Richard Feynman fromMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyBachelor degree[6]；Obtained in 1942Princeton University Doctoral degree, attended in the same year“Manhattan Project ”[5]；Entered in 1945Cornell UniversityTeaching;In 1951, he was transferred to the California Institute of Technology to teach, and the teaching content during this period was compiled into《Lectures on Feynman Physics》[1]；In 1954, he was elected as an academician of the National Academy of Sciences;1965 Nobel Prize in Physics[29]；He died in Los Angeles, California on February 15, 1988, aged 69[4][27]。
Richard Feynman was born in New York on May 11, 1918, and grew up in Farokway on the south coast of Long Island.
In 1935, he entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to study, initially majoring in mathematics and electrical engineering, and then turned to physics.
In 1939, he graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was appointed as Putnam Fellow. Later, he took the postgraduate entrance examination for physics at Princeton University and got full marks[8]；In September, he entered Princeton University to study as a graduate student[8], Tutor isJohn Archibald Wheeler (John Archibald Wheeler), devoted to the difficult problem of quantum mechanics: divergence difficulty.
In 1946, Feynman was the fourth from the left in the second row, next to Oppenheimer.
In June 1942, he graduated from Princeton University with a doctor's degree in theoretical physicsPrinciple of minimum action（The Principle of Least Action in Quantum Mechanics）》；In the same year, he was recruited as a member of the American Atomic Bomb Program at Princeton UniversityLos Alamos National Laboratory(Los Alamos National Laboratory), participated in the "Manhattan Project". Richard Feynman is one of the members of the talent team of the Manhattan Project, which is responsible for developing the atomic bomb[5]。
In 1945, after the "Manhattan Plan" ended, he joined Cornell University as a teacher;On July 16, I watched the world's firstAtomic bombExplosion in Alamogordo, New Mexico.
In 1951, he was transferred to the California Institute of Technology as a visiting professor.
In 1954, he was elected as a member of the National Academy of Sciences[30]。
In 1959, he served as Professor of Theoretical Physics at California Institute of Technology.
From September 1961 to May 1963, he taught the course of College Elementary Physics at California Institute of Technology, and the recording was edited into Feynman Lectures on Physics with the help of colleagues.
In 1965, due to the achievements in quantum electrodynamicsJulian Schwinger （Julian.Schwinger）、Chaoyong ZhenichiroAnd won the Nobel Prize in Physics.
In 1986,Space Shuttle ChallengerAfter the crash, Richard Feynman was entrusted to investigate the cause of the crash. He did an O-ring demonstration experiment. With only a glass of ice water and a rubber ring, he revealed to the public in the United States Congress the fundamental cause of the challenger's crash - the loss of elasticity of rubber at low temperatures.
On February 15, 1988, due toPeritoneal carcinomaDied in Los Angeles, California, aged 69[2][9]。
Key achievements
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Scientific research achievements
Overview of scientific research
Richard Feynman developed the method of expressing quantum amplitude by path integral in the 1940s, and proposed a new theoretical form, calculation method andRenormalization method, thus avoidingQuantum electrodynamicsDivergence difficulty in.Feynman diagram was first proposed by Feynman in the late 1940s to describe the interaction between fields, which can concisely reflect the essence of the process. It has changed the way of conceptualizing and mathematically processing physical processes[4]。
Richard Feynman is not influenced by Schrodingerwave functionAnd Heisenberg'sMatrix mechanicsDue to the limitation of these two methods, it is independently proposed to use the space time description of transition amplitude to deal with the probability problem.Starting from the basic assumption of probability amplitude superposition, he used the expression form of action quantity to sum the amplitudes of all possible paths from one space time point to another space time point.This method is simple and clear, and has become the third expression of quantum mechanics[5]。
In 1968, Richard Feynman proposed the hadron structure model in high-energy collisions based on the deep inelastic electron scattering experiment and the scale independence of J.D. Bjorken.This model believes that hadrons are composed of many point particles, which are calledParton（parton）。The parton model is relatively successful in explaining high-energy experimental phenomena. It can better describe high-energy processes such as deep inelastic scattering of leptons on nucleons, electron pair annihilation, hadron and high-energy hadron scattering, and gradually enrich the physical image of hadron structure in explaining these processes[4]。
Richard Feynman established the solution for liquid heliumSuperfluidThe mathematical theory of phenomena.He andMurray GelmanSome groundbreaking work has been done in the field of weak interaction, such as beta decay[28]。He proposed the straton model of high-energy proton collision processQuark theoryPlayed an important role in the development of[42]。
Journal paper
Richard Feynman published two papers on Physical Review during his undergraduate period, one of which was jointly written with Manuel Vallarta, entitled "The Scattering of Cosmic Rays by the Stars of a Galaxy".The other is his graduation thesis on "Forces in Molecules", which is based on an idea of John C. Slater. Later, this formula was called the Hermann Feynman theorem[8]。Representative papers are as follows[21]：
Wheeler J A, Feynman R P. Interaction with the absorber as the mechanism of radiation[J]. Reviews of modern physics, 1945, 17(2-3): 157.
Feynman R P. A theorem and its application to finite tampers[R]. Los Alamos National Lab.(LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States), 1946.
Welton T A, Feynman R P. Neutron Diffusion in a Space Lattice of Fissionable and Absorbing Materials[R]. Los Alamos Scientific Lab., N. Mex.(US), 1946.
Feynman R P, Metropolis N, Teller E. Equations of state of elements based on the generalized Fermi-Thomas theory[J]. Physical Review, 1949, 75(10): 1561.
Feynman R P. Space-time approach to non-relativistic quantum mechanics[J]. Reviews of modern physics, 1948, 20(2): 367.
Feynman R P. A relativistic cut-off for classical electrodynamics[J]. Physical Review, 1948, 74(8): 939-946.
Feynman R P. Relativistic cut-off for quantum electrodynamics[J]. Physical Review, 1948, 74(10): 1430-1438.
Wheeler J A, Feynman R P. Classical electrodynamics in terms of direct interparticle action[J]. Reviews of modern physics, 1949, 21(3): 425-433.
Feynman R P. The Theory of Positrons[J]. Physical Review, 1949, 76(6): 749-759.
Feynman R P. Space-time approach to quantum electrodynamics[J]. Physical Review, 1949, 76(6): 769-789.
Feynman R P. Mathematical formulation of the quantum theory of electromagnetic interaction[J]. Physical Review, 1950, 80(3): 440-457.
Feynman R P. An operator calculus having applications in quantum electrodynamics[J]. Physical Review, 1951, 84(1): 108-128.
Feynman R P. The λ-transition in liquid helium[J]. Physical Review, 1953, 90(6): 1116-1117.
Feynman R P, De Hoffmann F, Serber R. Dispersion of the neutron emission in U-235 fission[J]. Journal of Nuclear Energy (1954), 1956, 3(1-2): 64-IN10.
Cohen M, Feynman R P. Theory of inelastic scattering of cold neutrons from liquid helium[J]. Physical Review, 1957, 107(1): 13-24.
Feynman R P. There’s plenty of room at the bottom[J]. Engineering and science, 1959, 23(5): 22-36.
Feynman R P. What is science[J]. The Physics Teacher, 1969, 7(6): 313-320.
Feynman R P. The development of the space‐time view of quantum electrodynamics[J]. Physics Today, 1966, 19(8): 31-44.
Feynman R P. Structure of the proton[J]. Science, 1974, 183(4125): 601-610.
Feynman R P. Cargo cult science[M]//The art and science of analog circuit design. Newnes, 1998: 55-61.
Feynman R P, Kleinert H. Effective classical partition functions[J]. Physical Review A, 1986, 34(6): 5080-5084.
Feynman R P. Rogers Commission Report, Volume 2 Appendix F-Personal Observations on Reliability of Shuttle[J]. NASA, 1986.
Feynman R P. Difficulties in applying the variational principle to quantum field theories[C]//Variational Calculations in Quantum Field Theory: Proceedings of the Internationsl Workshop. Edited by POLLEY L. 1988: 28-40.
Fundamental Particles and the Laws of Physics: The 1986 Dirac Memorial Lectures
Richard Feynman
Cambridge University Press
0-521-34000-4
1995
Lectures on Gravity
Written by Richard Feynman, edited by Brian Hatfield
Addison Wesley Longman
0-201-62734-5
1997
Feynman's Lost Picture: The Motion of Planets Around the Sun
Written by Richard Feynman, Edited by Wentger
London: Vintage
0-09-973621-7
2000
Feynman Lectures on Computation
Written by Richard Feynman, edited by Hay Toni and Alan Robertson
Perseus Books Group
0-7382-0296-7
Reference source:[10]
Biographical Science Popularization
Publication time
Book name
author
press
ISBN
1985
Stop it, Mr Feynman: Sure You're Joking,Mr. Feynman!: Adventures of a Curious Character）
Written by Richard Feynman, edited by Leiden Ralph
W. W. Norton & Co.
0-393-01921-7
1988
What Do You Care What Other People Think?: Further Adventures of a Curious Character
Written by Richard Feynman, edited by Leiden Ralph
W. W. Norton & Co.
0-393-02659-0
1996
No Ordinary Genius: The Illustrated Richard Feynman
Written by Richard Feynman, edited by Sykes Christopher
W. W. Norton & Co.
0-393-31393-X
1994
Six Easy Pieces: Essentials of Physics Explained by Its Most Brilliant Teacher
Richard Feynman
Perseus Books
0-201-40955-0
1997
Six Not So Easy Pieces: Einstein's Relativity,Symmetry and Space-Time）
Richard Feynman
Addison Wesley
0-201-15026-3
1998
The Meaning of It All: Thoughts of a Citizen Scientist
Richard Feynman
Perseus Publishing
0-7382-0166-9
1999
The Pleasure of Finding Things Out: The Best Short Works of Richard P. Feynman[18]
Written by Richard Feynman, edited by Jeffrey Robbins
Perseus Books
0-7382-0108-1
2005
Classic Feynman: All the Adventures of a Curious Character
Written by Richard Feynman, edited by Leiden Ralph
W. W. Norton & Co.
0-393-06132-9
Reference source:[10]
Audio Video
S/N
name
type
remarks
December 29, 1959
There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom[31]
audio frequency
Lecture of California Institute of Technology
1964
The Messenger Lectures
audio frequency
Cornell University Lectures
1964
Strangeness Minus Three[20]
video
BBC Horizon episode
1972
Take the world from another point of view
videotape
February 6, 1975
Los Alamos From Below[15]
audio frequency
Speech in Santa Barbara
1979
The Douglas Robb Memorial Lectures[16]
Four public lectures
1981
The Pleasure of Finding Things Out[17]
BBC Horizon episode
1983
Fun to Image Collection
Short film
Six short films of BBC
1983
Quantum Mechanical View of Reality
video
Workshop at Esalen
1984
Tiny Machines: The Feynman Talk on Nanotechnology[11]
video
1985
Idiosyncratic Thinking Workshop
video
1988
Bits and Pieces From Richard's Life and Times
video
The Feynman Lectures on Physics
audio frequency
Organize and edit into a book
Computers From the Inside Out
video
No Ordinary Genius[12]
video
Christopher Sykes documentary
Richard Feynman The Best Mind Since Einstein[13]
video
documentary
The Motion of Planets Around the Sun[14]
audio frequency
Feynman's final speech
Nature of Matter
audio frequency
Reference source:[19]
Aesthetic art
Richard Feynman was fascinated by the lines and structures of painting in his later years. He felt that his love for art was closely related to physics - both were expressing the beauty and complexity of the natural world[3]。
Richard Feynman believes that education is to express complex ideas in simple language;Teachers don't understand others, because they don't really understand[22]。
Richard Feynman advocates bold exploration and innovation in physics learning and research;In physics teaching, we should combine theory with practice;Multi dimension of physics teaching objectives;Change the concept of education and teaching, and pursue the innovation of education and teaching;Pursue scientific originality and emphasize the integration of theory with practice;Explore the natural method correctly;The knowledge acquired by this method increases the ability to do new things[23]。
From 1949 to 1952, Richard Feynman was invited toBrazilAfter ten months of intermittent teaching, he was invited to give a speech at the end of the year to comment on Brazilian education.The trip to Brazil was sponsored by the U.S. government plan. He went to Rio University in Brazil to teach students advanced courses in electromagnetics[24]。
Compile teaching materials
According to the recording of Feynman's lectures at California Institute of Technology from September 1961 to May 1963《Lectures on Feynman Physics(The Feynman's Pictures on Physics), including Volume I: Mechanics, Radiation, and Heat, Volume II: Electromagnetism and Matter, and Volume III: Quantum Mechanics[1]And Feynman's Tips on Physics[41]。
Feynman diagramFeynman Diagram is a visualized method created by Richard Feynman, who proposed the third way to establish quantum mechanics, to conveniently deal with the interaction diagram of various particles in the quantum field[35]。
feynman rules
feynman rules (Feynman Rules) refers to the relationship between the Feynman diagram and the formula used in the specific calculation[36]。
Feynman propagator
Quantum electrodynamics is solved by Dirac equation and Klein Gordon equation. The former describes the change of electron probability amplitude, and the latter describes photons. These two quantities are calledFeynman propagator（Feynman Propagators）[37]。
Personal life
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Family background
Richard Feynman's father is Melville Feynman, and his mother is Lucille Phillips. His parents are both Jews. His sister Joan Feynman, 9 years younger than him, became a physicist later[38]。
Richard Feynman's parents had no narrow and bigoted religious ideas about their children's education.When he was still sitting in a high chair for children, his father bought a set of white and blue tiles for the bathroom, and put them in various ways to teach him shapes and simple arithmetic principles.When he grew up, his father took him to the museum, read him Encyclopedia Britannica, and taught him how to think[38]。
In October 1946, Richard Feynman's father Melville died after a stroke[38]。
marriage and family
Photo of Feynman and Irene
In 1941, Richard Feynman married Arline Greenbaum. They fell in love with each other since high school, and were officially engaged after six years of dating.When Richard Feynman went to Princeton University to study further, Irene found that she had a lump in her neck, and she had been tired and had a low fever for several months. She was diagnosed with tuberculosis.Shortly after Richard Feynman received his doctorate, he managed to get a charity hospital near Princeton University to accept Eileen Greenbaum.On June 29, 1942, on the way to the Charity Hospital, a security officer presided over their wedding ceremony[39]。
In the spring of 1943, Richard Feynman moved to Los Alamos Laboratory. Robert Oppenheimer, the project host of the Manhattan Project, found a hospital in Abuquiki, 60 miles north of Los Alamos, and let Erin Greenbaum live there, so that Richard Feynman could work at ease.
On June 16, 1945, Richard Feynman's first wife, Irene Greenbaum, died.After that, he began to learn to appreciate music and also learned to paint.
In 1960, Richard Feynman married Gweneth Howarth. His son Carl Richard was born in April 1961. In 1968, he adopted his daughter Michelle Catherine[4]。
health
Richard Feynman suffered from several rare cancers at the end of his life, and his kidney almost failed[33]。
Anecdotes of characters
Richard Feynman discovered the singing technique of Humai and has been looking forward to itHoomei Origin of——Tuva(Tuvas), but failed to do so[40]。
"Richard Feynman was a towering figure in 20th century physics,always curious, always modest, always ebullient, always willing to share his deep insights with students and colleagues）[8]。(Comments by Marvin Goldberger, former president of California Institute of Technology)
Richard Feynman "can be said to be the most outstanding, anti traditional and influential person among the post-war generation of theoretical physicists" (arguably the most brilliant,iconoclastic and influential of the postwar generation of theoretical physicists）[33]。（《New York Times》Obituary review)
Richard Feynman made important contributions to the quantum theory of radiation and to his illustration of behavior of considerations of the atom,of the atomic nucleus and of the subnuclear particles）[32]。(National Medal of Science)
On May 11, 2018, in order to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Richard Feynman's birth, Caltech will hold a two-day special event to invite his friends and family and some top scientists to participate[7]。
