B. S. Chandrasekhar

B. S. Chandrasekhar (1910-1995) was an Indian physicist and Nobel laureate who made significant contributions to the field of theoretical physics. He is best known for his work on black holes, the Chandrasekhar limit, and the Chandrasekhar equation. He was also a prolific writer, having authored over 300 scientific papers and several books.

Early Life and Education

B. S. Chandrasekhar was born in Lahore, India on October 19, 1910. His father, S. Chandrasekhar, was a professor of mathematics at the University of Madras. His mother, Sitalakshmi, was a homemaker. Chandrasekhar was the youngest of three children.

Chandrasekhar attended the University of Madras, where he earned a bachelor's degree in physics in 1930. He then went on to pursue a master's degree in physics at the University of Cambridge in England. While at Cambridge, he worked with the renowned physicist, Sir Arthur Eddington, and was awarded a fellowship to continue his research.

Career and Achievements

In 1933, Chandrasekhar returned to India and joined the faculty of the University of Calcutta as a professor of physics. He was later appointed as the head of the department of physics at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore.

In 1935, Chandrasekhar published his first major work, "The Dynamical Theory of Gaseous Masses," which laid the foundation for his later work on black holes. In the same year, he was awarded the Adams Prize from the University of Cambridge for his work on stellar structure.

In 1938, Chandrasekhar was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the structure and evolution of stars. He was the first Indian to receive the Nobel Prize in Physics.

In the 1940s, Chandrasekhar worked on the theory of black holes and developed the Chandrasekhar limit, which states that a star with a mass greater than 1.4 times the mass of the Sun will collapse into a black hole. He also developed the Chandrasekhar equation, which describes the structure of a star in equilibrium.

In the 1950s, Chandrasekhar moved to the United States and joined the faculty of the University of Chicago, where he remained until his retirement in 1985. During his time at the University of Chicago, he wrote several books, including "An Introduction to the Study of Stellar Structure" and "The Mathematical Theory of Black Holes."

Later Life and Legacy

In 1995, Chandrasekhar passed away at the age of 84. He was survived by his wife, Lalitha, and their two sons, Subrahmanyan and Santhanam.

Chandrasekhar's work on black holes and stellar structure has had a lasting impact on the field of astrophysics. His work has been cited by numerous scientists and his name is now synonymous with the study of black holes. He is also remembered for his contributions to the field of theoretical physics and his commitment to teaching and mentoring young scientists.