Erik Verlinde

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Erik Verlinde
Erik Verlinde in 2009
Born	Erik Peter Verlinde (1962-01-21) 21 January 1962 (age 62) Woudenberg, Netherlands
Nationality	Dutch
Alma mater	Utrecht University
Known for	Verlinde algebra Matrix string theory Entropic gravity Emergent gravity
Awards	Spinoza Prize (2011)
Scientific career
Fields	Theoretical physics
Institutions	Princeton University University of Amsterdam
Thesis	Conformal field theory and its application to strings (1988)
Doctoral advisor	Bernard de Wit
Doctoral students	Miranda Cheng

Erik Peter Verlinde (Dutch: [ˈeːrɪk ˈpeːtər vərˈlɪndə]; born 21 January 1962) is a Dutch theoretical physicist and string theorist. He is the identical twin brother of physicist Herman Verlinde. The Verlinde formula, which is important in conformal field theory and topological field theory, is named after him. His research deals with string theory, gravity,^[1] black holes and cosmology. Currently,^[2] he works at the Institute for Theoretical Physics at the University of Amsterdam.

At a symposium at the Dutch Spinoza-institute on December 8, 2009 he introduced a theory of entropic gravity. In this theory, gravity exists because of a difference in concentration of information in the empty space between two masses and its surroundings; he also extrapolates this to general relativity and quantum mechanics. He said in an interview with the newspaper de Volkskrant,^[3] "On the smallest level Newton's laws don't apply, but they do for apples and planets. You can compare this to the pressure of a gas. Molecules themselves don't have any pressure, but a barrel of gas has." It appears that Verlinde's approach to explaining gravity leads naturally to the correct observed strength of dark energy.^[4]