Fred Hoyle and Jayant Vishnu Narlikar
In June 1995, Cambridge University’s Institute of Astronomy (IoA) celebrated the 80th birthday of its founder, Fred Hoyle, a key figure in Britain's post-WW2 astronomy. Among those present was Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, a founding faculty member of IoA and Hoyle’s former research student.
Hoyle-Narlikar Theory of Gravity
Developed in the 1960s by Hoyle and Narlikar, this theory presented an alternative to Einstein's general relativity by incorporating Mach's Principle. It suggests that the weight and mass of an object are influenced by everything else in the universe.
- Gravity is seen as a direct interaction between all particles in the universe.
- Introduced a concept called the ‘creation field’, positing constant matter creation to maintain universe expansion.
- Aligned with the Steady State Theory, proposing an infinite age and expanse of the universe.
Jayant Narlikar's Contributions
Narlikar's work in cosmology gained international recognition, prompting the Indian government to invite him to lead physics and astronomy research at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).
- Founded the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune in 1988.
- Awarded the Padma Bhushan at the age of 27, later upgraded to Padma Vibhushan.
- Proposed the quasi-steady state model of the universe, challenging the Big Bang theory.
- Explained the cosmic microwave background through interstellar dust models.
Narlikar's Academic and Public Influence
Narlikar was known for questioning mainstream scientific views, advocating for evidence-based thinking.
- Promoted astronomy to the Indian public, bringing Carl Sagan’s TV series Cosmos to Doordarshan.
- Encouraged debates and discussions, maintaining a professional and open-minded approach.
- Respected for his rational thought and opposition to pseudoscience.
Narlikar's legacy extends beyond astrophysics to embody a lifetime dedication to rational thought and scientific communication.
