Ian Affleck

Ian Keith Affleck (July 2, 1952 – October 4, 2024) was a Canadian physicist specializing in condensed matter physics. He was Killam University Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia.

Ian Affleck was born in Vancouver, British Columbia on July 2, 1952. He studied theoretical aspects of condensed matter physics, including high temperature superconductivity, low dimensional magnetism, quantum dots and quantum wires.

Affleck made many important contributions to theoretical and mathematical physics. He began his career in high energy theory (HEP), and has successfully applied many techniques from HEP to condensed matter. In particular, he has applied conformal field theory techniques to low dimensional magnetism, Kondo effects and quantum impurity problems. In doing so, he enjoyed finding "mathematically elegant solutions" to problems. He was also a member of the CIFAR's Superconductivity Program and the Cosmology and Gravity Program.

Affleck held numerous awards including the 2006 CAP Medal for Lifetime Achievement and the 2014 DCMMP Brockhouse Medal. He was elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society in 2002 and a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2010.

Affleck died on October 4, 2024, at the age of 72.