, and refers to effects such as the wave–particle duality...
relations involving interferometric visibility
Interferometric visibility
The interferometric visibility quantifies the contrast of interference in any system which has wave-like properties, such as optics, quantum mechanics, water waves, or electrical signals. Generally, two or more waves are combined and as the phase between them is changed The interferometric...
in multiparticle quantum interferometry
Interferometry
Interferometry refers to a family of techniques in which electromagnetic waves are superimposed in order to extract information about the waves. An instrument used to interfere waves is called an interferometer. Interferometry is an important investigative technique in the fields of astronomy,...
.
He is also known for his inquiry into the question of the "peaceful coexistence" of quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and matter. It departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic...
and special relativity
Special relativity
Special relativity is the physical theory of measurement in an inertial frame of reference proposed in 1905 by Albert Einstein in the paper "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies".It generalizes Galileo's...
. He has written numerous books and research articles on the foundations of quantum mechanics and related topics. Shimony is credited with the phrase "passion at a distance" to characterize the various phenomena described by quantum correlations.
In 1996 he was awarded the Lakatos Award
Lakatos Award
The Lakatos Award is given annually for a contribution to the philosophy of science which is widely interpreted as outstanding. The contribution must be in the form of a book published in English during the previous six years....
in the philosophy of science for
the two-volume collection of papers, The Search for a Naturalistic World View, spanning his career up until 1992. He served as president of the Philosophy of Science Association
Philosophy of Science Association
The Philosophy of Science Association is an academic organization which promotes further studies and free discussion from diverse standpoints in the field of philosophy of science....
from 1995 to 1996.
Shimony was married to the noted anthropologist Annemarie Anrod Shimony.
External links
- Shimony's article on Bell's theorem in the Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyStanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyThe Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy is a freely-accessible online encyclopedia of philosophy maintained by Stanford University. Each entry is written and maintained by an expert in the field, including professors from over 65 academic institutions worldwide...
. - Partial bibliography of philosophical papers.
- Boston University Faculty page for Abner Shimony.
- Photo of Abner Shimony during his career at BU.
- Transcript of Oral History interview with Abner Shimony, 9 September 2002, American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library and Archives.
- A recent conference held at the Perimeter Institute in honour of Abner Shimony http://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/en/Events/Abner_Shimony/Shimony_Overview/
- Shimony conference talks at the Perimeter Institutehttp://pirsa.org/C06009
- Former PhD Students
- Ronald Anderson (Boston College)
- Joy Christian (Perimeter Institute)
- John H. Heffner (Lebanon Valley College)
- Michael Horne (Stonehill College)
- Don Howard (University of Notre Dame)
- Gregg Jaeger (Boston University)
- Andre Mirabelli
- Wayne Myrvold (University of W. Ontario)
- Paul Teller (UC Davis)