Vladimir Rojansky
Encyclopedia
Vladimir Borisovich Rojansky (April 9, 1900 – March 6, 1981) was an American physicist, author and educator. He was born in Bologoye
, a small town outside St. Petersburg, Russia. His father was a railroad construction engineer and one of his grandfathers was a general.
At the outbreak of the Russian Civil War
(August 8, 1918) he enlisted in the dragoons of the White Army. Within a month he was wounded in action and was hospitalized until the end of January. During the war his regiment retreated across Siberia to the Far Eastern Republic
. There he was discharged as an officer in April 1921.
That year he crossed the Pacific to America. He was graduated from Whitman College
in 1924, from the U. of Oregon (M.A. 1925), and from the University of Minnesota
(Ph.D. 1928). His thesis was one of the first to employ the modern form of quantum mechanics
. It was supervised by John van Vleck, who later won a Nobel Prize
. In 1938 he published Introductory Quantum Mechanics, one of the earliest textbooks on the subject.
He taught at Washington University (1928-1930), Union College
(1930-1955), and Harvey Mudd College
(1965-1972).
From 1955 to 1965 he worked in the aerospace industry, first at the Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation and later at the Space Technology Laboratories of TRW
.
,"in which "atoms consist of negative nuclei surrounded by positrons."
In a subsequent paper, he speculated that some comets may consist of antimatter. This suggestion was embraced by some meteorite specialists, and also found its way into science fiction stories.
he married (1958-1981) Mildred Black.
His digestion never recovered from his war wounds.
Bologoye
Bologoye is a town and the administrative center of Bologovsky District of Tver Oblast, Russia, as well as a major railway hub. It is located approximately half-way between Moscow and St. Petersburg on the railway route connecting the two cities. Population: The first mention of Bologoye in...
, a small town outside St. Petersburg, Russia. His father was a railroad construction engineer and one of his grandfathers was a general.
At the outbreak of the Russian Civil War
Russian Civil War
The Russian Civil War was a multi-party war that occurred within the former Russian Empire after the Russian provisional government collapsed to the Soviets, under the domination of the Bolshevik party. Soviet forces first assumed power in Petrograd The Russian Civil War (1917–1923) was a...
(August 8, 1918) he enlisted in the dragoons of the White Army. Within a month he was wounded in action and was hospitalized until the end of January. During the war his regiment retreated across Siberia to the Far Eastern Republic
Far Eastern Republic
The Far Eastern Republic , sometimes called the Chita Republic, was a nominally independent state that existed from April 1920 to November 1922 in the easternmost part of the Russian Far East...
. There he was discharged as an officer in April 1921.
That year he crossed the Pacific to America. He was graduated from Whitman College
Whitman College
Whitman College is a private, co-educational, non-sectarian, residential undergraduate liberal arts college located in Walla Walla, Washington. Initially founded as a seminary by a territorial legislative charter in 1859, the school became a four year degree granting institution in 1883...
in 1924, from the U. of Oregon (M.A. 1925), and from the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
(Ph.D. 1928). His thesis was one of the first to employ the modern form of quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and matter. It departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic...
. It was supervised by John van Vleck, who later won a Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
. In 1938 he published Introductory Quantum Mechanics, one of the earliest textbooks on the subject.
He taught at Washington University (1928-1930), Union College
Union College
Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
(1930-1955), and Harvey Mudd College
Harvey Mudd College
Harvey Mudd College is a private residential liberal arts college of science, engineering, and mathematics, located in Claremont, California. It is one of the institutions of the contiguous Claremont Colleges, which share adjoining campus grounds....
(1965-1972).
From 1955 to 1965 he worked in the aerospace industry, first at the Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation and later at the Space Technology Laboratories of TRW
TRW
TRW Inc. was an American corporation involved in a variety of businesses, mainly aerospace, automotive, and credit reporting. It was a pioneer in multiple fields including electronic components, integrated circuits, computers, software and systems engineering. TRW built many spacecraft,...
.
Interest in contraterrene matter (antimatter)
In a 1935 paper, Rojansky coined the terms "terrene" and "contraterrene" to describe, respectively, ordinary matter and the substance now commonly known as "antimatterAntimatter
In particle physics, antimatter is the extension of the concept of the antiparticle to matter, where antimatter is composed of antiparticles in the same way that normal matter is composed of particles...
,"in which "atoms consist of negative nuclei surrounded by positrons."
In a subsequent paper, he speculated that some comets may consist of antimatter. This suggestion was embraced by some meteorite specialists, and also found its way into science fiction stories.
Personal
His marriage (1926-1958) to Betty Lantz produced a daughter. After his wife's death from Parkinson's diseaseParkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
he married (1958-1981) Mildred Black.
His digestion never recovered from his war wounds.