Dr. Isaac Silvera

Biography

Isaac F. Silvera is the Thomas D. Cabot Professor of Natural Sciences at Harvard University, specializing in condensed matter physics with a focus on cold particles. His research interests include ultra-high pressure and low-temperature physics, particularly the properties and phase transitions of hydrogen and its isotopes. Silvera's work notoriously includes the successful laboratory observation of the Wigner-Huntington transition to atomic metallic hydrogen at pressures of 5 megabars (500 GPa) and low temperatures, a significant contribution to the understanding of hydrogen under extreme conditions. His research employs advanced techniques such as Raman scattering, infrared spectroscopy, and synchrotron x-ray studies to investigate new phases of molecular hydrogen isotopes, including a phase termed 'hydrogen-A' at pressures exceeding 1.5 megabars. Current projects also extend into superconductivity studies in hydrogen and deuterium. Silvera's extensive contributions to science are driven by his fundamental understanding of high-pressure physics and its practical implications for quantum fluids and superconductivity.

Research Interests