Itzhak Bars

Itzhak Bars is a Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Southern California (USC), part of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. He holds visiting professorships at CERN's Theory Division, Princeton University's Department of Physics, and the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, where he was a Distinguished Visiting Research Chair (2017-2018). His research focuses on theoretical physics with emphasis on two-time physics (2T-physics), string theory, cosmology, and quantum gravity.

Education: Ph.D. in Physics from Yale University (1971). Postdoctoral training not explicitly detailed but inferred from academic trajectory.

Research Interests: Bars explores foundational questions in theoretical physics, including the unification of fundamental forces via 2T-physics, which proposes a framework with two universal times. His work addresses spacetime singularities, antigravity phenomena, and cyclic cosmology models. He investigates dualities between quantum systems, such as the hydrogen atom and harmonic oscillators, leveraging hidden symmetries like SO(d,2). His contributions to string theory include non-commutative geometry approaches and background-independent formulations.

Awards & Honors:

• 2017-2018: Distinguished Visiting Research Chair at Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics

Advising & Collaborations: While specific student names are not listed, Bars' research groups at USC and visiting institutions likely advise graduate students in theoretical physics. His work intersects with cosmology, quantum gravity, and string theory communities.

Labs & Affiliations: Active at CERN, Princeton University, and Perimeter Institute, contributing to collaborative efforts in theoretical physics. His USC affiliation includes the Department of Physics and Astronomy, where he maintains an office in the Seaver Science Center (SSC 216B).