Tags:
Journalism of Courage
January 8: While the world listens intently to cosmologist Stephen Hawking and his celebrated String Theory that aims to unify various laws of physics, Mumbai based physicist, Dr V B Kelkar, has been tirelessly researching the same subject for over 35 years, though his efforts have so far remained subdued.
Although age has caught up with him, 81-year-old Dr Kelkar still remembers and can explain all the complex physics and mathematics equations 8211; and surprisingly, he does have a few differences8217; with Einstein8217;s theory of gravitation Field Equation which has been used by Hawking to formulate String Theory.
Over the last four decades, Dr Kelkar along with some of his research students have come to a conclusion that varies slightly from Einstein8217;s theory. 8220;We agree with Einsein8217;s special theory of energy-mass equation, that is: E energy = M mass X C2 Square the Speed of Light. However the Field Equation of two of my PhD students differs from Einstein8217;s theory,8221; informs the ageing but still active professor, who lives at Parel.
He further added that the main source of his Field Equation in General Theory Gravitation8217; is the Density factor, where as the source of Einstein8217;s gravitational field is Energy Momentum tensor. 8220;Unlike Einstein, our field equation can describe rotation and radical motion of a star, because our equation is closer to Newton8217;s theory,8221; he reasons.
Though the thesis of two of his students is already complete, while the research work of his third student is awaiting acceptance by the Mumbai University, Dr Kelkar said that his work has probably gone unnoticed by mathematicians and scientists the world over.
8220;I just want to interact and perhaps help Stephen Hawking in whatever little way I can with the findings of my research work,8221; comments Dr Kelkar, who was once the neighbour of the famous freedom fighter Veer Savarkar, in his homeland Ratnagiri.
Hawking relies of Einstein8217;s field equation to unify Eletromagnetic Field, Gravitational Field and Nuclear field by his String Theory, with the help of several imaginary dimensions.
8220;Hawking8217;s String Theory has got four real dimensions the three axes x, y, z and time t8217; and around seven imaginary dimensions. But my research work along with my Guru, Dr K M Gatha, in nuclear physics have shown that the Nuclear Field in complex, with four real and four imaginary dimensions,8221; says Dr Kelkar.
He added that these four imaginary dimensions can be perceived and appreciated through absorption of nucleon in the nucleus in the Scattering Experiments. 8220;However Hawking8217;s imaginary parts cannot be measured. That8217;s mainly because Hawking takes a mathematician8217;s approach while we take a physicists methods to evolve our theories,8221; he said.
Dr Kelkar now only hopes that someday scientists and mathematicians will take notice of his work, and help in the progress of science.
