A scientific autobiography : S Chandrasekhar

S Chandrasekhar, popularly known as Chandra, was one of the foremost scientists of the 20th century. The year 2010 marks the birth centenary of Chandra. His unique style of research, inward bound, seeking a personal perspective to master a particular field, and then pass on to another was so unique that it will draw considerable interest and attention among scholars.

As Chandra elucidates in the preface, “The various installments describe in detail the evolution of my scientific work during the past forty years and records each investigation, describing the doubts and the successes, the trials and the tribulations. And the parts my various associates and assistants played in the completion of the different investigations are detailed”. It is indeed a remarkable and rare document, fascinating to read and experience the joys, frustrations and struggles of a creative mind.

Contents:

*A History of My Papers on “Radiative Equilibrium” (1943–1948)
*Turbulence; Hydromagnetism
*The Development of the Virial Method and Ellipsoidal Figures of Equilibrium (1960–1970)
*General Relativity (1962–1969)
*The Fallow Period (1970–1974)
*General Relativity; Ryerson Lecture; Separation of Dirac Equation (January 1975–August 1977)
*General Relativity; Kerr–Newman Perturbations (August 1977–December 1978)
*1979 — A Year of Failures and of Obligations
*1980, 1981: The Mathematical Theory of Black Holes
*POSTSCRIPT: 1982, a Year that Passed
*The Beginning of the End (1983–1985)
*Continued Efforts I (September 1985–May 1987)
*Continued Efforts II (May 1987–September 1989)
*Continued Efforts III (September 1989–October 1991)
*Continued Efforts IV (November 1991–December 1994).

Reviews: -

“The beauty and effectiveness of the book resides precisely here, it is a personal log that follows step by step the thoughts, trials and errors and eventually the success of Chandrasekhar's research. In this sense the book is also the diary of a man and his quest for understanding and perfection, and it beautifully depicts his relationship with students and collaborators. Through his writing Chandrasekhar opens a window to his soul, his motives and his passions, showing us glimpses of a powerful and extraordinary personality that fascinated those who met him.”
-Mathematical Reviews

“The book is useful to those who are going to studying Modern Physics as well as History of Modern Physics.”
-Zentralblatt MATH

Includes notes and comments by Kameshwar C Wali