Walter Greiner
Walter Greiner (1935 –) is a German theoretical physicist. His research interests lie in atomic physics, heavy ion physics, nuclear physics, elementary particle physics (particularly in quantum electrodynamics and quantum chromodynamics). He is known for his many highly regarded books in theoretical physics, particularly in Germany but also around the world.
Biography
Greiner was born on 29 October 1935, in Neuenbau at Sonnenberg.
He studied physics at the University of Frankfurt, receiving a BSci in physics, a masters degree in 1960 with a thesis on Plasma-reactors, and a PhD in 1961 at the University of Freiburg under Hans Marshal, with a thesis on the nuclear polarization in μ-mesic atoms. During 1962-1964 he was assistant professor at the University of Maryland, followed by a Research Associate, University of Freiburg, 1964.
Starting in 1965, he became a full professor at the Institute for Theoretical Physics at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, as director until 1995.
Greiner has been a visiting professor to many universities and laboratories, including Florida State University, the University of Virginia, the University of California, the University of Melbourne, Vanderbilt University, Yale University, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory.
After his retirement in 2003, he founded in 2004 together with Wolf Singer , the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS) and gives lectures and seminars to elementary particle physics.
Family
His son Carsten Greiner is a professor of theoretical physics at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt. His son Martin Greiner is Professor of System Engineering/Sustainable Energy Systems at the University of Aarhus and deals with wind energy research.
Graduate students
His doctoral students include Hartmuth Arenhövel, Ulrich Mosel, Berndt Müller, Michael Soffel, Horst Stöcker, Johann Rafelski, Gerhard Soff, Joachim Maruhn, E. D. Mshelia, Andreas Schäfer, Burkhard Fricke, Paul-Gerhard Reinhard, and Joachim Reinhardt.
Awards
Greiner has received numerous scientific awards, eight-time honorary doctorates and several honorary professor. Many of his students are holders of chairs at home and abroad or an employee renowned scientific institutions.
Books
- W. Greiner. Classical Mechanics: Point Particles and Relativity.
- W. Greiner. Classical Electrodynamics.
- W. Greiner. Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics.
- W. Greiner. Quantum Mechanics: An introduction.
- W. Greiner. Quantum Mechanics: Symmetries.
- W. Greiner. Relativistic Quantum Mechanics.
- W. Greiner. Field Quantization.
- W. Greiner. Quantum Electrodynamics.
- W. Greiner. Quantum Chromodynamics.
- W. Greiner. Gauge Theory of Weak Interactions.