Scientific Autobiography, A: S Chandrasekhar

by Kameshwar C Wali (Editor)

Overview

S Chandrasekhar, popularly known as Chandra, was one of the foremost scientists of the 20th century. The year 2010 marks the birth centenary of Chandra. His unique style of research, inward bound, seeking a personal perspective to master a particular field, and then pass on to another was so unique that it will draw considerable interest and attention among scholars.As Chandra elucidates in the preface, “The various installments describe in detail the evolution of my scientific work during the past forty years and records each investigation, describing the doubts and the successes, the trials and the tribulations. And the parts my various associates and assistants played in the completion of the different investigations are detailed”. It is indeed a remarkable and rare document, fascinating to read and experience the joys, frustrations and struggles of a creative mind.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789814299572
Publisher:	World Scientific Publishing Company, Incorporated
Publication date:	01/05/2011
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	6.69(w) x 9.61(h) x 0.69(d)

Table of Contents

Dedication v

Foreword Kameshwar C. Wali vii

Preface S. Chandrasekhar xiii

I A History of My Papers on "Radiative Equilibrium"(1943-1948) 3

II Turbulence; Hydromagnetism (1948-1960) 21

III The Development of the Virial Method and Ellipsoidal Figures of Equilibrium (1960-1970) 55

IV General Relativity (1962-1969) 75

V The Fallow Period (1970-1974) 91

VI General Relativity; Ryerson Lecture; Separation of Dirac Equation (January 1975-August 1977) 109

VII General Relativity; Kerr-Newman Perturbations (August 1977-December 1978) 127

VIII 1979 - A Year of Failures and of Obligations 139

IX 1980, 1981: The Mathematical Theory of Black Holes 151

X Postscript: 1982, a Year that Passed 185

XI The Beginning of the End (1983-1985) 187

XII Continued Efforts I (September 1985-May 1987) 199

XIII Continued Efforts II (May 1987-September 1989) 213

XIV Continued Efforts III (September 1989-October 1991) 231

XV Continued Efforts IV (November 1991-December 1994) 251

Notes & Comments Kameshwar C. Wali 259