Dr. Stephon Alexander

Physicist and musician Dr. Stephon Alexander has straddled the two worlds of theoretical physics and jazz music over the last two decades. He works on the connection between the smallest and largest entities in the universe pushing Einstein’s theory of curved space-time to extremes, beyond the big bang with subatomic phenomena.

Alexander is a specialist in the field of string cosmology, where the physics of superstrings are applied to address long standing questions in cosmology. In 2001, he co-invented the model of inflation based on higher dimensional hypersurfaces in string theory called D-Branes. In such models the early universe emerged from the destruction of a higher dimensional D-brane which ignites a period of rapid expansion of space often referred to as cosmic inflation.

His recent book The Jazz of Physics — full of provocative, impressionistic vignettes — explores how physics and music are interwoven both in his own life story and in the way the universe works.

2017 Festival: The Jazz of Physics

Physicist and musician Dr. Stephon Alexander shares his personal journey as both cosmologist and jazz performer. You won’t want to miss his jazz saxophone solo, either! His recent book The Jazz of Physics—full of provocative, impressionistic vignettes—explores how physics and music are interwoven both in his own life story and in the way the universe works.

Dr. Stephon Alexander – The Jazz of Physics (opens new window) from MSRI / National Math Festival (opens new window)