What is Joseph Polchinski?
[[File:Joseph Polchinski.jpg|right|200px]] '''Joseph Polchinski''' (May 16, 1954 – February 2, 2018) was an American [[theoretical physicist]] and [[string theory|string theorist]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://francis.naukas.com/2018/02/03/joe-polchinsky-1954-2018-la-teoria-de-cuerdas-esta-de-luto/ |title=Joe Polchinski (1954-2018): La teoría de cuerdas está de luto |website=La Ciencia de la Mula Francis |language=es-ES |access-date=2018-02-03}}</ref> He was born in [[White Plains, New York|White Plains]], [[New York]]. Polchinski wrote the two-volume textbook ''String Theory'', published in 1998. Among his many contributions to [[theoretical physics]], [[D-branes]] are the best known. In 2008 he won the [[Dirac Medal]] for his work in [[superstring theory]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ictp.it/about-ictp/prizes-awards/the-dirac-medal/the-medallists-%281%29/dirac-medallists-2008.aspx |title=ictp.it |access-date=2018-02-05 |archive-date=2015-06-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623065430/http://www.ictp.it/about-ictp/prizes-awards/the-dirac-medal/the-medallists-(1)/dirac-medallists-2008.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> He won the 2017 [[Fundamental Physics Prize]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.news.ucsb.edu/2016/017440/another-major-breakthrough |title=Another Major Breakthrough |last=Leachman |first=Shelly |date=December 5, 2016 |website=[[University of California, Santa Barbara]] |access-date=December 5, 2016}}</ref> Polchinski died on February 2, 2018 in [[Santa Barbara, California]] at the age of 63.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://chancellor.ucsb.edu/memos/?2.2.2018.Sad.News...Professor.Emeritus.Joseph.Polchinski |title=Obituary: Professor Emeritus Joseph Polchinski |last=Yang |first=Henry T. |date=2 February 2018 |website=UC Santa Barbara}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Polchinski, Joseph}} [[Category:1954 births]] [[Category:2018 deaths]] [[Category:American physicists]] [[Category:Scientists from New York (state)]] {{US-bio-stub}}