James Stirling was a particle physicist who contributed to the understanding of a broad range of high-energy phenomena. His primary area of expertise lay in quantum chromodynamics — the theory describing the interactions of the strong nuclear force — where he helped improve the accuracy of fundamental calculations.
As an authority on the application of theoretical models to experimental results, James had been heavily involved with studies at many of the world’s leading particle physics laboratories. His innovative analyses of scattering processes played an important role in predicting the properties of the Higgs boson, and many of his calculational techniques have now been adopted as standard practice.
In recognition of his services to science, James was awarded a CBE in the 2006 New Year’s Honours. A former Director of the Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology at Durham University, in August 2013 he became the first Provost of Imperial College London.
Professor James Stirling CBE FRS died on 9 November 2018.
Biographical MemoirSubject groups
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Astronomy and Physics
Elementary particle physics
