Sergei Kopeikin
Encyclopedia
Sergei Kopeikin is a USSR
-born theoretical physicist
presently living and working in the United States
, where he holds the position of Professor of Physics at the University of Missouri
in Columbia, Missouri
. He specializes in the theoretical and experimental study of gravity and general relativity
. He is also an expert in the field of the astronomical references frames and time metrology. His general relativistic theory of the Post-Newtonian reference frames which he had worked out along with Victor A. Brumberg
, was adopted in 2000 by the resolutions of the International Astronomical Union
as a standard for reduction of ground-based astronomical observation.
In September 2002 he led a team which conducted a high-precision VLBI experiment to measure the fundamental speed of gravity
.
He is also involved in studies concerning the capabilities of the Lunar Laser Ranging
(LLR) technique to measure dynamical features of the General Theory of Relativity in the lunar motion. He has recently criticized the claims of other scientists concerning the possibility of LLR to measure the gravitomagnetic interaction.
Kopeikin was born in Kashin, a small town near Moscow in what was then the USSR. He graduated with excellence from Department of Astrophysics of Moscow State University in 1983 where he studied general relativity under Leonid Grishchuk presently Distinguished Research Professor of physics in Cardiff University
, Wales
. In 1986, he obtained a Ph.D.
in relativistic astrophysics from the Space Research Institute
in Moscow
. His Ph.D. thesis was advised by Yakov Borisovich Zel'dovich
and presented a first general-relativistic derivation of the conservative and radiation reaction forces in the Post-Newtonian expansion
s of the gravitational field of a binary system of two extended, massive bodies.
In 1991, he obtained a Doctor of Science
degree from Moscow State University
and moved to Tokyo (Japan) in 1993 to teach astronomy in Hitotsubashi University
. He was adjunct staff member in National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
in 1993-1996 and a visiting professor in the same observatory in 1996-1997. Kopeikin moved to Germany
in 1997 and worked in the Institute for Theoretical Physics of Friedrich Schiller University of Jena
until 1999. He had joined Department of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Missouri in February 2000.
He has been married to Zoia Kopeikina (daughter of Solomon Borisovich Pikelner
) since 1980, they have four daughters. As of February 2000 they live in Columbia
, Missouri
.
program, the h-index
of S.M. Kopeikin is 24, his h-index
normalized per author is 20, while the total number of citations is 2104. According to the NASA ADS database, the total number of citations is 1416, and the number of citations with self-citations excluded, is equal to 831.
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
-born theoretical physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
presently living and working in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where he holds the position of Professor of Physics at the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
in Columbia, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
. He specializes in the theoretical and experimental study of gravity and general relativity
General relativity
General relativity or the general theory of relativity is the geometric theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in 1916. It is the current description of gravitation in modern physics...
. He is also an expert in the field of the astronomical references frames and time metrology. His general relativistic theory of the Post-Newtonian reference frames which he had worked out along with Victor A. Brumberg
Victor A. Brumberg
Victor A. Brumberg is a theoretical physicist specializing in relativistic celestial mechanics and astrometry. He once worked as a chief-scientist at the Institute of Applied Astronomy, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg. He is noted for his work on celestial mechanics and ephemerides...
, was adopted in 2000 by the resolutions of the International Astronomical Union
International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union IAU is a collection of professional astronomers, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, active in professional research and education in astronomy...
as a standard for reduction of ground-based astronomical observation.
In September 2002 he led a team which conducted a high-precision VLBI experiment to measure the fundamental speed of gravity
Speed of gravity
In the context of classical theories of gravitation, the speed of gravity is the speed at which changes in a gravitational field propagate. This is the speed at which a change in the distribution of energy and momentum of matter results in subsequent alteration, at a distance, of the gravitational...
.
He is also involved in studies concerning the capabilities of the Lunar Laser Ranging
Lunar laser ranging experiment
The ongoing Lunar Laser Ranging Experiment measures the distance between the Earth and the Moon using laser ranging. Lasers on Earth are aimed at retroreflectors planted on the moon during the Apollo program, and the time for the reflected light to return is determined...
(LLR) technique to measure dynamical features of the General Theory of Relativity in the lunar motion. He has recently criticized the claims of other scientists concerning the possibility of LLR to measure the gravitomagnetic interaction.
Kopeikin was born in Kashin, a small town near Moscow in what was then the USSR. He graduated with excellence from Department of Astrophysics of Moscow State University in 1983 where he studied general relativity under Leonid Grishchuk presently Distinguished Research Professor of physics in Cardiff University
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. In 1986, he obtained a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in relativistic astrophysics from the Space Research Institute
Russian Space Research Institute
The Russian Space Research Institute is the leading organization of the Russian Academy of Sciences on space exploration to benefit fundamental science....
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. His Ph.D. thesis was advised by Yakov Borisovich Zel'dovich
Yakov Borisovich Zel'dovich
Yakov Borisovich Zel'dovich was a prolific Soviet physicist born in Belarus. He played an important role in the development of Soviet nuclear and thermonuclear weapons, and made important contributions to the fields of adsorption and catalysis, shock waves, nuclear physics, particle physics,...
and presented a first general-relativistic derivation of the conservative and radiation reaction forces in the Post-Newtonian expansion
Post-Newtonian expansion
Post-Newtonian expansions in general relativity are used for finding an approximate solution of the Einstein equations for the metric tensor. The post-Newtonian approximations are expansions in a small parameter, which is the ratio of the velocity of matter, forming the gravitational field, to the...
s of the gravitational field of a binary system of two extended, massive bodies.
In 1991, he obtained a Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
degree from Moscow State University
Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
and moved to Tokyo (Japan) in 1993 to teach astronomy in Hitotsubashi University
Hitotsubashi University
is a national university specialised in the social sciences in Tokyo, Japan. The University has campuses in Kunitachi, Kodaira, and Kanda.Hitotsubashi is considered as one of the most prestigious universities in Japan. It is ranked 25th in the world in 2011 by École des Mines de Paris.Hitotsubashi...
. He was adjunct staff member in National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
The is an astronomical research organisation comprising several facilities in Japan, as well as an observatory in Hawaii. It was established in 1988 as an amalgamation of three existing research organizations - the Tokyo Astronomical Observatory of the University of Tokyo, International Latitude...
in 1993-1996 and a visiting professor in the same observatory in 1996-1997. Kopeikin moved to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1997 and worked in the Institute for Theoretical Physics of Friedrich Schiller University of Jena
Friedrich Schiller University of Jena
Friedrich Schiller University of Jena , is a public research university located in Jena, Thuringia, Germany....
until 1999. He had joined Department of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Missouri in February 2000.
He has been married to Zoia Kopeikina (daughter of Solomon Borisovich Pikelner
Solomon Borisovich Pikelner
Solomon Borisovich Pikelner was a Russian astronomer who had made a significant contribution to the theory of the interstellar medium, solar plasma physics, stellar atmospheres, and magnetohydrodynamics. He was professor of astronomy at Moscow State University since 1959...
) since 1980, they have four daughters. As of February 2000 they live in Columbia
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
.
Bibliometric information
According to Harzing's "Publish or Perish" Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
Google Scholar is a freely accessible web search engine that indexes the full text of scholarly literature across an array of publishing formats and disciplines. Released in beta in November 2004, the Google Scholar index includes most peer-reviewed online journals of Europe and America's largest...
program, the h-index
H-index
The h-index is an index that attempts to measure both the productivity and impact of the published work of a scientist or scholar. The index is based on the set of the scientist's most cited papers and the number of citations that they have received in other publications...
of S.M. Kopeikin is 24, his h-index
H-index
The h-index is an index that attempts to measure both the productivity and impact of the published work of a scientist or scholar. The index is based on the set of the scientist's most cited papers and the number of citations that they have received in other publications...
normalized per author is 20, while the total number of citations is 2104. According to the NASA ADS database, the total number of citations is 1416, and the number of citations with self-citations excluded, is equal to 831.
External links
- Kopeikin's University of Missouri homepage
- "MU SCIENTIST MEASURES SPEED OF GRAVITY" - a UMC press release about Kopeikin's results
- "Speed of Gravity Measured for First Time" - a NRAO press-release on VLBI experiment measured the ultimate speed of gravity
- "Physicist Disputes Speed of Gravity Claim" - American Physical Society News article, dated June 2003, describing criticism of the results
- "Aberration and the Fundamental Speed of Gravity in the Jovian Deflection Experiment" - Kopeikin's respond to the criticism
- "Gravimagnetism, Causality, and of Gravity in the Gravitational Light-Ray Deflection Experiments" - Kopeikin's new proposals for further improvements of the experimental results on the fundamental speed of gravity
- "Relativistic Celestial Mechanics in the Solar System" - monograph by S. Kopeikin, M. Efroimsky and G. Kaplan