Physicist Aharonov Awarded Million Dollar Prize

Quantum theorist Yakir Aharonov, who joined the Mason faculty for the fall semester, was one of the recipients of the $1 million EMET Prize. The award is given annually for excellence in academic and professional achievements that have a far-reaching influence and make a significant contribution to society. The award is given by the Israeli AMN Foundation for the Advancement of Science, Art, and Culture.

Aharonov’s work has widely influenced many areas of modern physics, including optics, nuclear physics, chemistry, and laser and molecular physics. Aharonov, with the late physicist David Bohm, received the Wolf Prize in 1998 for the discovery of the Aharonov–Bohm Effect, one of a small number of cornerstones for optimizing quantum coherences in principle and in applications.

Aharonov previously held faculty appointments at Tel Aviv University in Israel and the University of South Carolina.