Institute of Theoretical Physics, Saclay

After its move in 1968 from the main CEA-Saclay site to the present site of Orme des Merisiers, quantum field theory became a major research topic, together with statistical physics.

Subsequently, new topics such as conformal theories and matrix models, cosmology and string theory, condensed matter physics and out-of-equilibrium statistical physics, quantum information, found their place there.

IPhT is usually considered one of the top theoretical physics research institute in Europe.

IPhT hosts numerous master and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral researchers.

Some researchers who held permanent positions at SPM/SPhT/IPhT: Claude Bloch, Édouard Brézin, Gilles Cohen-Tannoudji, Cirano de Dominicis, Bernard Derrida, Claude Itzykson, Stanislas Leibler, Madan Lal Mehta, Albert Messiah, Stéphane Nonnenmacher, Yves Pomeau, Volker Schomerus, Raymond Stora, Lenka Zdeborová, Jean Zinn-Justin, Jean-Bernard Zuber Some researchers who are presently members of IPhT:(2023) Roger Balian, Jean-Paul Blaizot, François David, Philippe Di Francesco, Michel Gaudin, David Kosower, Vincent Pasquier, Mannque Rho, Hubert Saleur, Pierre Vanhove, André Voros The IPhT is located on the Plateau de Saclay, about 20 km southwest of Paris, on the Orme des Merisiers site, which is an annex of the main CEA-Saclay center.