MAVERICK MATHEMATICIAN The Life and Science of J.E. Moyal MAVERICK MATHEMATICIAN The Life and Science of J.E. Moyal Ann Moyal Published by ANU E Press The Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200, Australia Email:
[email protected] Web: http://epress.anu.edu.au National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Moyal, Ann (Ann Mozley), 1926- . Maverick mathematician : the life and science of J.E. Moyal. Includes index. ISBN 1 920942 58 0 (pbk). ISBN 1 920942 59 9 (online) 1. Moyal, J. E. 2. Dirac, P. A. M. (Paul Adrien Maurice), 1902- - Correspondence. 3. Mathematicians - Australia - Biography. 4. Aerospace engineers - Australia - Biography. 5. Quantum theory - Mathematics. I. Title. 510.92 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Indexed by Dr Ann Moyal. Cover design by Teresa Prowse. Portrait by Linda Phillips, 1992. This edition © 2006 ANU E Press To Mimi Hurley, my sister and J.E.M.’s friend. Table of Contents Acknowledgements vii Preface xi Chapter 1. Boyhood 1 Chapter 2. The Making of a Scientific Maverick 9 Chapter 3. Battle With a Legend 19 Chapter 4. The Widening Circle 45 Chapter 5. Antipodean Winds 61 Chapter 6. Argonne National Laboratory 79 Chapter 7. Macquarie University 91 Chapter 8. The Reflective Years 103 Appendix I. Publications of J.E. Moyal 119 Appendix II. P.A.M. Dirac – J. E. Moyal: Correspondence, 1944-1946. Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science, Canberra, MS 45/3/ 123 Appendix III.