2013 Dirac Medal and Prize awarded to T. Kibble, P. Peebles, M. Rees

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2013 DIRAC MEDAL AND PRIZE


On the occasion of the birthday of P.A.M.Dirac
we take pleasure in announcing that the 2013 Dirac Medal and Prize
have been awarded to

Professor Thomas W.B. Kibble
Imperial College, London, UK

Professor Phillip James E. Peebles
Princeton University, USA

Professor Martin John Rees
University of Cambridge, UK


The 2013 Dirac Medal and Prize have been awarded to Professors Thomas W.
Kibble (Imperial College, London, UK), Phillip James E. Peebles (Princeton
University, USA) and Martin John Rees, Baron Rees of Ludlow (University of
Cambridge, UK) for their independent, ground-breaking work throughout
their careers elucidating many aspects of fundamental physics, cosmology
and astrophysics.

Professor Kibble has made major contributions to the physics of
spontaneous symmetry breaking and to its cosmological implications. His
studies substantially contributed to the development of the standard model
of particle physics and showed the cosmological role of topological
defects such as domain walls, cosmic strings and monopoles that set
important constraints on physical theories of the early universe and may
have implications for structure formation.

Professor Peebles has been a leading figure in cosmology over the years.
He was one of the first scientists to predict the existence of the cosmic
microwave background and to study its implications for early universe
cosmology. He has also made major contributions to all areas of cosmology
including nucleosynthesis, dark matter, dark energy and structure
formation.

Professor Rees has made numerous important contributions to cosmology and
astrophysics, including the origin of quasars and active galactic nuclei,
the prediction of supermassive black holes at the centre of galaxies, the
physics of gamma ray bursts, the polarisation of the cosmic microwave
background and the study of dark matter and of the first luminous objects.


Directorate, ICTP