Robert Griffiths (physicist)
Encyclopedia
Robert B. Griffiths is an American
physicist
at Carnegie Mellon University
. He is the originator of the consistent histories
approach to quantum mechanics
, which has since been developed by himself, Roland Omnès
, Murray Gell-Mann
, and James Hartle
.
Throughout his career, Dr. Robert B. Griffiiths has dedicated himself to forming a lasting link between theory and reality. Born in Etah, Uttar Pradesh in 1937 to the son of Presbyterian missionaries, Dr. Griffiths attended Woodstock School
, India from fourth standard to tenth, along with his brothers and sisters. Even during his Woodstock days, Dr. Griffiths' mathematical and scientific aptitude was apparent. The 1952 year book remarks that "Robert is famous for his long arguments (and unsurpassed knowledge) in chemistry class, his ability to 'recite' the log tables indelibly written in his brain, and his skill when it comes to fixing anything electrical." This knack for electrical systems kept Dr. Griffiths at Woodstock through part of 1953, working with the school's various wiring systems.
Following his time at Woodstock, Dr. Griffiths attended Princeton University
where he earned a BA in Physics in 1957. He then earned both an MSc and PhD in Physics from Stanford University
in 1958 and 1962 respectively. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow of the University of California
, San Diego, from 1962–1964, Assistant Professor at Carnegie Mellon University
from 1964–1967, becoming Associate Professor in 1967 and Professor in 1969. Since that time, Dr. Griffiths' academic contributions have been widely recognized. Dr. Griffiths was awarded a Phi Beta Kappa in 1956, was a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow from 1962–1964, an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow from 1966–1968, a Simon Guggenheim Foundation Fellow in 1973, and was given the US Senior Scientist Award of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in 1973. In 1981, he was awarded the A. Cressy Morrison Award of the New York Academy of Sciences
, in 1984, the Dannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics, and in 1987 he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences.
Within his work and research, Dr. Griffiths' primary focus has been in the field of quantum mechanics
. Of the research, he has noted that "Quantum mechanics is hard to understand not only because it involves unfamiliar mathematics, but also because the usual discussion in textbooks about how to relate the mathematics to the real world is incomplete." It is this application of quantum information to the "real world" that Dr. Griffiths strives for. In 1984, he initiated a research program which sought to supply the missing link between theory and application while working out an entirely consistent form of quantum theory. Along with contributions of several key colleagues, the project eventually resulted in what is now commonly called the consistent (or decoherent) history approach to quantum theory, now effectively studied and applied in several areas of the field of quantum mechanics.
At present, Dr. Griffiths is the Otto Stern University Professor of Physics at Carnegie Mellon University
. He has published over 140 articles, as well as the book Consistent Quantum Theory. He is a member of the Society of the Sigma Xi, a Fellow of the American Physical Society and a Fellow of the American Scientific Affiliation. Dr. Griffiths' research interests continue to include the foundations of quantum mechanics, quantum computation, and the relation of physical science and Christian theology.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
at Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
. He is the originator of the consistent histories
Consistent histories
In quantum mechanics, the consistent histories approach is intended to give a modern interpretation of quantum mechanics, generalising the conventional Copenhagen interpretation and providing a natural interpretation of quantum cosmology...
approach to 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...
, which has since been developed by himself, Roland Omnès
Roland Omnès
Roland Omnès is the author of several books which aim to close the gap between our common sense experience of the classical world and the complex, formal mathematics which is now required to accurately describe reality at its most fundamental level.- Biography :Omnès is currently Professor...
, Murray Gell-Mann
Murray Gell-Mann
Murray Gell-Mann is an American physicist and linguist who received the 1969 Nobel Prize in physics for his work on the theory of elementary particles...
, and James Hartle
James Hartle
James Burkett Hartle is an American physicist. He has been a professor of physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara since 1966, and he is currently a member of the external faculty of the Santa Fe Institute...
.
Throughout his career, Dr. Robert B. Griffiiths has dedicated himself to forming a lasting link between theory and reality. Born in Etah, Uttar Pradesh in 1937 to the son of Presbyterian missionaries, Dr. Griffiths attended Woodstock School
Woodstock School
Woodstock School is a Christian, international, co-educational, residential school located in Landour, a small hill station contiguous with the town of Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, India....
, India from fourth standard to tenth, along with his brothers and sisters. Even during his Woodstock days, Dr. Griffiths' mathematical and scientific aptitude was apparent. The 1952 year book remarks that "Robert is famous for his long arguments (and unsurpassed knowledge) in chemistry class, his ability to 'recite' the log tables indelibly written in his brain, and his skill when it comes to fixing anything electrical." This knack for electrical systems kept Dr. Griffiths at Woodstock through part of 1953, working with the school's various wiring systems.
Following his time at Woodstock, Dr. Griffiths attended 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....
where he earned a BA in Physics in 1957. He then earned both an MSc and PhD in Physics from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1958 and 1962 respectively. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow of the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
, San Diego, from 1962–1964, Assistant Professor at Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
from 1964–1967, becoming Associate Professor in 1967 and Professor in 1969. Since that time, Dr. Griffiths' academic contributions have been widely recognized. Dr. Griffiths was awarded a Phi Beta Kappa in 1956, was a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow from 1962–1964, an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow from 1966–1968, a Simon Guggenheim Foundation Fellow in 1973, and was given the US Senior Scientist Award of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in 1973. In 1981, he was awarded the A. Cressy Morrison Award of the New York Academy of Sciences
New York Academy of Sciences
The New York Academy of Sciences is the third oldest scientific society in the United States. An independent, non-profit organization with more than members in 140 countries, the Academy’s mission is to advance understanding of science and technology...
, in 1984, the Dannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics, and in 1987 he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences.
Within his work and research, Dr. Griffiths' primary focus has been in the field 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...
. Of the research, he has noted that "Quantum mechanics is hard to understand not only because it involves unfamiliar mathematics, but also because the usual discussion in textbooks about how to relate the mathematics to the real world is incomplete." It is this application of quantum information to the "real world" that Dr. Griffiths strives for. In 1984, he initiated a research program which sought to supply the missing link between theory and application while working out an entirely consistent form of quantum theory. Along with contributions of several key colleagues, the project eventually resulted in what is now commonly called the consistent (or decoherent) history approach to quantum theory, now effectively studied and applied in several areas of the field of quantum mechanics.
At present, Dr. Griffiths is the Otto Stern University Professor of Physics at Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
. He has published over 140 articles, as well as the book Consistent Quantum Theory. He is a member of the Society of the Sigma Xi, a Fellow of the American Physical Society and a Fellow of the American Scientific Affiliation. Dr. Griffiths' research interests continue to include the foundations of quantum mechanics, quantum computation, and the relation of physical science and Christian theology.