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Caltech
Walter Burke Institute for Theoretical Physics

Welcome

Welcome to the Walter Burke Institute for Theoretical Physics. True to the groundbreaking discoveries that have marked theoretical physics at Caltech, the Burke Institute will strengthen Caltech's leading role in humanity's quest to discover fundamental laws of nature and to explain natural phenomena at all scales—from subatomic, atomic, and molecular scales to the scales of celestial objects and the universe itself. Read more

Awards and Honors

All News
April 22, 2026
Sergei Gukov Receives AI+Math DARPA Grant
March 4, 2026
Elias Most Named 2026 Sloan Fellows
January 9, 2026
Preskill is a 2025 Highly Cited Researcher

News and Media Highlights

All News
February 9, 2026
John Preskill on NISQ, FTQC & Quantum's Future
January 9, 2026
Kim Berghaus featured in "Biggest breakthroughs in physics:2025"
October 9, 2025
New Directors Appointed to Burke Institute and Leinweber Forum

Seminars

All Events
May 11, 2026 4:00 pm

High Energy Physics Seminar

Online and In-Person Event
Noble Dark Baryons and Dark Mesons Stopped in Their Tracks
Austin Batz, University of Oregon,
May 11, 2026 4:00 pm

Quantum Matter Seminar

East Bridge 114
Inducing quantum states in materials with light
Gregory Fiete, Professor of Physics, Department of Physics, Northeastern University,
May 13, 2026 11:00 am

High Energy Theory Seminar

Online and In-Person Event
Anomalies and Non-Supersymmetric String Theory
Matilda Delgado, Harvard & MPP Munich,
Philip Hopkins
  • Faculty Interview

Philip Hopkins

Interactions in Space: An Interview with Philip Hopkins

Read More About Philip Hopkins
Hirosi Ooguri headshot
  • Faculty Interview

Hirosi Ooguri

Science Communication: A Conversation with Hirosi Ooguri

Read More About Hirosi Ooguri
Kathryn Zurek
  • Faculty Interview

Kathryn Zurek

Shining New Light on Dark Matter

Read More About Kathryn Zurek
Fernando Brandão
  • Faculty Interview

Fernando Brandão

The Power of Entanglement: A Conversation with Fernando Brandão

Read More About Fernando Brandão
Cliff Cheung
  • Faculty Interview

Cliff Cheung

The Miracle and Beauty of Physics: An Interview with Cliff Cheung

Read More About Cliff Cheung
Jason Alicea
  • Faculty Interview

Jason Alicea

From Theory to Reality: An Interview with Jason Alicea

Read More About Jason Alicea
Xie Chen
  • Faculty Interview

Xie Chen

Quantum Information Meets Condensed Matter: Inside the Mind of Xie Chen

Read More About Xie Chen
Barry Simon
  • Faculty Interview

Barry Simon

Lifetime of Numbers: Q&A with Barry Simon

Read More About Barry Simon

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