Yanbei Chen
Yanbei Chen
Professor of Physics
B.S., Peking University, 1999; Ph.D., Caltech, 2003. Visiting Associate, Caltech, 2005-07; Assistant Professor, 2007-10; Associate Professor, 2010-13; Professor, 2013-.
Research Interests: Theoretical Gravitational-Wave Physics; Quantum Information
Overview
Since 1999, I have been doing theoretical research on gravitational-wave physics. Gravitational waves are "ripples" of space-time curvature. They were first predicted by Albert Einstein, as a consequence of his general theory of relativity. Because gravitational waves are weak, and because they are generated by exotic objects and processes, gravitational wave research really involves many disciplines of physics. I've worked on several different aspects.
Selected Awards
- Simons Investigator, 2018 (re-apointed in 2023)
- Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, 2016 (as contributor to the discovery of gravitational waves)
- Gruber Cosmology Prize, 2016 (as member of the LIGO Discovery Team)
- Fellow of the American Physical Society, 2015
- CAREER Award, National Science Foundation (USA), 2010 - 2015
Selected Awards
- Simons Investigator, 2018 (re-apointed in 2023)
- Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, 2016 (as contributor to the discovery of gravitational waves)
- Gruber Cosmology Prize, 2016 (as member of the LIGO Discovery Team)
- Fellow of the American Physical Society, 2015
- CAREER Award, National Science Foundation (USA), 2010 - 2015
Related News
Read more newsRelated Courses
Ph 129 abc. Mathematical Methods of Physics.
9 units (4-0-5); second, third terms, 2025-26.
Prerequisites: Ma 2 and Ph 2 abc, or equivalent.
Mathematical methods and their application in physics. First term focuses on group theoretic methods in physics. Second term includes analytic methods such as complex analysis, differential equations, integral equations and transforms, and other applications of real analysis. Third term covers probability and statistics in physics. Each part may be taken independently.
Part a not offered 2025-26.
Instructors: Y. Chen, Kapustin
Instructors: Y. Chen, Kapustin
Ph 237. Gravitational Radiation.
9 units (3-0-6); third term, 2025-26.
Prerequisites: Ph 106 b, Ph 12 b or equivalents.
Special topics in Gravitational-wave Detection. Physics of interferometers, limits of measurement, coherent quantum feedback, noise, data analysis.
Instructor: Y. Chen
Instructor: Y. Chen