Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (1910–1995) was an Indian-American astrophysicist known for his pioneering contributions to the understanding of stellar structure, white dwarfs, and black holes. Here is a detailed biography of Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, highlighting key events in his life:
Early Life and Education:
- October 19, 1910: Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar was born in Lahore (now in Pakistan) to a Tamil family.
- Family Background: Chandrasekhar’s father was a civil servant in British India, and his mother was a classical dancer. The family valued education, and Chandra (as he was often called) showed early aptitude in mathematics.
- University Education in India: Chandrasekhar studied at Presidency College in Madras (now Chennai), where he excelled in mathematics and physics.
- Scholarship to Cambridge: In 1928, he earned a government scholarship to study at the University of Cambridge, where he continued his studies in physics at Trinity College.
Stellar Structure and Radiative Transfer:
- Chandrasekhar Limit: In 1930, during his sea voyage from India to England, Chandra calculated what is now known as the “Chandrasekhar limit,” the maximum mass of a stable white dwarf. This work would become fundamental to understanding stellar evolution.
- Doctoral Thesis: Chandrasekhar completed his doctoral thesis, “The Compton Scattering and the New Statistics,” in 1933, earning his Ph.D. from Cambridge.
Move to the United States:
- Yerkes Observatory: In 1936, Chandrasekhar moved to the United States to work at the Yerkes Observatory in Wisconsin.
- Radiative Transfer and Stellar Atmospheres: He made significant contributions to the theory of radiative transfer in stellar atmospheres, expanding our understanding of how light interacts with matter in stars.
The Chandrasekhar Limit Controversy:
- Astrophysical Journal Paper: In 1935, Chandrasekhar published a paper in the Astrophysical Journal describing the limit for white dwarf mass. This work was initially met with resistance, particularly from Sir Arthur Eddington, who disagreed with the idea of collapsed stars.
- Nobel Prize Omission: Despite his groundbreaking work, Chandrasekhar was not awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics, possibly due to the controversy surrounding his limit and Eddington’s influence.
World War II and Manhattan Project:
- Contributions to War Effort: During World War II, Chandrasekhar worked on various war-related projects, including ballistics research and the Manhattan Project, which developed the atomic bomb.
Academic Career and Later Achievements:
- Professorship at the University of Chicago: Chandrasekhar became a professor at the University of Chicago in 1937, where he spent the remainder of his academic career.
- Astrophysical Work: He continued his astrophysical research, contributing to our understanding of stellar dynamics, gravitational waves, and the behavior of matter under extreme conditions.
- Honors and Awards: In 1983, Chandrasekhar was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his contributions to the understanding of the structure and evolution of stars.
Personal Life:
- Marriage and Family: In 1936, Chandrasekhar married Lalitha Doraiswamy, and they had two daughters. His family was a source of support throughout his career.
Death:
- August 21, 1995: Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar passed away in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 84.
Legacy:
- Chandrasekhar’s Limit and Beyond: Chandrasekhar’s work laid the foundation for the understanding of white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes. The Chandrasekhar limit remains a crucial concept in astrophysics.
- Scientific Influence: Chandra’s impact on the field of astrophysics is immeasurable, and his legacy continues through the generations of scientists he inspired.
Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar’s contributions revolutionized our understanding of the life cycles of stars, and his work remains foundational to modern astrophysics. His determination and brilliance earned him recognition as one of the preeminent astrophysicists of the 20th century.
