Tullio Regge
Encyclopedia
Tullio Regge is an Italian
theoretical physicist
. He obtained a degree in physics from the University of Turin
in 1952, and a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Rochester
in 1957 under the direction of Robert Marshak
. From 1958 to 1959 Regge held a post at the Max Planck Institute for Physics
where he worked with Werner Heisenberg. In 1961 he was appointed to chair of Relativity at the University of Turin. He also held an appointment at the Institute for Advanced Study
from 1965 to 1979. At present he is emeritus professor at the Polytechnic University of Turin
.
In 1957, Regge discovered a mathematical property of potential scattering in the Schrödinger equation
—that the scattering amplitude can be thought of as an analytic function of the angular momentum, and that the position of the poles determine power-law growth rates of the amplitude in the purely mathematical region of large values of the cosine of the scattering angle. This formulation is known as Regge theory
.
In the early 1960s, Regge introduced Regge calculus
, a simplicial
formulation of general relativity
. Regge calculus was the first discrete gauge theory suitable for numerical simulation, and an early relative of lattice gauge theory
. 'Ordinary Professor' at Turin University, he received the Dannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics
in 1964, the Città di Como
prize in 1968, the Albert Einstein Award
in 1979, and the Cecil Powell Medal in 1987.
In 1989, Regge was elected to the European Parliament
as a candidate of the Italian Communist Party
and served until 1994.
Regge is president of the Turin section of the Association for research for handicap prevention (AIRH).
He was awarded the Dirac Medal in 1996, the Marcel Grossmann Award in 1997, and the Pomeranchuk Prize in 2001. The asteroid 3778 Regge
has been named after him.
The Regge theory
, a theory of strong interaction phenomenology at high energies, is named after him.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
theoretical physicist
Theoretical physics
Theoretical physics is a branch of physics which employs mathematical models and abstractions of physics to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena...
. He obtained a degree in physics from the University of Turin
University of Turin
The University of Turin is a university in the city of Turin in the Piedmont region of north-western Italy...
in 1952, and a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
in 1957 under the direction of Robert Marshak
Robert Marshak
Robert Eugene Marshak was an American physicist dedicated to learning, research, and education.-History:...
. From 1958 to 1959 Regge held a post at the Max Planck Institute for Physics
Max Planck Institute for Physics
Max Planck Institute for Physics is a physics institute in Munich, Germany that specializes in High Energy Physics and Astroparticle physics. It is part of the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft and is also known as the Werner Heisenberg Institute, after its first director.It was founded as the Kaiser Wilhelm...
where he worked with Werner Heisenberg. In 1961 he was appointed to chair of Relativity at the University of Turin. He also held an appointment at the Institute for Advanced Study
Institute for Advanced Study
The Institute for Advanced Study, located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States, is an independent postgraduate center for theoretical research and intellectual inquiry. It was founded in 1930 by Abraham Flexner...
from 1965 to 1979. At present he is emeritus professor at the Polytechnic University of Turin
Polytechnic University of Turin
The Polytechnic University of Turin is an engineering university based in Turin, northern Italy. Established in 1859, Politecnico di Torino is Italy’s oldest Technical University. In 2011 it was ranked as the best engineering university in Italy in the Academic Ranking of World Universities.It is...
.
In 1957, Regge discovered a mathematical property of potential scattering in the Schrödinger equation
Schrödinger equation
The Schrödinger equation was formulated in 1926 by Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger. Used in physics , it is an equation that describes how the quantum state of a physical system changes in time....
—that the scattering amplitude can be thought of as an analytic function of the angular momentum, and that the position of the poles determine power-law growth rates of the amplitude in the purely mathematical region of large values of the cosine of the scattering angle. This formulation is known as Regge theory
Regge theory
In quantum physics, Regge theory is the study of the analytic properties of scattering as a function of angular momentum, where the angular momentum is not restricted to be an integer but is allowed to take any complex value...
.
In the early 1960s, Regge introduced Regge calculus
Regge calculus
In general relativity, Regge calculus is a formalism for producing simplicial approximations of spacetimes that are solutions to the Einstein field equation. The calculus was introduced by the Italian theoretician Tullio Regge in the early 1960s....
, a simplicial
Simplex
In geometry, a simplex is a generalization of the notion of a triangle or tetrahedron to arbitrary dimension. Specifically, an n-simplex is an n-dimensional polytope which is the convex hull of its n + 1 vertices. For example, a 2-simplex is a triangle, a 3-simplex is a tetrahedron,...
formulation 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...
. Regge calculus was the first discrete gauge theory suitable for numerical simulation, and an early relative of lattice gauge theory
Lattice gauge theory
In physics, lattice gauge theory is the study of gauge theories on a spacetime that has been discretized into a lattice. Gauge theories are important in particle physics, and include the prevailing theories of elementary particles: quantum electrodynamics, quantum chromodynamics and the Standard...
. 'Ordinary Professor' at Turin University, he received the Dannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics
Dannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics
Dannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics is an award given each year since 1959 jointly by the American Physical Society and American Institute of Physics. It is established by the Heineman Foundation in honour of Dannie Heineman...
in 1964, the Città di Como
Como
Como is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy.It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como....
prize in 1968, the Albert Einstein Award
Albert Einstein Award
The Albert Einstein Award was an award in theoretical physics that was established to recognize high achievement in the natural sciences. It was endowed by the Lewis and Rosa Strauss Memorial Fund in honor of Albert Einstein's 70th birthday...
in 1979, and the Cecil Powell Medal in 1987.
In 1989, Regge was elected to the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
as a candidate of the Italian Communist Party
Italian Communist Party
The Italian Communist Party was a communist political party in Italy.The PCI was founded as Communist Party of Italy on 21 January 1921 in Livorno, by seceding from the Italian Socialist Party . Amadeo Bordiga and Antonio Gramsci led the split. Outlawed during the Fascist regime, the party played...
and served until 1994.
Regge is president of the Turin section of the Association for research for handicap prevention (AIRH).
He was awarded the Dirac Medal in 1996, the Marcel Grossmann Award in 1997, and the Pomeranchuk Prize in 2001. The asteroid 3778 Regge
3778 Regge
3778 Regge is a main-belt asteroid discovered on April 26, 1984 by W. Ferreri at La Silla.- External links :*...
has been named after him.
The Regge theory
Regge theory
In quantum physics, Regge theory is the study of the analytic properties of scattering as a function of angular momentum, where the angular momentum is not restricted to be an integer but is allowed to take any complex value...
, a theory of strong interaction phenomenology at high energies, is named after him.
Selected works
- "Lettera ai giovani sulla scienza", Rizzoli, 2004
- with Peruzzi Giulio: "Spazio, tempo e universo. Passato, presente e futuro della teoria della relatività", UTET Libreria, 2003
- "L'universo senza fine. Breve storia del Tutto: passato e futuro del cosmo", Milano, Mondadori, 1999
- "Non abbiate paura. Racconti di fantascienza", La StampaLa StampaLa Stampa is one of the best-known, most influential and most widely sold Italian daily newspapers. Published in Turin, it is distributed in Italy and other European nations. The current owner is the Fiat Group.-History:...
, 1999 - "Infinito", Mondadori, 1996
- "Gli eredi di Prometeo. L'energia nel futuro", La Stampa, 1993
- "Le meraviglie del reale", La Stampa, 1987
- with Primo LeviPrimo LeviPrimo Michele Levi was an Italian Jewish chemist and writer. He was the author of two novels and several collections of short stories, essays, and poems, but is best known for If This Is a Man, his account of the year he spent as a prisoner in the Auschwitz concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Poland...
, "Dialogo", EinaudiEinaudiEinaudi may refer to;*Giulio Einaudi , an Italian publisher**Giulio Einaudi editore, now an imprint of Arnoldo Mondadori Editore*Luigi Einaudi , an Italian politician*His son Mario Einaudi , an Italian political scientist...
, 1987 - "Cronache Dell'Universo", Boringhieri, 1981