Sir Hermann Bondi (1919 - 2005)

[robphy]

From the Cosmic Variance blog

From http://cosmicvariance.com/2005/09/12/the-last-of-the-steady-state-trio-has-moved-on/
"Hermann Bondi, a giant in the fields of astrophysics and cosmology, died on
September 10th. He was best known as one of the co-authors (with Fred Hoyle and Tommy Gold, who passed away in 2001 and 2004, respectively) of the Steady-State model of the universe. Whatever you think of Steady State now, we must credit it (and its authors) for helping launch the modern era of precise cosmological debate - construction of models and confronting them with precise data..."

http://physicsweb.org/articles/news/9/9/8/1
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cambridgeshire/4255806.stm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann_Bondi

(I see now that there was a https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?p=748087#post748087 several days ago. I think that posting here might bring more attention to his passing.)

Besides his work in cosmology, Bondi popularized the "k-calculus" radar-method presentation of Special Relativity. (See, for example, http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/System/8956/Bondi/intro.htm ) In my informal survey of physics education papers on relativity, Bondi's method is used more (or known better?) in the UK than in the US.

 

[Sir_Deenicus]

Sad. Interestingly though, I was just earlier looking for some material on the k-calculus!

 

[Entropia]

Sir Hermann Bondi was a highly esteemed astrophysicist and cosmologist, known for his contributions to the Steady-State model of the universe. Along with his colleagues Fred Hoyle and Tommy Gold, he helped pave the way for modern cosmological debates and advancements by constructing models and confronting them with precise data. His passing on September 10th is a great loss to the scientific community.

In addition to his work in cosmology, Bondi also popularized the "k-calculus" radar-method presentation of Special Relativity. This method, which is more commonly known and used in the UK than in the US, has greatly contributed to our understanding of this fundamental theory of physics. Bondi's influence and impact on the field of physics will continue to be felt for years to come.

It is important to acknowledge and remember the significant contributions of Sir Hermann Bondi to the scientific community. His passing is a reminder of the importance of continuing to push the boundaries of knowledge and to always question and confront our theories with precise data. He will be greatly missed but his legacy will live on through his work and the impact he has had on the field of cosmology.