PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Robert B. Griffiths

Also known as Robert Budington Griffiths

Robert B. Griffiths is a physicist whose work on quantum foundations extends into quantum information and computation. He studied at Princeton and Stanford, joined Carnegie Mellon’s physics department in 1964, and became Otto Stern University Professor in 1979. He introduced the consistent histories approach in 1984 and joined the National Academy of Sciences in 1987. His 1996 paper with Chi-Sheng Niu presented a semiclassical Fourier transform for Shor’s factoring algorithm; his 2003 book Consistent Quantum Theory explained the approach, and as of October 2026 he is Otto Stern University Professor Emeritus at Carnegie Mellon.

Works
295
Citations
20,117
h-index
64

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 15 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. 1957–1962

    Studying physics

    He earns an A.B. at Princeton in 1957, an M.S. at Stanford in 1958 and a Ph.D. there in 1962.

  2. 1964–1979

    A professorship at Carnegie Mellon

    At Carnegie Mellon, he joins the physics department in 1964, becomes a professor in 1969 and takes the Otto Stern University Professor of Physics post in 1979.

  3. 1984

    The consistent histories approach

    In 1984, he initiates the consistent histories approach at Carnegie Mellon and develops it with Murray Gell-Mann, James Hartle and Roland Omnès.

  4. 1987

    National Academy membership

    He joins the National Academy of Sciences in 1987.

  5. 1996

    A semiclassical Fourier transform

    His work in quantum information and computation includes a 1996 paper with Chi-Sheng Niu that presents a semiclassical Fourier transform for Shor’s factoring algorithm, replacing two-bit gates with fewer one-bit gates controlled by classical signals.

  6. 2003

    Consistent Quantum Theory

    In 2003, he publishes Consistent Quantum Theory, a detailed introduction to the consistent histories approach that analyzes quantum paradoxes.

  7. 2014

    Gaining emeritus status

    He gains emeritus status in 2014.

  8. As of October 2026

    Professor emeritus at Carnegie Mellon

    As of October 2026, he is Otto Stern University Professor Emeritus at Carnegie Mellon.

Sources and credits

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  1. Collection: Robert B. Griffiths papers | Carnegie Mellon University Archives findingaids.library.cmu.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  2. The Consistent Histories Approach to Quantum Mechanics | Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy plato.stanford.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  3. CMU Quantum Theory Group quantum.phys.cmu.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  4. Robert Griffiths | Department of Physics | Carnegie Mellon University cmu.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  5. Semiclassical Fourier Transform for Quantum Computation | Phys. Rev. Lett. journals.aps.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  6. University Professors | Carnegie Mellon University cmu.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.