CAP Medal Press Release - 2016 Herzberg

The Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) is pleased to announce that the 2016 CAP Herzberg Medal is awarded to Roger Melko, University of Waterloo and Perimeter Institute, in recognition of for his contributions to theoretical condensed matter physics, particularly large scale computer simulations which elucidate timely issues in the physics of strongly correlated electronic systems. announcement

Dr. Roger Melko is a pioneer and world leader in the modern multidisciplinary field of quantum many-body physics. He has made major contributions to our understanding of strongly interacting condensed-matter systems through large-scale computer simulations. The innovative new models and algorithms developed by Melko have enhanced the reach of computational methods and enabled the exploration of new physical phenomena.

Through the creative use of cutting-edge simulations, he has produced numerous groundbreaking results, including identifying exotic new phases of quantum matter, characterizing quantum phase transitions, and demonstrating emergent topological phenomena. His development of an innovative new approach to evaluate entropic measures of entanglement with quantum Monte Carlo simulations in 2010 was a breakthrough. His methods are now widely used and, as a result, entanglement is now broadly recognized as a useful diagnostic in the study of quantum matter by condensed matter physicists around the world.

The ability to study entanglement with quantum Monte Carlo techniques has facilitated new synergies between a variety of fields, including topological quantum computing, quantum field theory, and quantum gravity. Recently, using his new approach, Melko discovered and characterized new universal physics in quantum critical theories. This work has far-reaching implications for the theory of quantum phase transitions, renormalization-group fixed points, and the relationship between the underlying geometrical structure of correlations in conformal field theories and their higher-dimensional gravity duals. nominator citation

The CAP Herzberg medal recognizes outstanding achievement in any field of research by an early-career Canadian physicist (i.e. successfully defended their doctoral thesis within the 12 years prior to the award). The annual CAP Herzberg Medal was introduced in 1970. Prior to 2011, the medal was awarded for outstanding achievement by a Canadian physicist under the age of 40.

Prof. Melko will be presented with his medal by 2015 Physics Nobel Prize winner Art McDonald with congratulatory handshake from His Excellency The Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, at the Recognition Gala at the Shaw Centre on Thursday, June 16, 2016. The Gala is the closing event of the CAP Congress hosted by the University of Ottawa, in Ottawa, Ontario, from June 13-17. Please refer to the Congress program (http://www.cap.ca/en/congress/2016) for the schedule of plenary talks by CAP medal winners. medal description

ABOUT the Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP)

The Canadian Association of Physicists, founded in 1945, is a professional association representing over 1600 individual physicists and physics students in Canada, the U.S. and overseas, as well as a number of Corporate, Institutional, and Departmental Members. In addition to its learned activities, the CAP, through its charitable arm - the CAP Foundation, also undertakes a number of activities intended to encourage students to pursue a career in physics. cap description

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For more information, please contact:

Mrs. Francine Ford, Executive Director
Canadian Association of Physicists
Tel: 613-562-5614
E-mail: cap@uottawa.ca
www.cap.cacap contact and joint contact

The 2016 CAP Herzberg Medal

Roger Melko