Maxim A. Metlitski

Maxim A. Metlitski is an Associate Professor of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), affiliated with the Department of Physics. His research focuses on condensed matter theory, particularly topological phases of matter such as quantum Hall states and topological insulators. He explores novel excitations, non-trivial braiding statistics, and protected edge modes in these systems. His work also addresses dualities in gauge theories, quantum criticality, and entanglement in many-body systems.

Education:

• BSc in Physics and Mathematics (2003), University of British Columbia, Canada
• MSc in Physics (2005), University of British Columbia, Canada
• PhD in Physics (2011), Harvard University

Metlitski’s research bridges topological phases with seemingly unrelated problems like the quantum Hall fluid at 1/2 filling factor and quantum magnet phase transitions. His theoretical conjectures on gauge theory dualities have advanced understanding of non-Fermi-liquid behavior in metals. He leads the Condensed Matter Theory Group at MIT and has been recognized with the 2020 New Horizons Prize in Physics.

Key Contributions:

• Developed lattice models for topological insulator boundaries
• Explored duality mechanisms in Majorana fermion systems
• Identified new 't Hooft anomalies in 3+1D fermionic SPT phases