Eric Sheldon: Difference between revisions
Add to Category:Worldwide List of Dissident Scientists (listed in the de Climont directory) |
Reformat resume-style page into standard wiki sections; add researched biography, career, and publications |
||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
| image = Eric Sheldon 191.jpg | | image = Eric Sheldon 191.jpg | ||
| alt = Eric Sheldon | | alt = Eric Sheldon | ||
| fields = | | birth_date = {{birth date|1930|10|24|mf=y}} | ||
| birth_place = Pilsen, Bohemia | |||
| fields = Nuclear physics, Applied physics, Relativity, Cosmology | |||
| workplaces = University of Massachusetts Lowell, University of Oxford | |||
| alma_mater = University of London, ETH Zurich, University of Zurich | |||
| residence = Oxford, United Kingdom | | residence = Oxford, United Kingdom | ||
| nationality = English / USA | | nationality = English / USA | ||
| Line 9: | Line 13: | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Eric Sheldon''' (born 24 October 1930) is a British-American physicist, Professor Emeritus of Physics and Applied Physics and Honors Director Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Trained as a physical chemist and theoretical nuclear physicist, he is the co-author with Pierre Marmier of the widely used multi-volume textbook ''Physics of Nuclei and Particles'', and in later years turned to questions in relativity and cosmology — most notably a re-examination of the relativistic twin paradox that questioned how the standard textbook treatment is presented and taught. | |||
== Biography == | |||
=== Early life and education === | |||
Sheldon was born in Pilsen, Bohemia, and was educated in England, at Pinner Park Elementary School and Harrow County School in London. He read physics at the University of London, taking a B.Sc. (General) in physics, chemistry and mathematics followed by a B.Sc. (Special) in physics with honours in 1952, and a Ph.D. in 1955. He afterwards studied and worked at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) and the University of Zurich, and was later awarded the higher doctorate of D.Sc. by London. | |||
=== Academic career === | |||
Sheldon's early research was in physical chemistry — electrochemistry and thermodynamics — including work with J. O'M. Bockris on the mechanism of the hydrogen evolution reaction on metal electrodes under high-purity conditions. He then moved into theoretical nuclear physics and nuclear astrophysics, and it is in that field that most of his refereed output lies. | |||
He joined Lowell Technological Institute in 1970, continuing through the institution's successive changes of name: | |||
* 1970–73: Lowell Technological Institute | |||
* 1973–91: University of Lowell | |||
* 1985–88: University Professor, University of Lowell | |||
* 1991–96: University of Massachusetts Lowell | |||
* 1994–96: Honors Director, University of Massachusetts Lowell | |||
He retired in 1996 as Emeritus Professor of Physics and Applied Physics and Honors Director Emeritus, and subsequently settled in Oxford, England. | |||
He held visiting professorships at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville (1968–69), the University of Texas at Austin (1969–70), and the University of Oxford (1989). Since 2000 he has been an Academy Visitor at the University of Oxford. | |||
== Scientific work == | |||
'' | === Nuclear physics === | ||
With Pierre Marmier of ETH Zurich, Sheldon wrote ''Physics of Nuclei and Particles'' (Academic Press, 1969–70), a comprehensive graduate text issued in multiple volumes covering nuclear constituents and interactions, nuclear forces and potentials, scattering and reaction models, nuclear models, nuclear matter and elementary particles. The work remained a standard reference for many years and is still in print in electronic editions. | |||
His review article with D. M. Van Patter, "Compound inelastic nucleon and gamma-ray angular distributions for even- and odd-mass nuclei" (''Reviews of Modern Physics'', 1966), became a much-cited reference for compound-nucleus reaction analysis, and he later collaborated with V. C. Rogers on computational codes for nuclear reaction calculations published through ''Computer Physics Communications''. He also collaborated on the English edition of Wildermuth and Tang's ''A Unified Theory of the Nucleus''. | |||
''' | === Relativity and the twin paradox === | ||
In retirement Sheldon returned to foundational questions in relativity. In "Relativistic Twins or Sextuplets?" (''European Journal of Physics'', 2003) he revisited the classic twin paradox and argued that the usual textbook treatment — a single travelling twin on constant-velocity legs — conceals as much as it reveals. He set out two contrasting scenarios: one built from constant-velocity segments, and an alternative mission flown with sustained acceleration and deceleration, worked through for a two-way spacecraft flight from Earth to Polaris. By multiplying the number of observers, he showed that the accounting of elapsed proper time is considerably less straightforward than the standard presentation suggests, and that the asymmetry usually attributed simply to "the one who turns around" requires more careful justification than it is normally given. | |||
The paper is representative of a line of work by physicists inside the mainstream who accept the formalism of special relativity but object to how casually its paradoxes are dispatched in teaching. It has been cited in subsequent discussions of simultaneity and retarded aging in special relativity, and remains a reference point in the literature on the twin paradox. | |||
== Learned societies and qualifications == | |||
'''Senior Fellow:''' F.R.S.C., F.Inst.P., F.R.A.S.; Fellow of the American Physical Society; Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. | |||
'''Senior Member:''' A.A.P.T., Royal Institution of Great Britain (M.R.I.), Zurich Physical Society, Mensa. | |||
''' | '''Professional qualifications:''' Chartered Chemist (C.Chem.), Chartered Physicist (C.Phys.) | ||
== Research interests == | |||
Physical chemistry (electrochemistry, thermodynamics); theoretical nuclear physics and nuclear astrophysics; astronomy and astrophysics; relativity and cosmology. | |||
[ | Outside physics his interests include classical music (piano, organ and guitar), liturgy, literature and painting. | ||
== Publications == | |||
Sheldon's refereed professional output comprises 4 textbooks, 1 textbook translation, 1 edited conference proceedings, 1 encyclopedia article, 75 papers, 54 abstracts and 8 technical reports, together with numerous general and professional articles and book reviews. | |||
=== Selected books === | |||
* Pierre Marmier and Eric Sheldon, ''Physics of Nuclei and Particles'', Volumes I–II, Academic Press, New York (1969–70). | |||
* K. Wildermuth, Y. C. Tang and E. Sheldon, ''A Unified Theory of the Nucleus'' (1977). | |||
=== Selected papers === | |||
* "[http://www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/0143-0807/24/1/310 Relativistic Twins or Sextuplets?]", ''Eur. J. Phys.'' '''24''', pp. 91–99 (2003). doi: [http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0143-0807/24/1/310 10.1088/0143-0807/24/1/310]. | |||
* E. Sheldon and D. M. Van Patter, "Compound inelastic nucleon and gamma-ray angular distributions for even- and odd-mass nuclei", ''Rev. Mod. Phys.'' '''38''', 143 (1966). | |||
* N. Pentland, J. O'M. Bockris and E. Sheldon, "Hydrogen evolution reaction on copper, gold, molybdenum, palladium, rhodium, and iron: mechanism and measurement technique under high purity conditions", ''J. Electrochem. Soc.'' '''104''', 182 (1957). | |||
== External links == | |||
* [https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=7KTSCg4AAAAJ Eric Sheldon at Google Scholar] | |||
* [https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2003EJPh...24...91S/abstract "Relativistic twins or sextuplets?" at NASA ADS] | |||
[[Category:Scientist|Sheldon Eric]] | [[Category:Scientist|Sheldon Eric]] | ||
Revision as of 23:46, 19 July 2026
Eric Sheldon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | October 24, 1930 Pilsen, Bohemia |
| Residence | Oxford, United Kingdom |
| Nationality | English / USA |
| Alma mater | University of London, ETH Zurich, University of Zurich |
| Known for | Relativity, Cosmology |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Nuclear physics, Applied physics, Relativity, Cosmology |
| Institutions | University of Massachusetts Lowell, University of Oxford |
Eric Sheldon (born 24 October 1930) is a British-American physicist, Professor Emeritus of Physics and Applied Physics and Honors Director Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Trained as a physical chemist and theoretical nuclear physicist, he is the co-author with Pierre Marmier of the widely used multi-volume textbook Physics of Nuclei and Particles, and in later years turned to questions in relativity and cosmology — most notably a re-examination of the relativistic twin paradox that questioned how the standard textbook treatment is presented and taught.
Biography
Early life and education
Sheldon was born in Pilsen, Bohemia, and was educated in England, at Pinner Park Elementary School and Harrow County School in London. He read physics at the University of London, taking a B.Sc. (General) in physics, chemistry and mathematics followed by a B.Sc. (Special) in physics with honours in 1952, and a Ph.D. in 1955. He afterwards studied and worked at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) and the University of Zurich, and was later awarded the higher doctorate of D.Sc. by London.
Academic career
Sheldon's early research was in physical chemistry — electrochemistry and thermodynamics — including work with J. O'M. Bockris on the mechanism of the hydrogen evolution reaction on metal electrodes under high-purity conditions. He then moved into theoretical nuclear physics and nuclear astrophysics, and it is in that field that most of his refereed output lies.
He joined Lowell Technological Institute in 1970, continuing through the institution's successive changes of name:
- 1970–73: Lowell Technological Institute
- 1973–91: University of Lowell
- 1985–88: University Professor, University of Lowell
- 1991–96: University of Massachusetts Lowell
- 1994–96: Honors Director, University of Massachusetts Lowell
He retired in 1996 as Emeritus Professor of Physics and Applied Physics and Honors Director Emeritus, and subsequently settled in Oxford, England.
He held visiting professorships at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville (1968–69), the University of Texas at Austin (1969–70), and the University of Oxford (1989). Since 2000 he has been an Academy Visitor at the University of Oxford.
Scientific work
Nuclear physics
With Pierre Marmier of ETH Zurich, Sheldon wrote Physics of Nuclei and Particles (Academic Press, 1969–70), a comprehensive graduate text issued in multiple volumes covering nuclear constituents and interactions, nuclear forces and potentials, scattering and reaction models, nuclear models, nuclear matter and elementary particles. The work remained a standard reference for many years and is still in print in electronic editions.
His review article with D. M. Van Patter, "Compound inelastic nucleon and gamma-ray angular distributions for even- and odd-mass nuclei" (Reviews of Modern Physics, 1966), became a much-cited reference for compound-nucleus reaction analysis, and he later collaborated with V. C. Rogers on computational codes for nuclear reaction calculations published through Computer Physics Communications. He also collaborated on the English edition of Wildermuth and Tang's A Unified Theory of the Nucleus.
Relativity and the twin paradox
In retirement Sheldon returned to foundational questions in relativity. In "Relativistic Twins or Sextuplets?" (European Journal of Physics, 2003) he revisited the classic twin paradox and argued that the usual textbook treatment — a single travelling twin on constant-velocity legs — conceals as much as it reveals. He set out two contrasting scenarios: one built from constant-velocity segments, and an alternative mission flown with sustained acceleration and deceleration, worked through for a two-way spacecraft flight from Earth to Polaris. By multiplying the number of observers, he showed that the accounting of elapsed proper time is considerably less straightforward than the standard presentation suggests, and that the asymmetry usually attributed simply to "the one who turns around" requires more careful justification than it is normally given.
The paper is representative of a line of work by physicists inside the mainstream who accept the formalism of special relativity but object to how casually its paradoxes are dispatched in teaching. It has been cited in subsequent discussions of simultaneity and retarded aging in special relativity, and remains a reference point in the literature on the twin paradox.
Learned societies and qualifications
Senior Fellow: F.R.S.C., F.Inst.P., F.R.A.S.; Fellow of the American Physical Society; Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Senior Member: A.A.P.T., Royal Institution of Great Britain (M.R.I.), Zurich Physical Society, Mensa.
Professional qualifications: Chartered Chemist (C.Chem.), Chartered Physicist (C.Phys.)
Research interests
Physical chemistry (electrochemistry, thermodynamics); theoretical nuclear physics and nuclear astrophysics; astronomy and astrophysics; relativity and cosmology.
Outside physics his interests include classical music (piano, organ and guitar), liturgy, literature and painting.
Publications
Sheldon's refereed professional output comprises 4 textbooks, 1 textbook translation, 1 edited conference proceedings, 1 encyclopedia article, 75 papers, 54 abstracts and 8 technical reports, together with numerous general and professional articles and book reviews.
Selected books
- Pierre Marmier and Eric Sheldon, Physics of Nuclei and Particles, Volumes I–II, Academic Press, New York (1969–70).
- K. Wildermuth, Y. C. Tang and E. Sheldon, A Unified Theory of the Nucleus (1977).
Selected papers
- "Relativistic Twins or Sextuplets?", Eur. J. Phys. 24, pp. 91–99 (2003). doi: 10.1088/0143-0807/24/1/310.
- E. Sheldon and D. M. Van Patter, "Compound inelastic nucleon and gamma-ray angular distributions for even- and odd-mass nuclei", Rev. Mod. Phys. 38, 143 (1966).
- N. Pentland, J. O'M. Bockris and E. Sheldon, "Hydrogen evolution reaction on copper, gold, molybdenum, palladium, rhodium, and iron: mechanism and measurement technique under high purity conditions", J. Electrochem. Soc. 104, 182 (1957).