[cmath] The 2012 CAP-CRM Prize in Theoretical and Mathematical Physics awarded to Luc Vinet

[Suzette Paradis]

The 2012 CAP-CRM Prize in Theoretical and Mathematical Physics awarded to Luc Vinet 

[le francais suit]

Montreal, April 26, 2012 - The Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) and the
Centre de recherches mathematiques (CRM) are pleased to announce that the 2012
CAP-CRM Prize In Theoretical And Mathematical Physics is awarded to Luc Vinet,
University of Montreal, his outstanding and continued contributions to mathematical
physics, mainly based on the study of symmetries, algebraic structures, and special
functions.

Luc Vinet is one of Canada's leading mathematical and theoretical physicists who has
made outstanding contributions in numerous areas. The unifying feature of his
research is the innovative use of group theoretical and algebraic methods, the
emphasis on exact solutions of physical problems and the originality of his
approach. He has made important contributions that have had great impact on both
physics and mathematics. His early remarkable work was on gauge field theories in
particular on exact invariant solutions of Yang –Mills equations in Minkowski space.
Also early in his career he identified the symmetries and supersymmetries of
magnetic monopole systems. He explored various algebraic structures appropriate to
describe symmetries in different physical problems. These go well beyond standard
Lie groups and algebras. They include polynomial, quantum, super- and parasuper-
algebras. He is very well known for his influential work on quantum many body
problems and for his application of this work to a proof of the long outstanding Macdonald conjecture
on properties of multivariate orthogonal polynomials. His contributions to the
symmetry theory of difference and q-difference equations are truly pioneering.
Remarkably, Vinet's scientific career was not interrupted by his heavy
administrative duties as Director of the Centre de Recherches Mathematiques, then
Provost of McGill University and finally Rector of the Universite de Montreal. He
continued to publish highly innovative work during his administrative tenure and
is now going through a new burst of creativity. Quite recently, in 2011, he has
discovered new families of orthogonal polynomials, associated to reflections.
These have already found many applications. In the context of quantum information
theory, he has shown how spin chains can be used to design perfect quantum wires.

The CAP-CRM Prize in Theoretical and Mathematical Physics is intended to recognize
research excellence in the fields of theoretical and mathematical physics. This
prize was first introduced in 1995 and has been awarded annually since.

Dr. Vinet will be presented with the 2012 CAP-CRM Prize in Theoretical and
Mathematical Physics at the 2012 CAP Congress (hosted by the University of Calgary
in Calgary, Alberta, from June 11-15) at the end of his plenary talk and will be
recognized during the Congress banquet to be held on Thursday, June 14th, 2012.
Please refer to the Congress program for the schedule of plenary talks by CAP medal
winners.

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 also undertakes
a number of activities intended to encourage students to pursue a career in physics.
________________________________________________________________________________


Le prix ACP-­CRM de physique theorique et mathematique 2012 a Luc Vinet


Montreal, le 26 avril 2012 - L'Association canadienne des physiciens et physiciennes
(ACP) et le Centre de recherches mathematiques (CRM) sont fiers d'annoncer que le
Prix ACP-CRM de physique theorique et mathematique 2012 sera decerne a Luc Vinet ses
contributions exceptionnelles et constantes a la physique mathematique,
principalement sur l'etude des symetries, des structures algebriques et des
fonctions speciales.

Luc Vinet est au Canada l'un des grands physiciens mathematiciens et theoriciens
dont la contribution est remarquable dans divers domaines. Les elements unificateurs
de sa recherche sont l'emploi novateur de methodes theoriques et algebriques en
groupe, l'accent place sur les solutions exactes aux problemes physiques et
l'originalite de son approche. Ses importantes contributions auront une incidence
profonde a la fois en physique et en mathematique. Ses premiers travaux remarquables
portent sur les theories des champs de jauge, en particulier sur les solutions
invariables exactes aux equations Yang-Mills dans l'espace de Minkowski. De plus, au
debut de sa carriere, M. Vinet decouvrira des symetries et des supersymetries aux
systemes monopolaires magnetiques. Il explorera diverses structures algebriques
appropriees pour decrire les symetries de differents problemes physiques, qui vont
bien au-dela des groupes de Lie et des algebres normales et englobent l'algebre des polynômes, 
l'algebre quantique, la super-algebre et la parasuper-algebre. Il acquerra une notoriete 
par son oeuvre influente sur les problemes quantiques a N corps et par son application 
de ces travaux a prouver la conjecture de Macdonald, non resolue depuis longtemps, sur les proprietes des
polynômes orthogonaux multivaries. Les contributions de M. Vinet a la theorie de la
symetrie des equations de difference et de difference Q sont vraiment
d'avant-garde. Fait etonnant, sa carriere scientifique ne sera pas interrompue par
ses lourdes tâches administratives de directeur du Centre de recherches
mathematiques, puis de vice-recteur a l'enseignement et a la recherche a
l'Universite McGill et enfin, de recteur de l'Universite de Montreal. M. Vinet
continuera de publier des travaux hautement novateurs en depit de ses fonctions
administratives et il connaît actuellement un nouvel elan de creativite. Il
decouvrira, tout récemment en 2011, de nouvelles familles de polynômes orthogonaux 
associes a ses reflexions, qui trouvent deja bien des applications. Dans le contexte de
la theorie de l'information quantique, M. Vinet demontrera comment les chaînes de
spin peuvent servir a concevoir des fils quantiques parfaits.

Le prix de l'ACP-CRM en physique theorique et mathematique vise a souligner
l'excellence dans le domaine de la recherche theorique et mathematique. Ce prix a
ete creee en 1995 et est decernee annuellement depuis. Le prix ACP-CRM en physique
theorique et mathematique 2012 sera octroyee a Dr. Vinet durant le congres ACP 2012
(qui se tiendra du 11 au 15 juin 2012 a l'Universite de Calgary, a Calgary, Alberta)
a la fin de sa session pleniere et sera honore au banquet du congres du jeudi 14
juin 2012. Veuillez consulter le programme du congres de
l'ACP pour l'horaire des sessions plenieres des recipiendaires des medailles.

L'Association canadienne des physiciens et physiciennes, fondee en 1945, est une
association professionnelle qui represente plus de 1600 physiciens et etudiants en
physique au Canada, aux Etats-Unis et outre-mer ainsi qu'un certain nombre de
societes et etablissements membres.  Outre ses activites specialisees, l'ACP en
exerce d'autres qui visent a inciter les etudiants a faire carriere en physique.


Source :         
Centre de recherches mathematiques
communications at crm.umontreal.ca
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