Michael Green (physicist) facts for kids

Michael Boris Green, born on May 22, 1946, is a famous British physicist. He is known as one of the first scientists to explore string theory. This is a big idea in physics that tries to explain how everything in the universe works. He has taught at important universities like Cambridge and Queen Mary University of London. From 2009 to 2015, he held the special title of Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge, a position once held by Isaac Newton and Stephen Hawking.

Early Life and Learning

Michael Green was born in London to Genia and Absalom Green. He went to William Ellis School in London. Later, he studied at Churchill College, Cambridge. In 1967, he earned his first degree in theoretical physics. In 1970, he completed his PhD, focusing on the theory of tiny particles.

Career Journey

After finishing his PhD, Michael Green continued his research at several top universities. These included Princeton University, Cambridge, and the University of Oxford. For many years, from 1978 to 1993, he was a lecturer and professor at Queen Mary University of London. In 1993, he became a professor of theoretical physics at the University of Cambridge.

A very special moment in his career was when he became the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics in 2009. This is one of the most famous academic jobs in the world. He took over from Stephen Hawking and held this position until 2015.

Amazing Discoveries

Michael Green is best known for his groundbreaking work in string theory. This theory suggests that the smallest parts of the universe are not tiny dots, but rather tiny, vibrating strings.

Working with another scientist, John Henry Schwarz, he helped discover something called "type II string theory" in 1982. A few years later, in 1984, they made another huge discovery. They found a way to fix a problem in string theory called "anomaly cancellation." This discovery, known as the Green–Schwarz mechanism, was so important that it started what scientists call the "First Superstring Revolution." It made many scientists excited about string theory.

Green also worked on ideas like D-branes. These are like surfaces or membranes where the ends of the strings can attach. His work has helped us understand more about how the universe might be built.

Top Awards and Honors

Michael Green has received many important awards for his work in physics. These include:

• The Maxwell Medal and Prize and the Paul Dirac Medal from the Institute of Physics in the UK.
• The Dirac Medal from the International Centre for Theoretical Physics.
• The Dannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics from the American Physical Society.

In 1989, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the UK. He has also written over 150 research papers, sharing his discoveries with the world.

In 2013, Michael Green shared the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics with John Henry Schwarz. They received this prize "for opening new perspectives on quantum gravity and the unification of forces." This means their work helped scientists think in new ways about how gravity works at a tiny level and how all the forces in the universe might be connected.

Important Books

Michael Green has co-authored important books that explain string theory:

• Green, M., John H. Schwarz, and E. Witten. Superstring Theory. Vol. 1, Introduction. Cambridge Monographs on Mathematical Physics. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1988. ISBN: 9780521357524.
• Superstring Theory. Vol. 2, Loop Amplitutes, Anomalies and Phenomenology. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1988. ISBN: 9780521357531.