Vladimir Varićak

Vladimir Varićak (also Varičak, born March 1, 1865 in Švica; † January 17, 1942 ) was a Yugoslavian mathematician and physicist who is best known for his contributions to non-Euclidean geometry and special relativity.

Life

After schooling, he studied mathematics and physics 1883-1887 at the University of Zagreb. In 1889 he wrote his dissertation and in 1895 he presented his habilitation thesis for the position of Privatdozent. In 1899 he became professor of mathematics at the University of Zagreb. He held until his retirement in 1936 This body, which he held until 1942, limited hours lectures were also the last 6 years of his life. He was a member of numerous scientific institutions. Varičak examined also capture the life and work of Josip Bošković Rugjer.

Geometry and relativity

Varičaks main attention was paid to the non-Euclidean geometry, in which he was one of the first recognized in 1910 that using the hyperbolic geometry opens up many possibilities, could be explained by what various statements of special relativity in a particularly elegant and concise form. However, his formalism was initially hardly noticed, so Hermann Minkowski's four-dimensional space-time ( especially in the form in which it was brought by Arnold Sommerfeld 1910) remained dominant. Although Varičaks formalism, therefore, could not prevail, the basic idea of ​​a non-Euclidean formulation of the theory of relativity was at least very fruitful. However, only by the general theory of relativity by Einstein, the generalization of the relativity principle was carried out using a non-Euclidean geometry.

For a brief discussion of Albert Einstein ( with whom he corresponded ) came when Varićak wrongly suspected in connection with the honorable firmly between paradox that the length contraction is only a " seeming ", " psychological " phenomenon.

Swell

Publications

• Varičak, V.: Contributions to non-Euclidean geometry. In: Annual Report of the German Mathematical Society. 17, 1908, pp. 70-83.
• Varićak, V. (1908 ) "On the non-Euclidean analytic geometry ", Proceedings of the International Congress of Mathematicians, Vol II, pp. 213-26.

Relativity theory

• Varićak, V.: Application of Lobatschefskijschen geometry in the relative theory. In: Physical review. 11, 1910, pp. 93-6.

• Varićak, V.: The relative theory and the Lobatschefskijsche geometry. In: Physical review. 11, 1910, pp. 287-293.

• Varićak, V.: the reflection of light on moving mirrors. In: Physical review. 11, 1910, pp. 586-587.

• Varićak, V.: The interpretation of the relative theory in Lobatschevkijschen geometry (Serbian). In: Proc. Serb. Acad .. 93, 1911, pp. 211-255.
• Varićak, V.: On the Ehrenfest 's paradox. In: Physical review. 12, 1911, p 169

• Varićak, V.: On the non-Euclidean interpretation of relativity theory. In: Annual Report of the German Mathematical Society. 21, 1912, pp. 103-127.

• Varićak, V.: Remarks on the relative theory. In: Bull Acad. Zagreb. No. 2, 1914, pp. 46-64.
• Varićak, V.: Contribution to non-Euclidean interpretation of relativity theory. In: Bull Acad. Zagreb. No. 3, 1915, pp. 46-49.
• Varićak, V.: On the transformation of the electromagnetic field in the relative theory. In: Bull Acad. Zagreb. No. 3, 1915, pp. 101-106.
• Varićak, V.: A note on Doppler 's effect. In: Bull Acad. Zagreb. No. 4, 1915, pp. 87-88.
• Varićak, V.: Representation of relativity in three -dimensional space Lobatschefskijschen. Narodni Novini, Zagreb 1924.
• Varićak, V.: Relativity theory and the Universe. In: Nature. No. 137, 1936.