Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar

Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar was born on October 19, 1910, in Lahore, which was then part of British India and is now in Pakistan. He was born into a prominent Tamil family and was the nephew of the Nobel Prize-winning physicist C. V. Raman. Chandrasekhar showed an early aptitude for science and went on to become one of the most distinguished astrophysicists of the 20th century.

In July 1930, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar left India to pursue graduate studies in astronomy at the University of Cambridge in England. During his voyage, he began his work on the astrophysical theory that would later lead to the prediction of the existence of black holes, now known as the Chandrasekhar limit. This journey was pivotal in his scientific career.

On January 11, 1931, Chandrasekhar presented a paper that included his calculations on the limiting mass of a stable white dwarf star. This work introduced the so-called Chandrasekhar limit, approximately 1.4 times the mass of the Sun, above which a white dwarf would collapse into a neutron star or black hole. This fundamental discovery was critical in the understanding of stellar evolution.

In 1939, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar published his first book, 'An Introduction to the Study of Stellar Structure', which quickly became a standard reference in the field of astrophysics. This work laid the groundwork for the theoretical framework of the structure and evolution of stars, solidifying Chandrasekhar's reputation as a leading astrophysicist.

In 1944, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), one of the highest honors in the scientific community. His election recognized his substantial contributions to the field of astrophysics, particularly his work on the structure and evolution of stars. This honor underscored his status as a leading scientist of his time.

In 1953, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar took over as the editor of the Astrophysical Journal, a position he held for nearly two decades. Under his leadership, the journal flourished and became one of the most significant publications in astrophysics. His tenure as editor was marked by high scientific standards and a focus on the quality of research output.

Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1983, alongside William A. Fowler, for his theoretical studies of the physical processes of importance to the structure and evolution of the stars. His celebrated work on the Chandrasekhar limit and the life cycles of stars has left an indelible mark on astrophysics.

In 1983, Chandrasekhar published 'The Mathematical Theory of Black Holes', a significant work that provides a comprehensive overview of the theoretical physics surrounding black holes. This book was influential in advancing the scientific community's understanding of black holes and cemented his reputation as a top-tier theoretical astrophysicist.

In 1990, the centenary of the 'Chandrasekhar limit' was commemorated with the release of a special postal stamp by the Indian government. This stamp served as an homage to Chandrasekhar's work and its profound influence on the field of astrophysics. The event highlighted Chandrasekhar's enduring legacy in the scientific community.

Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar passed away on August 21, 1995, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. His death marked the end of an era in astrophysics, but his contributions continue to impact the field. His pioneering work on stellar dynamics, the Chandrasekhar limit, and black holes has been foundational for many subsequent discoveries in astrophysics.