Freeman Dyson

American physicist and mathematician. Famous for work in quantum field theory, solid state physics and nuclear engineering

[ Born: 1923 / Berkshire, England. ]

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• 1949 - demonstrated that the different formulations of quantum electrodynamics, (Feynmans path-integral formulation and Schwinger and Tomonaga’s operator method) were equivalent.
• Along with A. Lenard proved that the exclusion principle applied to electrons and protons generates the classical macroscopic normal force of bulk matter.
• From 1957-1961, Dyson worked on the Orion project which proposed the possibility of space travel via nuclear pulse propulsion. The project was abandoned after a treaty banned all nuclear testing above ground.
• Published many ideas and future concepts such as the Dyson Sphere (an artificial biosphere that intelligent civilisations might build entirely around their sun), the Dyson Tree (a genetically engineered plant capable of growing on a comet) along with theories on space exploration and colonisation.

Trivia - Dyson is a long time member of JASON, an independent group of scientists who advise the US government on matters of Science and Technology, though he was opposed to the Vietnam War, Gulf war and invasion of Iraq.

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