Sydney Coleman (1937-2007) was a descendant of Gauss

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In summary, Sidney Coleman (1937-2007) was a highly esteemed physicist who was celebrated by a "Sidneyfest" in 2005 at Harvard. He was known for his wit and charm, and many stories about him were collected by Betsy Devine and shared on various blogs. His PhD advisor genealogy can be traced back to the renowned mathematician Carl Gauss, and there is even a link to Galileo through Viviani.
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Sidney Coleman (1937-2007) was a descendant of Gauss

Arivero informed us of this back in 2005, about the time a celebration for the much beloved and admired Sidney Coleman was held at Harvard---the "Sidneyfest". Attended by a who's who of Nobel laureates and the like.

Anyway Arivero came up with a PhD advisor geneology for Coleman
https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=500382&postcount=23

that goes back to Carl Gauss.

a great from a line of greats

also very funny and nice, I'm led to believe, lot's of Sidney stories collected by Frank Wilczek's wife Betsy Devine
betsydevine.com/blog/2007/11/20/our-friend-sidney-coleman-has-left-the-planet/#comments
more comments at Peter Woit's blog
http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woit/wordpress/?p=620#comments

maybe someone wants to give a link

====EDIT TO REPLY TO NEXT TWO====

Robphy, thanks for pointing out :blushing: I corrected the post but the booboo is still on the index page (I can't fix things there)

Iblis, how can one trace PhD advisors back to Galileo?
I'm curious. I didn't know people wrote PhD dissertations back in Galileo's time
 
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You can make a link to Galileo this way. :smile:
 
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for galileo one could tell Viviani.
 

FAQ: Sydney Coleman (1937-2007) was a descendant of Gauss

Who was Sydney Coleman?

Sydney Coleman (1937-2007) was a renowned theoretical physicist and professor at Harvard University. He made significant contributions to the field of particle physics, including developing the "Coleman-Weinberg potential" and the "Coleman-Mandula theorem". He was also known for his work in quantum field theory and string theory.

What is Gauss's relation to Sydney Coleman?

Sydney Coleman was a direct descendant of the famous mathematician and physicist, Carl Friedrich Gauss. Gauss was Coleman's great-great-grandfather on his father's side.

How did Gauss's legacy influence Coleman's work?

As a descendant of Gauss, Coleman was exposed to mathematics and physics at a young age. This likely played a role in his interest and aptitude for these fields. Additionally, Coleman's work in theoretical physics was heavily influenced by Gauss's principle of least action, which states that physical systems tend to follow the path of least resistance.

What are some of Coleman's most notable achievements?

Coleman's contributions to theoretical physics are numerous and significant. Some of his most notable achievements include the discovery of the "Coleman-Weinberg potential", which explains the spontaneous breaking of symmetries in particle physics, and the "Coleman-Mandula theorem", which restricts the possible symmetries of physical systems.

How is Coleman remembered in the scientific community?

Coleman is remembered as a brilliant and influential physicist who made significant contributions to our understanding of particle physics and quantum field theory. He is also remembered as an exceptional teacher and mentor, having influenced the careers of many successful physicists. His legacy continues to inspire future generations of scientists.

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