Introduction to the special issue dedicated to Michael J. Duff FRS on the occasion of his 70th birthday

TL;DR

This special issue celebrates Michael J. Duff's influential work in quantum gravity, branes, and M-theory, highlighting his contributions that have shaped key developments across these interconnected fields.

Contribution

It compiles pioneering research and insights from leading scientists, emphasizing Duff's foundational role and the diverse applications of his work in theoretical physics.

Findings

Recognition of superstrings as membranes in M-theory

Advances in understanding Weyl anomalies

Connections between quantum gravity and condensed matter

Abstract

This special feature, dedicated to Michael J. Duff FRS on the occasion of his 70th birthday, concerns topics in 'Quantum gravity, branes and M-theory'. These three intertwining subjects have been central to Duff's work; indeed many of his contributions have come to define significant aspects of what we actually mean by these terms. From the discovery of Weyl anomalies to recognising superstrings in 10 dimensions as a special case of membranes in an 11-dimensional M-theory, Duff's insights have shaped major developments across these themes. So it is an apposite setting for such a celebration and we are delighted to be able to include in this collection contributions from many of the pioneers of quantum gravity, branes and M-theory. The breadth of these topics has placed little constraint on the multiplicity of ideas appearing in these pages, from astrophysical black holes to chaotic condensed matter. Again, this is fitting as Duff's scientific remit spans a remarkable diversity of motifs, from the fundamentals of M-theory to entanglement in quantum information.