Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar: Astrophysicist and Nobel Laureate
Early Life and Education:
Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar was born on October 19, 1910, in Lahore, British India (now in Pakistan). He hailed from a Tamil Brahmin family that highly valued education. His father, C. Subrahmanyan Iyer, was a government official, and his mother, Sitalakshmi, was a devoted homemaker.
Chandrasekhar displayed an early interest in science and mathematics, and his intellectual abilities were evident during his school years. In 1925, at the age of 15, he entered Presidency College in Madras (now Chennai) to pursue a bachelor’s degree in physics.
Cambridge and the Chandrasekhar Limit:
In 1930, Chandrasekhar traveled to England to pursue further studies at the University of Cambridge. He worked under the guidance of the astrophysicist Sir Arthur Eddington. During his voyage to England, he formulated the groundbreaking concept known as the Chandrasekhar limit.
The Chandrasekhar limit describes the maximum mass of a stable white dwarf star, beyond which gravitational collapse will occur, leading to the formation of a neutron star or a black hole. Chandrasekhar’s work on this limit became a cornerstone in the understanding of stellar evolution.
Controversy and the United States:
Chandrasekhar faced resistance to his ideas, particularly from Sir Arthur Eddington, who was a prominent figure in astrophysics. Eddington did not fully appreciate the implications of Chandrasekhar’s calculations on the collapse of massive stars. The controversy influenced Chandrasekhar’s decision to leave Cambridge and continue his career in the United States.
In 1937, he accepted a position at the University of Chicago, where he would spend the rest of his career.
Contributions to Astrophysics:
Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar made significant contributions to various areas of astrophysics, including stellar structure, radiative transfer, and the theory of white dwarfs. His work laid the foundation for our understanding of the life cycles of stars.
In 1953, Chandrasekhar published the seminal book “Stellar Structure,” which became a standard reference in the field. His extensive research earned him numerous accolades and honors.
Nobel Prize in Physics:
In 1983, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his theoretical studies on the physical processes important to the structure and evolution of stars. The recognition from the Nobel Committee affirmed the profound impact of his contributions to astrophysics.
Later Years and Legacy:
Chandrasekhar continued his research and teaching at the University of Chicago until his retirement in 1985. He remained active in the scientific community, mentoring students and contributing to theoretical astrophysics.
Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar passed away on August 21, 1995, in Chicago. His legacy extends far beyond his influential scientific contributions. Chandrasekhar’s work has had a lasting impact on our understanding of the fundamental processes that govern the behavior of stars, and his insights continue to shape the field of astrophysics.
