Xie Chen
Eddleman Professor of Theoretical Physics, Director, Walter Burke Institute for Theoretical Physics
B.S., Tsinghua University China, 2006; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2012. Assistant Professor, Caltech, 2014-17; Associate Professor, 2017-19; Professor, 2019-24; Eddleman Professor, 2024-; Director, 2025-.
Research Interests: Topological Phenomena in Strongly Correlated Quantum Many-Body Systems; Quantum Condensed Matter; Quantum Information
Overview
I am a condensed matter theorist, interested in studying quantum mechanical systems with a large number of degrees of freedom and how the constituent degrees of freedom cooperate with each other to realize amazing emergent phenomena.
Selected Awards
- Simons Investigator, 2021
- New Horizon in Physics Prize, 2020
Selected Awards
- Simons Investigator, 2021
- New Horizon in Physics Prize, 2020
Leadership
- Director, Walter Burke Institute for Theoretical Physics, 2025-present
Leadership
- Director, Walter Burke Institute for Theoretical Physics, 2025-present
Related News
Read more newsRelated Courses
Ph 1 abc. Classical Mechanics and Electromagnetism.
9 units (4-0-5); first, second, third terms, 2025-26.
A year-long introductory course on classical physics. Topics: Newtonian mechanics in Ph 1 a; electricity and magnetism, and special relativity, in Ph 1 b, c. Emphasis on physical insight and problem solving. Ph 1 b, c is divided into two tracks: the Practical Track emphasizes order-of-magnitude estimations; the Analytic Track teaches and uses methods of multivariable calculus. Students enrolled in the Practical Track are encouraged to take Ph 8 bc concurrently. Students will be given information helping them to choose a track at the end of fall term.
Instructors: Ravi, Patterson, X. Chen
Instructors: Ravi, Patterson, X. Chen