Alexander A Friedmann
The Man who Made the Universe Expand

A vivid 1993 account of the life and work of the Russian physicist responsible for the expanding universe theory.

Eduard A. Tropp (Author), Viktor Ya. Frenkel (Author), Artur D. Chernin (Author), Alexander Dron (Translated by), Michael Burov (Translated by)

9780521384704, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 3 June 1993

280 pages, 26 b/w illus.
23.4 x 15.6 x 1.7 cm, 0.57 kg

'This biography makes quite fascinating, if idiosyncratic, reading and can be strongly recommended … it is an important contribution to the literature.' Malcolm S. Longair, The Observatory

Our universe can be described mathematically by a simple model developed in 1922 at Petrograd (St Petersburg) by Alexander Friedmann (1888–1925), who predicted that the whole universe would expand and evolve with time before there was any observational evidence. He was an outstanding Soviet physicist, and this vivid 1993 biography is set in a wide historical background. The book is a window on the school and university years, military service, teaching and research during a seminal period of Soviet history. The authors include unique archival material, such as Friedmann's letters from the Front, as well as contemporary records and reminiscences of colleagues. There is a detailed treatment of his work in Theoretical Cosmology (1922–1924), set in the context of the organization of Soviet science at the time.

Preface
1. The Friedmanns and the Vojaceks
2. At the 2nd St Petersburg Gymnasium
3. University years, 1906–14
4. In search of a way
5. War years
6. Moscow - Perm - Petrograd
7. Theoretical department of the Main Geophysical Observatory
8. Space and time
9. Geometry and dynamics of the Universe
10. Petrograd, 1920–4
11. The final year
12. Friedmann's world
Conclusion
Main dates in Friedmann's life and work
Bibliography
Name Index.

Subject Areas: Biography: general [BG]