Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar

Date of Birth: October 19, 1910

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Date of Death: August 21, 1995

Biography

Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar was an Indian-American astrophysicist who made several significant contributions to the understanding of stellar structure and evolution. He was born in Lahore, British India (now in Pakistan) and was the nephew of the renowned physicist C. V. Raman. Chandrasekhar’s most famous work is the Chandrasekhar limit, which describes the maximum mass of a stable white dwarf star, beyond which it must collapse into a neutron star or black hole. This groundbreaking work earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1983, which he shared with William A. Fowler. Chandrasekhar was a prodigious student, demonstrating an early aptitude for mathematics and physics. He earned his undergraduate degree at the Presidency College in Madras (now Chennai) and then went on to pursue his Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge. Over his illustrious career, he worked at the University of Chicago, where he held the position of Morton D. Hull Distinguished Service Professor of Theoretical Astrophysics. Chandrasekhar was also known for his mentorship and his numerous publications, including his influential book, “An Introduction to the Study of Stellar Structure.”

5 Interesting Facts about Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar

1. Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1983 for his theoretical studies of the physical processes of importance to the structure and evolution of stars.

2. He was the nephew of C.V. Raman, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930.

3. Chandrasekhar’s dissertation on the Chandrasekhar limit was initially met with resistance, but it eventually became a cornerstone of astrophysics.

4. He worked at the University of Chicago for nearly 60 years, contributing significantly to the field of theoretical astrophysics.

5. Chandrasekhar wrote several important books on various subjects in physics, including “The Mathematical Theory of Black Holes” and “Radiative Transfer.”

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar

1. “The pursuit of science is a combination of a sense of adventure and a sense of duty.”

2. “In my entire scientific life, extending over forty-five years, the most shattering experience has been the realization that an exact solution of Einstein’s equations of general relativity provides the absolutely exact representation of untold numbers of black holes that populate our universe.”

3. “I am aware of the fact that, in a number of areas, what I have done has provided the basis for further work by others.”

4. “I should like to say that the universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose.”

5. “It is not the scientist’s business to explain why his efforts are successful; it is enough that they are.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

As a scientist primarily engaged in academia, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar did not amass a significant net worth compared to corporate or entrepreneurial figures. His wealth was primarily in the form of intellectual contributions and academic influence.