Amal Kumar Raychaudhuri
Encyclopedia
Amal Kumar Raychaudhuri (14 September 1923 – 18 June 2005) was a leading physicist
well known for his contributions to relativistic cosmology, particularly Raychaudhuri's equation, which is a key ingredient in proving the Penrose-Hawking singularity theorems
of general relativity
. This result has played such a key role in the development of this subject that for this reason alone, it has been said, Raychaudhuri belongs in the first rank of India
n physicists.
Raychaudhuri was born in Barisal, which later became part of Bangladesh
. His father was a schoolteacher. After earning a master's degree in 1945 from the University of Calcutta
, Raychaudhuri spent four years doing experimental work. During this time, working in complete isolation, he taught himself differential geometry and the theory of general relativity
. In 1952 he took a research job with the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science
(IACS), but to his frustration was required to work on the properties of metals rather than general relativity, which was not yet considered to be truly part of the mainstream of physics. Despite these adverse pressures, he was able to derive and publish the equation which is now named for him a few years later.
Some years later, having learned that his 1955 paper was highly regarded by notable physicist as Pascual Jordan
, Raychaudhuri was sufficiently emboldened to submit a doctoral dissertation, and received his degree in 1959. In 1961, Raychaudhuri joined the faculty of his alma mater, Presidency College
in Calcutta.
Ironically, his work was not widely recognized in India until the nineteen seventies, when he became a well known scientific hero. Shortly before his death, a documentary film on his career was completed.
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
well known for his contributions to relativistic cosmology, particularly Raychaudhuri's equation, which is a key ingredient in proving the Penrose-Hawking singularity theorems
Penrose-Hawking singularity theorems
The Penrose–Hawking singularity theorems are a set of results in general relativity which attempt to answer the question of when gravitation produces singularities.A singularity in solutions of the Einstein field equations is one of two things:...
of general relativity
General relativity
General relativity or the general theory of relativity is the geometric theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in 1916. It is the current description of gravitation in modern physics...
. This result has played such a key role in the development of this subject that for this reason alone, it has been said, Raychaudhuri belongs in the first rank of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n physicists.
Raychaudhuri was born in Barisal, which later became part of Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. His father was a schoolteacher. After earning a master's degree in 1945 from the University of Calcutta
University of Calcutta
The University of Calcutta is a public university located in the city of Kolkata , India, founded on 24 January 1857...
, Raychaudhuri spent four years doing experimental work. During this time, working in complete isolation, he taught himself differential geometry and the theory of general relativity
General relativity
General relativity or the general theory of relativity is the geometric theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in 1916. It is the current description of gravitation in modern physics...
. In 1952 he took a research job with the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science
Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science
The Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, established in July 1876 at 210 Bowbazar street, Calcutta, is a national institution for higher learning whose primary purpose is to foster high quality fundamental research in frontier disciplines of the basic sciences. Founded by Dr. Mahendra...
(IACS), but to his frustration was required to work on the properties of metals rather than general relativity, which was not yet considered to be truly part of the mainstream of physics. Despite these adverse pressures, he was able to derive and publish the equation which is now named for him a few years later.
Some years later, having learned that his 1955 paper was highly regarded by notable physicist as Pascual Jordan
Pascual Jordan
-Further reading:...
, Raychaudhuri was sufficiently emboldened to submit a doctoral dissertation, and received his degree in 1959. In 1961, Raychaudhuri joined the faculty of his alma mater, Presidency College
Presidency College, Kolkata
Presidency University, Kolkata, formerly Hindu College and Presidency College, is a unitary, state aided university, located in Kolkata, West Bengal. and one of the premier institutes of learning of liberal arts and sciences in India. In 2002 it was ranked number one by the weekly news magazine...
in Calcutta.
Ironically, his work was not widely recognized in India until the nineteen seventies, when he became a well known scientific hero. Shortly before his death, a documentary film on his career was completed.