Karl-Erik Eriksson: Some Reminiscences of Gunnar Källén’s Role in Sweden

Abstract

It is difficult to remember how I met Gunnar Källén the first time. I had heard stories about him. It was said that he could be quite polemic and even arrogant in scientific discussions, in particular in discussions with physicists of high international standing. I probably first met Gunnar when he visited CERN in 1960 during my time as a fellow at the Theory Division. I was a graduate student from Uppsala University where Ivar Waller was my professor. I did not notice the slightest sign of arrogance when I met Gunnar. He was only friendly and encouraging.

My wife Kristina and I went to spend Christmas 1960 in Sweden. Along the way home, we stopped in Lund to visit Gunnar. Thinking back on this, I realize that Gunnar’s attitude to younger colleagues must have been quite unusual. I was an Uppsala student working at CERN, whom he had met only quite briefly, and he took the trouble to invite me and Kristina to visit him and his wife Gunnel in Lund. We had a good supper in their home and a nice friendly conversation. At this time Kristina was expecting our first child. The next year, in Genève, Kristina gave birth to a boy, who for several reasons was given the name Gunnar. I remember very well a comment by Gunnar at the supper in Lund. Over the years, Kristina has reminded me about it from time to time. Gunnar said that it is quite common among scientists to get stuck in the topic of one’s thesis and to stay there for the rest of one’s research career without widening the field of interest.