public function createIdentity(String $name)
    {

        //initialize the principal
        $principal = null;

        // query whether or not a principal class name has been specified
        if ($this->principalClassName == null) {
            $principal = new SimplePrincipal($name);
        } else {
            $reflectionClass = new ReflectionClass($this->principalClassName->__toString());
            $principal = $reflectionClass->newInstanceArgs(array($name));
        }

        // return the principal instance
        return $principal;
    }