Alexander Vilenkin
 |
Alexander Vilenkin | |
|---|---|
| Олександр Віленкін; | |
 Alexander Vilenkin at Harvard University | |
| Born | May 13, 1949 |
| Nationality (legal) | American |
| Alma mater | University at Buffalo |
| Known for | Eternal inflation Borde–Guth–Vilenkin theorem |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physical cosmology |
| Institutions | Tufts University |
Alexander Vilenkin (Russian: Алекса́ндр Виле́нкин; Ukrainian: Олександр Віленкін; born 13 May 1949) is the Leonard Jane Holmes Bernstein Professor of Evolutionary Science and Director of the Institute of Cosmology at Tufts University.[2][3] A theoretical physicist who has been working in the field of cosmology for 25 years, Vilenkin has written over 260 publications.[4]
Work
In 1982, Paul Steinhardt presented the first model of eternal inflation, Vilenkin showed that eternal inflation is generic.[5] Furthermore, working with Arvind Borde and Alan Guth, he developed the Borde–Guth–Vilenkin theorem, showing that a period of inflation must have a beginning and that a period of time must precede it.[6] This represents a problem for the theory of inflation because, without a theory to explain conditions before inflation, it is not possible to determine how likely it is for inflation to have occurred. Evidence exists[clarification needed] to suggest that the probability is very small, resulting in an initial conditions problem.[citation needed]
He also introduced the idea of quantum creation of the universe from a quantum vacuum. Moreover, his work in cosmic strings has been pivotal.[clarification needed] [according to whom?]
As an undergraduate studying physics at the University of Kharkiv, Vilenkin turned down a job offer from the KGB, causing him being blacklisted from pursuing a graduate degree.[7][8] Then he was drafted onto a building brigade and later worked at the state zoo as a night watchman while conducting physics research in his spare time.[7][9]
In 1976, Vilenkin immigrated to the United States as a Jewish refugee,[9] obtaining his Ph.D. at Buffalo. His work has been featured in numerous newspaper and magazine articles in the United States, Europe, Soviet Union, and Japan, and in many popular books.[citation needed]
Books
- Many Worlds in One: The Search for Other Universes (July 2006).
- Cosmic Strings and Other Topological Defects by A. Vilenkin, E. P. S. Shellard, Alexander Vilenkin, and E. Paul S. Shellard (Paperback - Jul 31, 2000)
Notes
- ^ American Men and Women of Science, Thompson Gale, 2005.
- ^ "Alexander Vilenkin". Tufts Institute of Cosmology. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
- ^ "Named Professorships". Tufts School of Arts and Sciences. Tufts University. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
- ^ "Alexander Vilenkin Research References". Research Gate. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
- ^ Vilenkin, Alexander (1983). "Birth of Inflationary Universes". Phys. Rev. D. 27 (12): 2848–2855. Bibcode:1983PhRvD..27.2848V. doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.27.2848.
- ^ Borde, Arvind; Guth, Alan; Vilenkin, Alexander (2003). "Inflationary Spacetimes Are Incomplete in Past Directions". Phys. Rev. Lett. 90 (15): 151301. arXiv:gr-qc/0110012. Bibcode:2003PhRvL..90o1301B. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.90.151301. PMID 12732026.
- ^ a b MENCONI, DAVID. "TO FIND HERSELF AS A MUSICIAN, ALINA SIMONE FIRST HAD TO FIND HER RUSSIAN ROOTS Archived November 17, 2017, at the Wayback Machine", Tufts Magazine, 2010.
- ^ Freedman, David H. "The Mediocre Universe", Discover Magazine, 01 February 1996.
- ^ a b STOBER, DAN. "Physicist: Universes pop up ad infinitum", Stanford News, 01 April 2009.
External links
- Publications of Alexander Vilenkin @ INSPIRE-HEP
- Interview with Tufts cosmologist Alex Vilenkin on his new book, "Many Worlds in One: The Search for Other Universes" on the podcast and public radio interview program ThoughtCast.
- Inflationary spacetimes are not past-complete
- Interview with Vilenkin on "New Books in Astronomy"
- Lecture by Vilenkin on "Proving the Universe Had a Beginning"
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