Frederick J. Ernst

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Frederick J. Ernst (November 20, 1933 – May 31, 2023) was an American physicist known for his contributions to general relativity, particularly the development of the Ernst equation.

Early Life and Education[edit]

Frederick J. Ernst was born in the Bronx, New York, and raised in Ardsley, a suburban town near Manhattan. His early passion for learning was nurtured by his mother, who, despite having only a high school education, would borrow books from the library on topics like relativity to educate herself and inspire her son. Ernst's fascination with relativity began at the age of ten, driven by the books his mother brought home. During his high school years, he faced challenges in understanding advanced scientific concepts due to a lack of mathematical background, which he overcame by teaching himself mathematics from university-level textbooks.^[1]

Ernst initially planned to attend Columbia University while commuting from home due to financial constraints. However, his science teacher introduced him to the Westinghouse Science Talent Search competition, where Ernst's exceptional performance earned him second place. This achievement provided him with the financial support needed to attend Princeton University, where he completed his Bachelor of Science in Physics.^[2]

Academic Career[edit]

After graduating from Princeton, Ernst chose to pursue graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, despite his ongoing interest in relativity, because the university's primary research focus was not on this topic. At Wisconsin, he studied special relativistic quantum field theory and earned his Ph.D. in Physics under the supervision of Professor Robert G. Sachs. His doctoral thesis was titled "The Wave Functional Description of Elementary Particles with Application to Nucleon Structure."^[3]

Professional Positions[edit]

• 1964-1969: Assistant Professor of Physics, Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT)
• 1969-1980: Associate Professor of Physics, IIT
• 1980-1987: Professor of Physics, IIT

In 1987, Ernst accepted a position at Clarkson University, where he continued to teach physics until his retirement.^[2]

Contributions to Physics[edit]

Ernst's early work at IIT was in theoretical particle physics, collaborating with Robert Warnock. Despite his contributions to particle physics, his primary interest remained in general relativity. This passion led him to form a general relativity research group with Robert Malhiot and Isidore Hauser.

Frederick J. Ernst is renowned for his exact solutions to the Einstein field equations, particularly the formulation of what is now known as the Ernst Equation. His contributions have significantly impacted the study of general relativity and mathematical physics.^[4][5]

Notable Publications[edit]

1. "Black-Holes In A Magnetic Universe" - Journal of Mathematical Physics 17, 54 (1976).^[6]

2. "A Homogeneous Hilbert Problem For The Kinnersley-Chitre Transformations" (with I. Hauser) - Journal of Mathematical Physics 21, 1126 (1980).

3. "Integral Equation Method For Effecting Kinnersley-Chitre Transformations" (with I. Hauser) - Physical Review D 20, 362 (1979). {cited 99 times}

4. "Removal Of Nodal Singularity Of C-Metric" - Journal of Mathematical Physics 17, 515 (1976).

5. "Complex Potential Formulation Of Axially-Symmetric Gravitational Field Problem" - Journal of Mathematical Physics 15, 1409 (1974).

Legacy and Impact[edit]

Frederick J. Ernst's work in general relativity, particularly his development of the Ernst Equation, has left a lasting legacy in the field of physics. His publications have been widely cited and continue to influence current research in theoretical physics.

References[edit]

External links[edit]

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