Kip S. Thorne

Professor Kip Stephen Thorne, Ph.D., (born June 1, 1940) is an American theoretical physicist, known for his prolific contributions in the field of gravitation physics and astrophysics. A friend and colleague of Stephen Hawking, he is the current Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics at Caltech and one of the world’s leading experts on the astrophysical implications of Einstein’s general theory of relativity. This work is copyrighted. ... This work is copyrighted. ... Doctor of Philosophy, or Ph. ... June 1 is the 152nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (153rd in leap years), with 213 days remaining. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Theoretical physics employs mathematical models in an attempt to understand Nature. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into gravity. ... A black hole concept drawing by NASA. Physics (from the Greek, φυσικός (physikos), natural, and φύσις (physis), nature) is the science of the natural world dealing with the fundamental constituents of the universe, the forces they exert on one another, and the results produced by these forces. ... Spiral Galaxy ESO 269-57 Astrophysics is the tree of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties (luminosity, density, temperature and chemical composition) of astronomical objects such as stars, galaxies, and the interstellar medium, as well as their interactions. ... Stephen Hawking in 2005 Professor Stephen William Hawking, D.Phil. ... Richard Phillips Feynman (May 11, 1918 – February 15, 1988) (surname pronounced FINE-man; in IPA) was one of the most influential American physicists of the 20th century, expanding greatly the theory of quantum electrodynamics. ... California Institute of Technology The California Institute of Technology (commonly known as Caltech) is a private, coeducational university located in Pasadena, California, in the United States. ... The factual accuracy of this article is disputed. ... General relativity (GR) or general relativity theory (GRT) is the theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in 1915. ...

Biography

Thorne was born in Logan, Utah, the son of professors D. Wynne Thorne and Alison C. Thorne. He rapidly excelled at academics early in life. He received his B.S. from Caltech in 1962, and Ph.D. from Princeton University in 1965. Thorne returned to Caltech as an associate professor in 1967 and became a professor of theoretical physics in 1970, the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor in 1981, and the Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics in 1991, a post he currently holds. Throughout the years, Thorne has served as mentor and thesis advisor for many leading theorists who now work on observational, experimental, or astrophysical aspects of general relativity. Logan is a city located in Cache County, Utah. ... A professor (Latin: one who publicly professes to be an expert) (or prof for short) is a senior teacher, lecturer and researcher, usually in a college or university. ... California Institute of Technology The California Institute of Technology (commonly known as Caltech) is a private, coeducational university located in Pasadena, California, in the United States. ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Doctor of Philosophy, or Ph. ... Princeton University, incorporated as The Trustees of Princeton University, located in Princeton, New Jersey, is the fourth-oldest institution to conduct higher education in the United States. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link goes to calendar). ... Richard Feynman Richard Phillips Feynman (May 11, 1918–February 15, 1988) (surname pronounced FINE-man) was one of the most influential American physicists of the 20th century, expanding greatly the theory of quantum electrodynamics. ...

Kip Thorne possesses a kindly demeanor and is rather modest, insisting on being addressed by his first name. He keeps in contact with his students even if he is on vacation. Thorne is known for his meticulous attention to detail and abundant energy. Thorne married Linda Jean Peterson in 1960. Their children are Kares Anne and Bret Carter. He divorced Linda in 1970 and married his second wife, Carolee Joyce Winstein, in 1984.

Research

Professor Kip S. Thorne's principal fields of research are relativistic astrophysics and gravitation physics. Thorne's scientific contributions, which focus on the general nature of space, time, and gravity, span the full range of topics in general relativity including means to test general relativity against rival theories of gravity, applications of relativity to stellar structure and evolution (e.g., his studies of the structures and evolution of massive stars that have a black hole or neutron star in their cores), black holes, wormholes, gravitons, gravitational waves, and multipole expansion of gravitational radiation. He is perhaps best known for his controversial theory that wormholes can conceivably be used for time travel. Thorne is the first person conducting scientific research on whether the laws of physics permit space and time to be multiply connected (can there exist classical, traversable wormholes and "time machines"?). Thorne is currently interested in the origin of classical space and time from the quantum foam of quantum gravity theory. General relativity (GR) or general relativity theory (GRT) is the theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in 1915. ... Theoretical astrophysics is the discipline that seeks to explain the phenomena observed by astronomers in physical terms with a theoretic approach. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into gravity. ... Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Space Attempting to understand the nature of space has always been a prime occupation for philosophers and scientists. ... A watch Attempting to understand time has long been a prime occupation for philosophers, scientists and artists. ... It has been suggested that gravitation be merged into this article or section. ... General relativity (GR) is the geometrical theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in 1915. ... The simplest commonly used model of stellar structure is the spherically symmetric quasi-static model, which assumes that a star is very close to an equilibrium state, and that it is spherically symmetric. ... In astronomy, stellar evolution is the sequence of changes that a star undergoes during its lifetime, the hundreds of thousands, millions or billions of years during which it emits light and heat. ... Neutron stars are one of the few possible endpoints of stellar evolution. ... For any questions on black holes see Black hole FAQ A black hole is a concentration of mass great enough that the force of gravity prevents anything from escaping it except through quantum tunnelling behaviour (known as Hawking Radiation). ... 2D analogy to a wormhole. ... In physics, the graviton is a hypothetical elementary particle that transmits the force of gravity in most quantum gravity systems. ... In physics, gravitational radiation is energy that is transmitted through waves in the gravitational field of space-time, according to Albert Einsteins theory of general relativity: The Einstein field equations imply that any accelerated mass radiates energy this way, in the same way as the Maxwell equations that any... In mathematical physics, a multipole expansion is a series expansion of the effect produced by localized source terms in a given partial differential equation, most commonly Poissons equation (for electrostatics and gravity), in spherical coordinates or cylindrical coordinates. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Time travel is a concept that has long fascinated humanity—whether it is Merlin experiencing time backwards, or religious traditions like Mohammeds trip to Jerusalem and ascent to heaven, returning before a glass knocked over had spilt its contents. ... A geometrical object is called simply connected if it consists of one piece and doesnt have any circle-shaped holes or handles. Higher-dimensional holes are allowed. ... 2D analogy to a wormhole. ... Time Machine may refer to one of the following. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Quantum gravity is the field of theoretical physics attempting to unify the theory of quantum mechanics, which describes three of the fundamental forces of nature, with general relativity, the theory of the fourth fundamental force: gravity. ...

Dr. Thorne has made prolific contributions to black hole cosmology. Thorne proposed his Hoop Conjecture that cast aside the thought of a naked singularity. The Hoop Conjecture describes an imploding star turning into a black hole when the critical circumference of the designed hoop can be placed around it and set into rotation.[1] Thorne has investigated the quantum statistical mechanical origin of the entropy of a black hole. Both Hawking and Thorne have theorized that a singularity exists in the interior of a black hole. As a tool to be used in both enterprises, astrophysics and theoretical physics, Thorne has developed an unusual approach, called the "Membrane Paradigm", to the theory of black holes. Cosmology, as a branch of astrophysics, is the study of the large-scale structure of the universe and is concerned with fundamental questions about its formation and evolution. ... The hoop conjecture was proposed by Kip Thorne in 1972. ... blah blah blah, some people believe God made the universe and that is all there is. ... The word quantum, pl. ... Statistical mechanics is the application of statistics, which includes mathematical tools for dealing with large populations, to the field of mechanics, which is concerned with the motion of particles or objects when subjected to a force. ... The thermodynamic entropy S, often simply called the entropy in the context of thermodynamics, is a measure of the amount of energy in a physical system that cannot be used to do work. ... Stephen Hawking in 2005 Professor Stephen William Hawking, D.Phil. ... Singularity has several different meanings: mathematical singularity - a point where a mathematical function goes to infinity or is in certain other ways ill-behaved. ... Branes are objects in M-theory and its offshoot, brane cosmology. ... Since the late 1800s, the word paradigm (IPA: ) has referred to a thought pattern in any scientific discipline or other epistemological context. ...

Among a handful of physicists, Professor Thorne is considered one of the world’s authorities on gravitational waves. In part, his work has dealt with the prediction of gravity-wave strengths and their temporal signatures as observed on the Earth. These “signatures” are of great relevance to LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory), a multi-institution gravity wave experiment for which Thorne has been a leading proponent - in 1984, he cofounded the LIGO Project (the largest project ever funded by the NSF) to discern and measure any fluctuations between two or more 'static' points; such fluctuations would be evidence of gravitational waves, as calculations describe. A significant aspect of his research is developing the mathematics necessary to analyze these objects. [2] Thorne also carries out engineering design analyses for features of the LIGO that cannot be developed on the basis of experiment and he gives advice on data analysis algorithms. The LIGO Hanford Control Room LIGO stands for Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) is a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent United States government agency responsible for supporting basic science research mainly by providing research funding. ... Mathematics is often defined as the study of topics such as quantity, structure, space, and change. ... Engineering applies scientific and technical knowledge to solve human problems. ... In the scientific method, an experiment is a set of actions and observations, performed to support or falsify a hypothesis or research concerning phenomena. ... Data analysis is the act of transforming data with the aim of extracting useful information and facilitating conclusions. ... Flowcharts are often used to represent algorithms. ...

Kip Thorne has also theoretically predicted the existence of universally antigravitating "exotic matter" - the element needed to accelerate the expansion rate of the universe, keep traversable wormhole "Star Gates" open and keep timelike geodesic free float "warp drives" working. This universal antigravity corresponds to a positive local quintessent field in the quantum vacuum corrected local "IT FROM BIT" Einstein field equation and a negative active gravity mass-energy density that pumps cosmic inflation into Einstein's theory.[3] He has worked on the entropy of a cosmological horizon in an inflationary model of the universe. He, along with his mentor John Wheeler, additionally proved that it was impossible for cylindrical magnetic field lines to implode. Most importantly, he laid the foundations for the theory of pulsations of relativistic stars and the gravitational radiation they emit. Exotic matter is a hypothetical concept of particle physics. ... In physics and mathematics, Minkowski space (or Minkowski spacetime) is the mathematical setting in which Einsteins theory of special relativity is most conveniently formulated. ... In mathematics, a geodesic is a generalization of the notion of a straight line to curved spaces. Definition of geodesic depends on the type of curved space. If the space carries a natural metric then geodesics are defined to be (locally) the shortest path between points on the space. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Alcubierre metric. ... AntiGravity is a group of New York gymnasts/performance artists. ... The word quintessence is used in different fields: In the Game boy advance game called Fire Emblem, the word Quitessence is a substance that can heal bodily injuries and restore spiritual energy to summon dragons. ... For other topics related to Einstein see Einstein (disambig) In physics, the Einstein field equation or the Einstein equation is a tensor equation in the theory of gravitation. ... Cosmic inflation is the idea, first proposed by Alan Guth in 1981, that the nascent universe passed through a phase of exponential expansion (the inflationary epoch) that was driven by a negative pressure vacuum energy density. ... John Archibald Wheeler (born July 9, 1911) is an American theoretical physicist. ... Current flowing through a wire produces a magnetic field (M) around the wire. ... Albert Einsteins theory of relativity is a set of two theories in physics: special relativity and general relativity. ... The Pleiades star cluster A star is a massive body of plasma in outer space that is currently producing or has produced energy through nuclear fusion. ...

Publications

Thorne has written and edited books on topics in gravitational theory and high-energy astrophysics. In 1973, he co-authored the textbook Gravitation with Charles Misner and John Wheeler; most of the present generation of scientists have learned general relativity theory from this text. In 1994, he published Black Holes and Time Warps: Einstein's Outrageous Legacy, a landmark book for non-scientists for which he received numerous awards. This book has been published in six languages, and editions in Chinese, Italian, Czech, and Polish are in press. Thorne has also published more than 150 articles in scholarly journals. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into gravity. ... High energy astronomy is the study of astronomical objects that release EM radiation of highly energetic wavelengths. ... John Archibald Wheeler (born July 9, 1911) is an American theoretical physicist. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ...

Thorne is also known for his ability to convey the excitement and significance of discoveries in gravitation and astrophysics to both professional and lay audiences. In 1999, Dr. Thorne made some speculations on what the 21st century will find as the answers to the following questions: The 21st century is the century that began on 1 January 2001 and will last to 31 December 2100. ...

• Did warpage and the quantum together create the universe?
• Is there a "dark side of the universe" populated by objects such as black holes?
• Can we observe the birth of the universe and its dark side using radiation made from space-time warpage, or so-called "gravitational waves"?
• Will 21st century technology reveal quantum behavior in the realm of human-size objects?

His presentations on subjects such as black holes, gravitational radiation, relativity, time travel, and worm holes have been included in PBS shows in the U.S. and in the United Kingdom on the BBC. Time travel is a concept that has long fascinated humanity—whether it is Merlin experiencing time backwards, or religious traditions like Mohammeds trip to Jerusalem and ascent to heaven, returning before a glass knocked over had spilt its contents. ... A wormhole, also known as an Einstein-Rosen bridge, is a hypothetical topological feature of spacetime that is essentially a shortcut from one point in the universe to another point in the universe, allowing travel between them that is faster than it would take light to make the journey through...

Thorne's work has appeared in magazines and encyclopedias such as:

• Scientific American,
• McGraw-Hill Yearbook of Science and Technology, and
• Collier's Encyclopedia among many others.

Scientific American is a popular-science magazine, published monthly since August 28, 1845, making it the oldest continuously published magazine in the United States. ... Colliers Encyclopedia is a U.S. encyclopedia. ...

Honors and awards

Thorne has been elected to:

• the American Academy of Arts and Sciences,
• the National Academy of Sciences,
• the Russian Academy of Sciences, and
• the American Philosophical Society.

He has been recognized by numerous awards including: The House of the Academy, Cambridge, Massachusetts. ... President Harding and the National Academy of Sciences at the White House, Washington, DC, April 1921 The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine. ... Russian Academy of Sciences: main building Russian Academy of Sciences (Росси́йская Акаде́мия Нау́к) is the national academy of Russia. ... The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743 by founding father Benjamin Franklin, continues to operate to this day. ...

• the American Institute of Physics Science Writing Award in Physics and Astronomy,
• the Phi Beta Kappa Science Writing Award,
• the American Physical Society's Lilienfeld Prize,
• the German Astronomical Society's Karl Schwarzschild Medal,
• the Robinson Prize in Cosmology from the University of Newcastle, England,
• the Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society's Common Wealth Awards for Science and Invention, and
• the California Science Center's California Scientist of the Year Award.

He has been a Woodrow Wilson Fellow, Danforth Fellow, Guggenheim Fellow, and Fulbright Fellow. He has also received the honorary degree of doctor of humane letters from Claremont Graduate University. The American Institute of Physics (AIP) is a professional body representing American physicists and publishing physics related journals. ... The Phi Beta Kappa Society is an honor society which considers its mission to be fostering and recognizing excellence in undergraduate liberal arts and sciences. ... The American Physical Society was founded in 1899 and is the worlds largest organization of physicists. ... See: University of Newcastle (NSW), a university in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia University of Newcastle upon Tyne, a university in England. ... The California Science Center (sometimes spelled California Sciencenter) is a museum in Los Angeles. ... Guggenheim Fellowships are awarded annually by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts. ... The Fulbright Program is program of educational grants (Fulbright Fellowships) sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State. ... Claremont Graduate University (formerly The Claremont Graduate School) was founded in 1925 in the city of Claremont, California, as the only academic institution in North America to devote itself entirely to graduate study. ...

Dr. Thorne has served on:

• the International Committee on General Relativity and Gravitation,
• the Committee on US-USSR Cooperation in Physics, and
• the National Academy of Sciences' Space Science Board, which has advised NASA and Congress on space science policy.

NASA logo Listen to this article · (info) This audio file was created from an article revision dated 2005-09-01, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ...

See also

• Stephen Hawking
• John Preskill
• Time travel
• Thorne-Zytkow object

Stephen Hawking in 2005 Professor Stephen William Hawking, D.Phil. ... Prof. ... Time travel is a concept that has long fascinated humanity—whether it is Merlin experiencing time backwards, or religious traditions like Mohammeds trip to Jerusalem and ascent to heaven, returning before a glass knocked over had spilt its contents. ... In astronomy, a Thorne-Zytkow object is a hypothetical type of star, a red giant that contains a neutron star inside it. ...

External links

• Home Page
• Founding Fathers of Relativity