Particle Physicist Douglas Grant Michael Dies

January 12, 2006

Michael grew up in Arizona. He earned his bachelor's degree at Stanford University in 1982, and his doctorate at Harvard University in 1990, both in physics. His thesis reported experimental work on deep inelastic muon scattering done on the Tevatron at Fermilab; his thesis adviser was Francis Pipkin. Although it is most unusual for an undergraduate to use a major particle accelerator for an independent experiment, in 1982 at Stanford, Doug and another senior conceived, built, and operated a NaI(Tl) and plastic scintillator experiment at SLAC's electron-positron collider to observe the low energy photon spectrum produced from the J/psi, a particle discovered in 1974.

After completing his Ph.D., he joined the MACRO experiment at Caltech and spent several years engaged in the search for magnetic monopoles, hypothetical particles that produce a magnetic field analogous to the electric field created by ordinary electric charges, and other rare phenomena at an underground laboratory near Gran Sasso, Italy. During this time, Doug was involved in many aspects of the construction and mounting of liquid scintillation counters for the experiment, and often acted as its "floor manager." Ultimately, no monopoles were found, but the experiment set the world's best limit on their density in our universe.

In 1991 other physicists reported anomalies in the ratio of electrons to muons originating from high-energy cosmic rays. The leading contender among various ideas for the underlying cause of the anomaly was that neutrinos oscillate from one type to another as they propagate through space. Doug immediately began thinking seriously about an experiment designed to optimally study such neutrino oscillations. By 1994, further experiments, including MACRO, produced strong evidence for the oscillation hypothesis and Doug's design studies became the basis for a proposal to Fermilab for a major experiment, now called MINOS (Main Injector Neutrino Oscillation Search). It is a collaborative effort consisting of about 150 physicists from institutions in many countries around the world. Since its inception, Michael played a key role in the design, construction, management, and scientific leadership of MINOS. At the time of his death, he was one of the two spokesmen for the experiment.

Doug had a broad and deep interest in the natural world and was always ready to explain to anyone, anywhere, what he was doing and why it was important. He was featured on Alan Alda's Scientific American Frontiers television program in January, 1995, leading Alda in an underground tour of the MACRO experiment; it is rumored that Alda still occasionally comments about the particularly maniacal scientist he met under a mountain in Italy. Doug was deeply knowledgeable and strongly passionate about each of his many interests. His well-developed sense of humor made it a pleasure to discuss anything with him, from physics, to the subtle flavor of a rare botanical, to music. He was an accomplished pianist, artist, gourmet cook, and wine connoisseur. His family, many friends, and scientists throughout the world loved and respected him. They will miss his wisdom, intelligence, and zest for life.

A memorial service will be held in the Salvatori Room, S. Mudd building, at the California Institute of Technology at 2 p.m. on January 28, 2006. In lieu of flowers, donations in Doug Michael's memory may be made to the Lymphoma Research Foundation, 111 Broadway, 19th Floor, New York, New York, 10006.