Bio

What is the origin and the global structure of the universe?

For a long time, scientists believed that our universe was born in the big bang, as an expanding ball of fire. This scenario dramatically changed during the last 35 years. Now we think that initially the universe was rapidly inflating, being in an unstable energetic vacuum-like state. It became hot only later, when this vacuum-like state decayed. Quantum fluctuations produced during inflation are responsible for galaxy formation. In some places, these quantum fluctuations are so large that they can produce new rapidly expanding parts of the universe. This process makes the universe immortal and transforms it into a multiverse, a huge fractal consisting of many exponentially large parts with different laws of low-energy physics operating in each of them.

Professor Linde is one of the authors of inflationary theory and of the theory of an eternal inflationary multiverse. His work emphasizes the cosmological implications of string theory and supergravity.

Current areas of focus:

- Construction of realistic models of inflation based on supergravity and string theory
- Investigation of conceptual issues related to the theory of inflationary multiverse

Academic Appointments

Administrative Appointments

  • Harald Trap Friis Professor in Physics, Stanford University (2008 - 2015)
  • Professor of Physics, Stanford University (1990 - Present)
  • Professor, Lebedev Physical Institute (1985 - 1989)
  • Junior Research Fellow, Lebedev Physical Institute (1975 - 1985)

Honors & Awards

  • Gamow Prize, Russian-American Science Association (2018)
  • Kavli Prize in Astrophysics, The Kavli Foundation (2014)
  • Member, The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters (2014)
  • Fundamental Physics Prize, Fundamental Physics Prize Foundation (2012)
  • Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2011)
  • Correspondent Member, Academy of Sciences and Humanties in Hamburg (2010)
  • Member, National Academy of Sciences (2008)
  • Medal of the Institute of Astrophysics, Institute of Astrophysics (2006)
  • Thomson Scientific Laureate in Physics, Thomson Reuters (2006)
  • Robinson Prize for Cosmology, Newcastle University (2005)
  • Humboldt Research Award, The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (2004)
  • Peter Gruber Prize for Cosmology, The Gruber Foundation (2004)
  • Dirac Medal, International Centre for Theoretical Physics (2002)
  • Oskar Klein medal, Stockholm University (2001)
  • Lomonosov Award, Academy of Sciences of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1978)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations

  • Staff Member, European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) (1989 - 1990)

Professional Education

  • Ph.D., Lebedev Physical Institute, Physics (1975)
  • B.S., Moscow State University, Physics (1971)

Contact

  • Academic
    alinde@stanford.edu
    University - Emeritus faculty Department: Physics Position: Emeritus Faculty, Acad Council
    • 382 VIA PUEBLO MALL
    • STANFORD,  California  94305 
    (650) 725-6544 (fax)
    University - Other Teaching/Research Department: Physics Position: Professor Emeritus (650) 725-6544 (fax)

Additional Info

  • Mail Code: 4060
  • Profile:
    Professor of Physics, one of the authors of inflationary cosmology, which is the latest version of the Big Bang theory
  • ORCID:
    https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4421-9824

Links

2024-25 Courses

Stanford Advisees

All Publications

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4421-9824