Bruce Winstein
Encyclopedia
Bruce Winstein was an experimental physicist and cosmologist noted for his early work in elementary particle physics, particularly work toward demonstrating a serious asymmetry between particles and their anti-particles (CP violation
). Later in his career, he worked in experimental cosmology, measuring polarization in the microwave background radiation whose properties date back to the early universe.
in general and the microwave background radiation in particular. He then returned to his position as the Samuel K. Alison Distinguished Service Professor in Physics at the University of Chicago
, where he founded its NSF Physics Frontier Center for Cosmological Physics.
In 1999, he was leader of Fermilab
's KTeV experiment, which produced the first definitive evidence for direct CP violation
, an important proof that that matter and anti-matter are not perfect twins. He was also leader of the QUIET
experiment, a multi-year international collaboration that sought to detect gravity waves in the early universe by measuring polarization in the microwave background radiation.
He received his B.S. degree in Physics and Math from UCLA and his PhD. in 1970 from CalTech.
Winstein was inducted into the National Academy of Science in 1995 and to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2007. Also in 2007, he was awarded the W,H, Panofsky Prize in Experimental Particle Physics by the American Physical Society.
and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
.
In 2007, the American Physical Society awarded him its W.K.H. Panofsky Prize in Experimental Particle Physics
, with the following citation: "For leadership in the series of experiments that resulted in a multitude of precision measurements of properties of neutral K mesons, most notably the discovery of direct CP violation."
CP violation
In particle physics, CP violation is a violation of the postulated CP-symmetry: the combination of C-symmetry and P-symmetry . CP-symmetry states that the laws of physics should be the same if a particle were interchanged with its antiparticle , and left and right were swapped...
). Later in his career, he worked in experimental cosmology, measuring polarization in the microwave background radiation whose properties date back to the early universe.
Career
After a distinguished early career in experimental elementary particle physics, Winstein spent a year in Princeton as a Guggenheim Fellow, learning about astrophysicsAstrophysics
Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties of celestial objects, as well as their interactions and behavior...
in general and the microwave background radiation in particular. He then returned to his position as the Samuel K. Alison Distinguished Service Professor in Physics at 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...
, where he founded its NSF Physics Frontier Center for Cosmological Physics.
In 1999, he was leader of Fermilab
Fermilab
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory , located just outside Batavia, Illinois, near Chicago, is a US Department of Energy national laboratory specializing in high-energy particle physics...
's KTeV experiment, which produced the first definitive evidence for direct CP violation
CP violation
In particle physics, CP violation is a violation of the postulated CP-symmetry: the combination of C-symmetry and P-symmetry . CP-symmetry states that the laws of physics should be the same if a particle were interchanged with its antiparticle , and left and right were swapped...
, an important proof that that matter and anti-matter are not perfect twins. He was also leader of the QUIET
QUIET
QUIET is an astronomy experiment to study the polarization of the cosmic microwave background radiation. QUIET stands for Q/U Imaging ExperimenT. The Q/U in the name refers to the ability of the telescope to measure the Q and U Stokes parameters simultaneously...
experiment, a multi-year international collaboration that sought to detect gravity waves in the early universe by measuring polarization in the microwave background radiation.
He received his B.S. degree in Physics and Math from UCLA and his PhD. in 1970 from CalTech.
Winstein was inducted into the National Academy of Science in 1995 and to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2007. Also in 2007, he was awarded the W,H, Panofsky Prize in Experimental Particle Physics by the American Physical Society.
Honors
Winstein was a member of both the National Academy of SciencesUnited States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
.
In 2007, the American Physical Society awarded him its W.K.H. Panofsky Prize in Experimental Particle Physics
Panofsky Prize
The Panofsky Prize is an annual $10,000 prize given to recognize and encourage outstanding achievements in experimental particle physics, and is open to scientists of any nation. It was established in 1985 by friends of Wolfgang K. H...
, with the following citation: "For leadership in the series of experiments that resulted in a multitude of precision measurements of properties of neutral K mesons, most notably the discovery of direct CP violation."