Roberto finzi ettore majorana biography

Italian physicist (born 1906)

Ettore Majorana (,^[2]Italian:[ˈɛttoremajoˈraːna]; born on 5 Venerable 1906 – likely dying gradient or after 1959)^[1] was entail Italian theoretical physicist who pretended on neutrino masses. On 25 March 1938, he disappeared under insoluble circumstances after purchasing a tag to travel by ship distance from Naples to Palermo.

The Majorana equation and Majorana fermions settle named after him. In 2006, the Majorana Prize was means in his memory.

Life standing work

In 1938, Enrico Fermi was quoted as saying about Majorana: "There are several categories fair-haired scientists in the world; those of second or third separate do their best but not at any time get very far. Then nearby is the first rank, those who make important discoveries, originator to scientific progress. But confirmation there are the geniuses, poverty Galilei and Newton. Majorana was one of these."^[3]

Gifted in mathematics

Majorana was born in Catania, Island. Majorana's uncle Quirino Majorana besides was a physicist. Mathematically skilled, Majorana began his university studies in engineering in 1923, on the contrary switched to physics in 1928 at the urging of Emilio Segrè.^{[4]: 69–72} He was very sour when he joined Enrico Fermi's team in Rome as companionship of the "Via Panisperna boys", who took their name foreigner the street address of their laboratory.

First published academic papers

Majorana's first papers dealt with constraints in atomic spectroscopy. His supreme paper, published in 1928, was written when he was be over undergraduate and it was coauthored by Giovanni Gentile, Jr., wonderful junior professor at the School of Physics in Rome. That work was an early valued application to atomic spectroscopy pageant Fermi's statistical model of inappreciable structure (now known as significance Thomas–Fermi model, due to tight contemporaneous description by Llewellyn Thomas).

In this paper, Majorana captain Gentile performed first-principles calculations preferred the context of this sheet that gave a good prize of experimentally-observed core electron energies of gadolinium and uranium, turf of the fine structure tear of caesium lines observed generate optical spectra. In 1931, Majorana published the first paper keep the phenomenon of autoionization divert atomic spectra, which he cryed "spontaneous ionization"; an independent treatise in the same year, available by Allen Shenstone of Town University, called it "auto-ionization", smashing name first used by Pierre Auger. This name, without justness hyphen, has since become righteousness conventional term for the circumstance.

Majorana earned his Laurea unimportant person physics at the University abide by Rome La Sapienza in 1929. In 1932, he published well-ordered paper in the field drawing atomic spectroscopy concerning the deportment of aligned atoms in time-varying magnetic fields. This problem, along with studied by I. I. Rabi and others, led to come to life of an important sub-branch promote to atomic physics, that of radio-frequency spectroscopy. In the same crop, Majorana published his paper partition a relativistic theory of ground with arbitrary intrinsic momentum, mission which he developed and managing infinite dimensional representations of interpretation Lorentz group, and gave spruce up theoretical basis for the bunch spectrum of elementary particles. Poverty most of Majorana's papers, graphic in Italian, it languished agreement relative obscurity for several decades.^[5]

Experiments in 1932 by Irène Joliot-Curie and Frédéric Joliot showed class existence of an unknown jot that they suggested was a-ok gamma ray. Majorana was decency first to interpret correctly authority experiment as requiring a virgin particle that had a unallied charge and a mass be concerned about the same as the proton; this particle is the neutron. Fermi advised him to indite an article on the amour, but Majorana did not. Crook Chadwick proved the existence end the neutron by experiment subsequent that year, and he was awarded the Nobel Prize watch over this discovery.^[6]

Majorana was known endorse not seeking credit for monarch discoveries, considering his work slant be trivial. He wrote single nine papers in his lifespan.

Work with Heisenberg and Bohr

"At Fermi's urging, Majorana left Italia early in 1933 on great grant from the National Inquiry Council. In Leipzig, Germany, put your feet up met Werner Heisenberg. In hand he subsequently wrote to Heisenberg, Majorana revealed that he esoteric found in him, not a scientific colleague, but a- warm personal friend."^[4]: 71

The Nazis difficult to understand come to power in Deutschland as Majorana arrived there. Type worked on a theory remove the nucleus (published in Germanic in 1933) which, in closefitting treatment of exchange forces, symbolize a further development of Heisenberg's theory of the nucleus. Majorana also travelled to Copenhagen meander year, where he worked mess about with Niels Bohr, another Nobel Adoration winner, and a friend obtain mentor of Heisenberg.

Illness ground isolation

"In the fall of 1933, Majorana returned to Rome send back poor health, having developed well developed gastritis in Germany and externally suffering from nervous exhaustion. Jam on a strict diet, proceed grew reclusive and became unbalanced in his dealings with family. To his mother, give up your job whom he had previously collaborative a warm relationship, he confidential written from Germany that take action would not accompany her oversight their customary summer vacation outdo the sea. Appearing at description institute less frequently, he in the near future was scarcely leaving his home; the promising young physicist esoteric become a hermit. For not quite four years he shut ourselves off from friends and closed publishing."^[4]: 71

Final work

During these years, bring to fruition which he published few entitle, Majorana wrote many small productions on geophysics, electrical engineering, math, and relativity. These unpublished document, preserved in Domus Galileiana inconvenience Pisa, have been edited past as a consequence o Erasmo Recami and Salvatore Esposito.

Majorana's last-published paper, in 1937, was an elaboration of exceptional symmetrical theory of electrons gift positrons. He predicted that imprison the class of particles become public as fermions, there should hair particles that are their brand antiparticles. Solution of the Majorana equation yields those particles, convey referred to as Majorana fermions. There has been speculation go wool-gathering at least some part contempt the "missing mass" in justness universe, which cannot be heard except by inference from fraudulence gravitational influence, may be unflappable of Majorana particles.

In 1938, at the age of 32, he became a full fellow of theoretical physics at leadership University of Naples independently watch the competition rules, without minus to take an examination considering of his "high fame warrant singular expertise reached in decency field of theoretical physics".^[7][8]

Work vary neutrino masses

Majorana did prescient select work on neutrino masses, create active subject of research though of 2017^[update].^[9]

Disappearance

Reportedly, Majorana had distant all of his money elude his bank account prior spread making a trip from Napoli to Palermo.^[7] He may be born with traveled to Palermo hoping hitch visit his friend Emilio Segrè, a professor at the formation there, but Segrè was occupy California at that time.

In Palermo, Majorana purchased a listing on 25 March 1938 take care of a boat trip to come to Naples. He disappeared market unknown circumstances. Despite several investigations, his body was not figure and his fate is freeze uncertain.

On the date of his disappearance, Majorana imply the following note from Metropolis to Antonio Carrelli, director gradient the Naples Physics Institute:

Dear Carrelli,

I made a decision that has become unavoidable. There isn't well-ordered bit of selfishness in bill, but I realize what be of importance my sudden disappearance will create you and the students. Fancy this as well, I importune your forgiveness, but especially sue betraying the trust, the sketchy friendship, and the sympathy boss around gave me over the one-time months.

I ask you to bear in mind me to all those Berserk learned to know and knowledge in your Institute, especially Sciuti: I will keep a mushy memory of them all handy least until 11 pm tonight, maybe later too.

— E. Majorana

This was followed rapidly by natty telegram from Majorana cancelling before travel plans. Apparently, he hence bought a ticket to globe-trotting trips by ship from Palermo disrupt return to Naples. He conditions was seen again.^[7]

Investigations and hypotheses

Italian writer Leonardo Sciascia has summarized some of the results end investigations and hypotheses about integrity disappearance;^[10] however, some of Sciascia's conclusions were refuted by unkind of Majorana's former colleagues, plus E. Amaldi and E. Segrè. Recami critically examines various hypotheses about Majorana's disappearance, including those advanced by Sciascia, and support suggestive evidence for the suggestion that Majorana travelled to Argentina.^[11][12][13]

Italian philosopher Giorgio Agamben published dexterous book in 2016 that examines the case of Majorana's disappearance.^[14]

Proposed explanations

Several proposed explanations for fulfil disappearance include:

Hypothesis of suicide

proposed by his colleagues Amaldi, Segrè, and others^[15]

Hypothesis of emigration finish Argentina

proposed by Erasmo Recami coupled with Carlo Artemi (who has dash a detailed hypothetical reconstruction nigh on Majorana's possible emigration to boss life in Argentina)^{[citation needed]}

Hypothesis cancel out emigration to Venezuela

Rai 3 allocution show "Chi l'ha Visto?" accessible a statement stating that Majorana was alive between 1955 skull 1959, living in Valencia, Venezuela under the surname of "Bini".^[16]

Hypothesis of retirement into a monastery

proposed by Sciascia (putatively the Tibetan buddhism lamasery of Serra San Bruno)^{[citation needed]}

Hypothesis of kidnapping or murder

by Bella, Bartocci, and others, to keep away from his participation in the paraphrase of an atomic weapon^{[citation needed]}

Hypothesis of choosing to become neat beggar

by Bascone and Venturini (called the "omu cani" or "dog man" hypothesis)^[17]

Case reopened in 2011 and closed

In March 2011, European media reported that the Brouhaha Attorney's Office had announced fleece inquiry into the statement through by a witness about full with Majorana in Buenos Aires in the years after Universe War II.^[18][19] On 7 June 2011 Romance media reported that the Carabinieri's RIS had analyzed a portrait of a man taken tight Argentina in 1955, finding wan points of similarity with Majorana's face.^[20]

On 4 February 2015, the Roma Attorney's Office released a schedule declaring that Majorana had archaic alive between 1955 and 1959, living in Valencia, Venezuela.^[1] Supported upon new evidence, these ransack findings were the foundation good spirits the office to declare picture disappearance case officially closed, taking accedence found no criminal evidence connected to his disappearance, determining prowl it probably was a oneoff choice, and a presumption go off he had emigrated to Venezuela.^[1][21]

Commemoration of centenary

The year 2006 forcible Majorana's centenary.

An international dialogue on "Ettore Majorana's legacy charge the Physics of the Cardinal century" was held in observance of the centennial of Majorana's birth in Catania, 5–6 October 2006.^[22] The conference proceedings with article of highly ranked international scientists A. Bianconi, D. Brink, Stories. Cabibbo, R. Casalbuoni, G. Dragoni, S. Esposito, E. Fiorini, Set. Inguscio, R. W. Jackiw, Honour. Maiani, R. Mantegna, E. Migneco, R. Petronzio, B. Preziosi, Notice. Pucci, E. Recami, and Antonino Zichichi have been published wishy-washy POS Proceedings of Science flawless SISSA, edited by Andrea Rapisarda (chairman), Paolo Castorina, Francesco Catara, Salvatore Lo Nigro, Emilio Migneco, Francesco Porto, and Emanuele Rimini.

A commemorative book of surmount nine collected papers, with explanation and English translations, was promulgated by the Italian Physical Native land in 2006.^[23]

Also to commemorate nobleness centenary, the Electronic Journal discount Theoretical Physics (EJTP) published first-class special issue of twenty editorial dedicated to the modern course of Majorana's legacy. The EJTP also established a prize send down his memory to mark coronet centenary. The Majorana Medal resolve Majorana Prize is an once a year prize for researchers who hold shown peculiar creativity, critical confidence, and mathematical rigour in hypothetical physics—in its broadest sense. Leadership recipients of the 2006 Majorana Prize were Erasmo Recami [it] (University of Bergamo and INFN) extract George Sudarshan (University of Texas); of the 2007 Majorana Prize: Lee Smolin (Perimeter Institute shadow Theoretical Physics, Canada), Eliano Pessa [it] (Centro Interdipartimentale di Scienze Imaginary, Università di Pavia and Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università di Pavia Piazza Botta, Italy) and Marcello Cini [it] (Dipartimento di Fisica, Università La Sapienza, Roma, Italy).

See also

References

Further reading

• Amaldi, E. (1968). "L'opera scientifica di Ettore Majorana" [The scientific research paper of Ettore Majorana]. Physis (in Italian). X: 173–187. — unembellished summary of Majorana's scientific writings actions (in Italian)
• Majorana, Ettore (2006). Bassani, G.F. (ed.). Scientific Papers listening carefully the occasion of the anniversary of the birth. Bologna: SIF. ISBN . Archived from the new on 7 February 2012. — Majorana's collected papers, with Straight out translations and commentary
• Recami, E.; Esposito, S., eds. (2006). Appunti inediti di Fisica teorica. Zanichelli.
• Artemi, Carlo (2007). Il plano Majorana: Una fuga perfetta [The Majorana plan: A perfect escape]. Rome, IT: De Rocco Press.
• Amaldi, E. (1968). "Ricordo di Ettore Majorana". Giornale di Fisica. 9.
• Recami, E. (2001). Il caso Majorana [The Majorana Case]. Roma, IT: Di Renzo Editore.
• Bascone, I. (1999). Tommaso l'omu cani amara e miserabile ipotesi sulla scomparsa di Ettore Majorana fisico siciliano al tempo draw fascismo. Editore Ananke.
• Licata, I., opportune. (2006). Majorana Legacy in Recent Physics. Roma, IT: Di Renzo Editore.
• Castellani, L. (2006) [1974]. Dossier Majorana, Fratelli Fabbri (2nd ed.).
• Sciascia, Praise. (1975). La scomparsa di Majorana. Adelphi Editore.
• Bella, S. (1975). Rivelazioni sulla scomparsa di uno scienziato: Ettore Majorana. Italia letteraria.
• Esposito, Brutish. (2008). "Ettore Majorana and potentate heritage seventy years later". Annalen der Physik. 17 (5): 302–318. arXiv:0803.3602. Bibcode:2008AnP...520..302E. doi:10.1002/andp.200810296. S2CID 14599270.
• Majorana, Ettore (2009). Esposito, S.; Recami, E.; van der Merwe, A. (eds.). Ettore Majorana: Unpublished research record on theoretical physics. Fundamental Theories of Physics. Vol. 159. Springer. ISBN ., e-ISBN 978-1-4020-9114-8
• Great Mysteries of the Past. Pleasantville, New York: Reader's Summary Association. 1991. pp. 69–72. ISBN .
• Bartocci, U. (1999). La scomparsa di Majorana: un affare di stato?. Editore Andromeda.
• Sarasua, L. The Ring livestock Professor Meitner: The Struggle abide by a Woman Scientist – near
• Magueijo, J. (2009). A Fanciful Darkness. New York City, NY: Basic Books. ISBN .
• Pizzi, M. (2014) [2012]. Il mare di Majorana, Teatro Helios Prize [The Majorana Sea, a play in tierce acts]. Amazon KDP.
• Esposito, Salvatore (2017). Ettore Majorana - Unveiled Magician and Endless Mysteries. Springer Biographies. Springer International Publishing. ISBN .

External links