Holger Bech Nielsen (born 25 August 1941) is a Danish theoretical physicist and professor emeritus at the Niels Bohr Institute, at the University of Copenhagen, where he started studying physics in 1961.
Holger Bech Nielsen | |
|---|---|
 Prof. Holger Bech Nielsen | |
| Born | 25 August 1941 |
| Nationality | Danish |
| Known for | String theory Nielsen–Ninomiya theorem Nielsen–Olesen string Nielsen–Olesen vortex U(1) family symmetry |
| Awards | Humboldt Prize (2001) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Theoretical physics |
| Institutions | University of Copenhagen |
Work
editNielsen has made original contributions to theoretical particle physics, specifically in the field of string theory. Independently of Nambu and Susskind, he was the first to propose that the Veneziano model was actually a theory of strings,[1] leading him to be considered among the fathers of string theory. He was awarded the Humboldt Prize in 2001 for his research. Several physics concepts are named after him, e.g. Nielsen–Olesen vortex and the Nielsen-Ninomiya no-go theorem for representing chiral fermions on the lattice. In the original Dual-Models, which later would be recognized as the origins of string theory, the Koba-Nielsen variables are also named after him and his collaborator Ziro Koba.
Nielsen is known in Denmark for his enthusiastic public lectures on physics and string theory, and he is often interviewed in daily news, especially on matters regarding particle physics.
In a series of papers uploaded to arXiv.org in 2009, Nielsen and fellow physicist Masao Ninomiya proposed a radical theory to explain the seemingly improbable series of failures preventing the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) from becoming operational. The collider was intended to be used to find evidence of the hypothetical Higgs boson particle. They suggested that the particle might be so abhorrent to nature that its creation would ripple backward through time and stop the collider before it could create one, in a fashion similar to the time travel Grandfather paradox.[2] Subsequently, the LHC claimed the discovery of Higgs boson on 4 July 2012.[3]
Nielsen is a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ H. B. Nielsen, "An almost physical interpretation of the dual N point function", Nordita preprint (1969); unpublished
- ^ Dennis Overbye (2009-10-12). "The Collider, the Particle and a Theory About Fate". New York Times.
- ^ atlas.ch Archived 2012-07-07 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Gruppe 2: Fysikkfag (herunder astronomi, fysikk og geofysikk)" (in Norwegian). Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
Further reading
edit- Leake, J. (18 October 2009) A particle God doesn’t want us to discover The Sunday Times
- Nielsen, H. B. & Ninomiya, M. (2009) Test of Effect from Future in Large Hadron Collider; A Proposal
- Nielsen, H. B. & Ninomiya, M. (2009) Search for Future Influence from LHC
- Nielsen, H. B. & Ninomiya, M. (2009) Card game restriction in LHC can only be successful!
External links
edit- Holger Bech Nielsen, personal page.
- Teorien om alting/The Theory of Everything, Internet Movie Database.
- Videnskaben eller Gud?/Science Or God? Archived 2006-09-26 at the Wayback Machine, webpage about the book in Danish.