Achilles Papapetrou
Achilles Papapetrou | |
|---|---|
Αχιλλέας Παπαπέτρου | |
| Born | February 2, 1907 |
| Died | August 12, 1997 (aged 90) |
| Citizenship | Greece, France |
| Alma mater | National Technical University of Athens University of Stuttgart |
| Known for | Mathisson–Papapetrou–Dixon equations Majumdar–Papapetrou solution Weyl−Lewis−Papapetrou coordinates |
| Spouse | Koula |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Theoretical Physics General relativity |
| Institutions | National Technical University of Athens, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Manchester, Humboldt University of Berlin |
| Thesis | Untersuchungen über dendritisches Wachstum von Kristallen |
| Doctoral advisor | Paul Peter Ewald |
| Other academic advisors | Helmut Hönl |
| Doctoral students | Hans-Jürgen Treder Rodolfo Gambini |
Achilles Papapetrou (Greek: Αχιλλέας Νικολάου Παπαπέτρου; February 2, 1907 – August 12, 1997) was a Greek theoretical physicist, who contributed to the general theory of relativity. He is known for the Mathisson–Papapetrou–Dixon equations, the Majumdar–Papapetrou solution, and the Weyl−Lewis−Papapetrou coordinates of gravity theory.
He worked on exact solutions of Einstein's field equations and long sought a solution for rotating masses, which, however, were only found by Roy Kerr. Papapetrou was then the first who recognized and jubilantly welcomed Kerr's breakthrough announced at the Texas Symposium on Relativistic Astrophysics, Dallas, December 1963.