Peter H. Fisher

Thomas A. Frank (1977) Professor of Physics
Head of the Office of Computing and Data
Associate Vice President of Research
My research interests are the detection of dark matter and primordial black holes, as well as the classical/quantum interface of electrodynamics.
Research Areas
Particle Physics Experiment, Astrophysics Observation, Instrumentation, and Experiment
Office: 26-403
Affiliated Center(s): MIT Laboratory for Nuclear Science
Assistant: Charlotte Wirth

Research Interests

Dark matter, primordial black holes, electrodynamics

Biographical Sketch

Peter Fisher, the Thomas A. Frank (1977) Professor of Physics, was appointed associate vice president for research in October 2022. He also serves as head of MIT’s newly established Office of Research Computing and Data. Fisher served as head of the Department of Physics from 2013 to 2022 and led the Experimental Nuclear and Particle Physics Division from 2002 to 2013.

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In the news

School of Science appoints 11 faculty members to named professorships

Those selected for these positions receive additional support to pursue their research and develop their careers.

Awards & Honors

  • 2021 // Appointed Thomas A. Frank (1977) Professor of Physics (MIT)
  • 2020 // American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow
  • 2013-2022 // Department Head, Physics
  • 2011 // Buechner Faculty Award for Teaching (MIT)
  • 2006 // American Physical Society Fellow "For initiating Tau Polarization Asymmetry Measurements and W-Boson self couplings, leading to a top mass prediction (found later at FNAL). First proof of single W-production in e+ e- annihilation. Determination of sin20w with proposal to expand to highest accuracy of 10-5 at LHC."
  • 2000 // Buechner Faculty Award for Teaching (MIT)

Key Publications

  • “First Results from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station: Precision Measurement of the Positron Fraction in Primary Cosmic Rays of 0.5-350 GeV,” AMS Collaboration, Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, no. 14, 141102 (2013).

  • “Measurement of the directional sensitivity of Dark Matter Time Projec- tion Chamber detectors,” C. Deaconu, M. Leyton, R. Corliss, G. Druitt, R. Eggleston, N. Guerrero, S. Henderson, J. Lopez, J. Monroe and P. Fisher, Phys. Rev. D 95 (2017) no.12, 122002 doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.95.122002 [arXiv:1705.05965 [astro-ph.IM]].

  • “A measurement of tau polarization at LEP”, L3 Collaboration, Phys. Lett. B341, 245 (1994).

  • “Limits on Cold Dark Matter”, Caltech-PSI-Neuchatel Collaboration, Phys.Lett. B255 (1991)143.

All publications