Climbing the mountain : the scientific biography of Julian Schwinger

This is the first biography ever written on the distinguished physicist Julian Schwinger. Schwinger was one of the most important and influential scientists of the twentieth century. The list of his contributions is staggering, from his early work leading to the Schwinger action principle, Euclidean quantum field theory, and the genesis of the standard model, to later valuable work on magnetic charge and the Casimir effect. He also shared the 1965 Nobel Prize in Physics with Richard Feynman. However, even among physicists, understanding and recognition of his work remains limited. This book by Mehra and Milton, both of whom were personally acquainted with Schwinger, presents a unique portrait that sheds light on both his personality and his work through discussion of his lasting influence on science. Anyone who wishes to gain a deeper understanding of one of the great physicists of this century needs to read this book. Julian Schwinger Was One Of The Leading Theoretical Physicists Of The Twentieth Century. His Contributions Are As Important, And As Pervasive, As Those Of Richard Feynman, With Whom (and With Sin-itiro Tomonaga) He Shared The 1965 Nobel Prize For Physics. Yet, While Feynman Is Universally Recognized As A Cultural Icon, Schwinger Is Little Known Even To Many Within The Physics Community. This Biography Aims To Describe Schwinger's Life And Research Contributions To A Wider Audience. This Biography Describes The Many Strands Of His Research Life, While Tracing The Personal Life Of This Private And Gentle Genius.--jacket. Kimball A. Milton And Mehra, Jagdish.. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. Julian Seymour Schwinger was born on 12 February 1918 ('just five score and nine years after the birthday of Abraham Lincoln') in New York City into a middle class family.