David Finkelstein
Encyclopedia
David Ritz Finkelstein is currently an emeritus professor of physics
at the Georgia Institute of Technology
. Finkelstein obtained his Ph.D. in physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
in 1953. From 1964 to 1976, he was professor of physics at Yeshiva University
.
In 1958 Charles W. Misner
and he found the gravitational kink, a topological defect
in the gravitational metric, whose quantum theory could exhibit spin
1/2. The simplest kink exhibited an easily understood event horizon
that led him to recognize the one in the Schwarzschild metric
and eliminate its coordinate singularity. This work influenced the decisions of Roger Penrose
and John Archibald Wheeler
to accept the physical existence of event horizons and black holes.
Most of Finkelstein's work is directed toward a quantum theory of space-time structure. He early on accepted the conclusion of John von Neumann
that anomalies of quantum mechanical measurement are anomalies of the logic of quantum mechanical systems. Therefore he formed quantum analogues of set theory, the standard language for classical space-time structures, and proposed that space-time is a quantum set of space-time quanta dubbed "chronons," a form of quantum computer
with spin
s for quantum bits, as a quantum version of the cellular automaton of von Neumann. His early quantum space-times proving unphysical, he has since
studied chronons with a regularized form of Bose-Einstein statistics due to Tchavdar D. Palev.
He investigated ball lightning
with Julio Rubenstein and James R. Powell.
They concluded that ball lightning is most likely a wandering St. Elmo's fire
,
a low-temperature soliton
in the atmospheric electric current flow.
He also put forward an interpretation of the engraving Melencolia I
of Albrecht Dürer
.
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
at the Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
. Finkelstein obtained his Ph.D. in physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
in 1953. From 1964 to 1976, he was professor of physics at Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University is a private university in New York City, with six campuses in New York and one in Israel. Founded in 1886, it is a research university ranked as 45th in the US among national universities by U.S. News & World Report in 2012...
.
In 1958 Charles W. Misner
Charles W. Misner
Charles W. Misner is an American physicist and one of the authors of Gravitation. His specialties include general relativity and cosmology. His work has also provided early foundations for studies of quantum gravity and numerical relativity....
and he found the gravitational kink, a topological defect
Topological defect
In mathematics and physics, a topological soliton or a topological defect is a solution of a system of partial differential equations or of a quantum field theory homotopically distinct from the vacuum solution; it can be proven to exist because the boundary conditions entail the existence of...
in the gravitational metric, whose quantum theory could exhibit spin
Spin (physics)
In quantum mechanics and particle physics, spin is a fundamental characteristic property of elementary particles, composite particles , and atomic nuclei.It is worth noting that the intrinsic property of subatomic particles called spin and discussed in this article, is related in some small ways,...
1/2. The simplest kink exhibited an easily understood event horizon
Event horizon
In general relativity, an event horizon is a boundary in spacetime beyond which events cannot affect an outside observer. In layman's terms it is defined as "the point of no return" i.e. the point at which the gravitational pull becomes so great as to make escape impossible. The most common case...
that led him to recognize the one in the Schwarzschild metric
Schwarzschild metric
In Einstein's theory of general relativity, the Schwarzschild solution describes the gravitational field outside a spherical, uncharged, non-rotating mass such as a star, planet, or black hole. It is also a good approximation to the gravitational field of a slowly rotating body like the Earth or...
and eliminate its coordinate singularity. This work influenced the decisions of Roger Penrose
Roger Penrose
Sir Roger Penrose OM FRS is an English mathematical physicist and Emeritus Rouse Ball Professor of Mathematics at the Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford and Emeritus Fellow of Wadham College...
and John Archibald Wheeler
John Archibald Wheeler
John Archibald Wheeler was an American theoretical physicist who was largely responsible for reviving interest in general relativity in the United States after World War II. Wheeler also worked with Niels Bohr in explaining the basic principles behind nuclear fission...
to accept the physical existence of event horizons and black holes.
Most of Finkelstein's work is directed toward a quantum theory of space-time structure. He early on accepted the conclusion of John von Neumann
John von Neumann
John von Neumann was a Hungarian-American mathematician and polymath who made major contributions to a vast number of fields, including set theory, functional analysis, quantum mechanics, ergodic theory, geometry, fluid dynamics, economics and game theory, computer science, numerical analysis,...
that anomalies of quantum mechanical measurement are anomalies of the logic of quantum mechanical systems. Therefore he formed quantum analogues of set theory, the standard language for classical space-time structures, and proposed that space-time is a quantum set of space-time quanta dubbed "chronons," a form of quantum computer
Quantum computer
A quantum computer is a device for computation that makes direct use of quantum mechanical phenomena, such as superposition and entanglement, to perform operations on data. Quantum computers are different from traditional computers based on transistors...
with spin
Spin (physics)
In quantum mechanics and particle physics, spin is a fundamental characteristic property of elementary particles, composite particles , and atomic nuclei.It is worth noting that the intrinsic property of subatomic particles called spin and discussed in this article, is related in some small ways,...
s for quantum bits, as a quantum version of the cellular automaton of von Neumann. His early quantum space-times proving unphysical, he has since
studied chronons with a regularized form of Bose-Einstein statistics due to Tchavdar D. Palev.
He investigated ball lightning
Ball lightning
Ball lightning is an unexplained atmospheric electrical phenomenon. The term refers to reports of luminous, usually spherical objects which vary from pea-sized to several metres in diameter. It is usually associated with thunderstorms, but lasts considerably longer than the split-second flash of a...
with Julio Rubenstein and James R. Powell.
They concluded that ball lightning is most likely a wandering St. Elmo's fire
St. Elmo's fire
St. Elmo's fire is a weather phenomenon in which luminous plasma is created by a coronal discharge from a grounded object in an electric field in the atmosphere St. Elmo's fire is named after St. Erasmus of Formiae St. Elmo's fire (also St. Elmo's light) is a weather phenomenon in which luminous...
,
a low-temperature soliton
Soliton
In mathematics and physics, a soliton is a self-reinforcing solitary wave that maintains its shape while it travels at constant speed. Solitons are caused by a cancellation of nonlinear and dispersive effects in the medium...
in the atmospheric electric current flow.
He also put forward an interpretation of the engraving Melencolia I
Melencolia I
Melencolia I is a 1514 engraving by the German Renaissance master Albrecht Dürer. It is an allegorical composition which has been the subject of many interpretations...
of Albrecht Dürer
Albrecht Dürer
Albrecht Dürer was a German painter, printmaker, engraver, mathematician, and theorist from Nuremberg. His prints established his reputation across Europe when he was still in his twenties, and he has been conventionally regarded as the greatest artist of the Northern Renaissance ever since...
.
Books
- David Ritz Finkelstein: Quantum relativity: a synthesis of the ideas of EinsteinAlbert EinsteinAlbert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific intellects in human history...
and HeisenbergWerner HeisenbergWerner Karl Heisenberg was a German theoretical physicist who made foundational contributions to quantum mechanics and is best known for asserting the uncertainty principle of quantum theory...
, Springer, 1996 - David Ritz Finkelstein, J. M. Jauch: Notes on quaternionQuaternionIn mathematics, the quaternions are a number system that extends the complex numbers. They were first described by Irish mathematician Sir William Rowan Hamilton in 1843 and applied to mechanics in three-dimensional space...
quantum mechanics, CERN, 1959 - Charles Maisonnier, David Ritz Finkelstein: Beam intensity limitation in neutralized space charge betatrons, CERN, 1959
- David Ritz Finkelstein: Non-linear meson theory of nuclear forces, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Deptartment of Physics, 1952