A BRIEF HISTORY OF FTPI

摘要

The creation of the Theoretical Physics Institute is a direct consequenceof Bill Fine's lifelong interest in the physical sciences. In the early 1980's Bill Fine and Steve Gasiorowicz had a number of conversations on the current advances in the understanding of the fundamental laws of physics. In this context, Bill asked the question of how he could contribute to the advancement of physics, and responded very warmly to the suggestion of the formation of an institute devoted to theoretical physics. The response of the University of Minnesota to the first proposals for such an institute were so cautious that it did not seem likely that these ideas would bear fruit. It was therefore critical that Gloria Lubkin entered the picture at this time. She pointed out that the proposals themselves were on too small a scale, and that it was necessary to bring in the top levels of the University administration into the planning. She suggested bringing in Leo Kadanoff as spokesman and potential director to give reality to the proposal. In the summer of 1986, during a festive and intense get together in Minneapolis, Bill and Leo, with strong support by Chuck Campbell, outgoing head of the School of Physics and Astronomy, and Marvin Marshak, his successor, persuaded then-President Ken Keller of the merits of building a Theoretical Physics Institute at the University. Building on a very generous pledge by Bill Fine, the University committed itself to matching Bill's gift to create two chairs (subsequently split into three), and to provide permanent funding of a magnitude to support an active, vibrant institute. The Theoretical Physics Institute (TPI) officially came into existence at the end of January 1987. Steve Gasiorowicz was appointed acting director, and during the period 1987-89 conducted a vigorous search for a director. There was no predetermined choice of fields that were to be covered, but the goal of the TPI was to become a center of theoretical physics research of the highest quality, so as to make a permanent impact on that field. Right from the start it was envisaged that the first goal of the director would be the recruitment of a first-rate faculty to the TPI. The faculty, guided by the director and the newly created oversight committee, were to set the direction of activity at the TPI. The TPI would serve as a center of attraction for postdocs and long- and short-term visitors, and to help in the rapid dissemination of new directions in research through timely workshops in a variety of fields of physics.