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SENTENARYO NG TEORYANG March 14, 2016 (1 - 3 pm), NIP Auditorium, UP Diliman Program Emcees: Ms. Cherrie Olaya and Mr. Nestor Bareza

National Anthem Welcome Remarks Academician William G. Padolina (NAST) Presentation 1 Einstein: Science, Image, and Impact (Dr. Perry Esguerra) Presentation 2 Einstein and the Music of the Spheres (Dr. Ian Vega) Intermission NIP Resonance Choir Presentation 3 From Einstein’s Universe to the Multiverse (Dr. Reina Reyes) Open Forum* *Moderators: Dr. May Lim and Dr. Nathaniel Hermosa II Closing Remarks Dr. Jose Maria P. Balmaceda (UP College of Science)

(Refreshments will be served at the NIP Veranda)

What’s Inside? Organizing Committee Messages p.1 Extended Abstracts 8 Dr. Percival Almoro (Chair) Einstein chronology 18 Dr. Perry Esguerra Einstein quotations 19 Dr. Ian Vega Dr. Caesar Saloma (Convenor)

Outside Front Cover Outside Back Cover Inside Back Cover Einstein in Vienna, 1921 Depiction of gravitational waves Galaxies By: F. Schmutzer generated by binary neutron stars. By: Hubble Ultra Deep Field (Wikimedia Commons) By: R. Hurt/Caltech-JPL (http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu. (http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/im- edu/hbase/astro/deepfield.html) ages/universe/20131106/pul- sar20131106-full.jpg)

Acknowledgements Sentenaryo ng Teoryang General Relativity (March 14, 2016, UP-NIP) 1 2 Sentenaryo ng Teoryang General Relativity (March 14, 2016, UP-NIP) Sentenaryo ng Teoryang General Relativity (March 14, 2016, UP-NIP) 3 4 Sentenaryo ng Teoryang General Relativity (March 14, 2016, UP-NIP) http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/02/11/466286219/in-milestone- scientists-detect-waves-in-space-time-as-black-holes-collide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4XzLDM3Py8 https://soundcloud.com/emily-lakdawalla

Sentenaryo ng Teoryang General Relativity (March 14, 2016, UP-NIP) 5 6 Sentenaryo ng Teoryang General Relativity (March 14, 2016, UP-NIP) Sentenaryo ng Teoryang General Relativity (March 14, 2016, UP-NIP) 7 Einstein: Science, Image, and Impact By Perry Esguerra ‘Why is it that nobody for photoluminescence, the ory of relativity. The result understands me and , and the was a deeper understanding everybody likes me?’ generation of cathode rays by of space and time that had

Albert Einstein, quoted in the New York Times, 12 March 1944 photoionization. Einstein was repercussions on all of phys- awarded the 1921 Nobel Prize ics. had in Physics for his explanation predictions that are counter- More than sixty years af- of the photoelectric effect. intuitive – e.g. time dilation, ter his last scientific paper, In “A New Determination of length contraction, relativity Einstein remains a figure of Molecular Dimensions”, Ein- of simultaneity, mass-energy fascination in the scienc- stein presented a method for equivalence- but the theory es and beyond. Einstein is determining the size of atoms was eventually accepted be- best known for the theories and molecules at a time when cause these predictions were of special and general rel- their very existence was con- verified experimentally. Spe- ativity but he contributed troversial. He showed that the cial relativity was, however, much more to the physics of sizes of atoms and molecules limited because it only relat- the 20th century. Einstein’s can be inferred from the dif- ed observations in reference scholarly career lasted for fif- fusion and the viscosity of frames that are in uniform ty-five years. His scientific dilute solutions. In “On the motion with respect to each reputation, however, rests on Movement of Small Particles other. the work he did in the first Suspended in Stationary Liq- twenty-five of these years. uids Required by the Molec- Einstein believed that a the- ular-Kinetic Theory of Heat” ory of relativity should also In 1905 Einstein produced – more often known as the apply to reference frames breakthrough work in three paper -Ein- that are in non-uniform mo- distinct areas of physics: stein continued his quest for tion relative to each other. on the nature of the verification of the atomic His first steps towards a gen- light; on the size and the ef- theory. eral were fects of atoms; and on the made in 1907, through his special theory of relativi- The last two of Einstein’s great discovery of a simple version ty. The hypothesis papers of 1905 dealt with of the . enabled Einstein to account Special Relativity. Einstein From 1911 to October 1915, for the distribution of radia- described his theory of rel- Einstein formulated sever- tion emitted by a black body, ativity as a resolution of the al flawed versions of general and to propose explanations conflict between Maxwell’s relativity. Writing deprecat- for three experimental ob- electromagnetic theory and ingly about himself, Einstein servations – the Stokes rule the Newtonian / Galilean the- wrote in a letter to Ehrenfest

8 Sentenaryo ng Teoryang General Relativity (March 14, 2016, UP-NIP) “Einstein [referring to him- tum physics suggests that gen- ticles – a basis for theoretical self] has it easy. Every year eral relativity may not be the descriptions of superfluids he retracts what he wrote in final word on . and superconductors. With the preceding year; now the Einstein also developed the Podolsky and Rosen, he pre- sorry business falls to me of first quantum theory of spe- sented what is now known as justifying my latest retrac- cific heats, thereby resolving the EPR paradox – a quan- tion”. a paradox in classical physics tum mechanical thought ex- that specific heats were often periment that has triggered In November 1915, Einstein smaller than can be explained debates on the interpretation finally presented the defin- by classical theory. With Brill- of . itive formulation of gener- ouin and Keller, he developed al relativity to the Prussian a method for studying the He spent the last thirty years Academy of Sciences in a pa- quantum mechanical coun- of his life working on an un- per on the “Field Equations terparts of classical systems. successful search for a uni- of Gravitation”. In March He developed a theory for de- fied field theory. Einstein 1916, Einstein published a scribing how atoms emit and also tinkered with a device to synopsis of the General The- absorb light, a foundation for measure small voltage differ- ory of Relativity in Annalen the physics of lasers. With ences. With de Haas, he con- der Physik; in this paper Ein- Bose, he formulated the quan- ducted experiments on the stein concludes with a brief tum statistics of bosonic par- rotation of magnets. He had section on the three new predictions: the gravitation- al red shift, the gravitation- al bending of light, and the precession of the perihelion of Mercury. The prediction about the gravitational bend- ing of light was confirmed by Arthur Eddington during the solar eclipse of 29 May 29, 1919. Other predictions of general relativity that were later confirmed include grav- itational lensing, the gravita- tional redshift of light, gravi- tational time delay, existence of black holes, and gravita- tional waves.

Today general relativity is a cornerstone for cosmology and astrophysics. But the un- Photo of and Charlie Chaplin at the Los Angeles pre- resolved issue of reconciling miere of the film City Lights. April 1931 (https://commons.wikimedia. org/wiki/File:Albert_Einstein_and_Charlie_Chaplin_-_1931.jpg) general relativity and quan- Sentenaryo ng Teoryang General Relativity (March 14, 2016, UP-NIP) 9 approximately fifty patents, science, philosophy, religion, High School Curriculum, and including a patent for a re- and politics remain rele- General Physics 1, a specialized frigerator and a hearing aid. vant today; partly because subject under the STEM strand. made-up quotations sound He has been teaching Physics 10 (Physics and Astronomy for By 1919, Einstein’s genius more credible when they can Pedestrians), since 2002 and is was already widely recog- be attributed to Einstein; and the Faculty Adviser of the UP nized in scientific circles. , most importantly, because Astronomical Society. He has The University of Geneva Einstein’s scientific work still also taught introductory phys- awarded him his first hon- plays a significant role in the ics courses, and physics courses orary doctorate in 1909. cutting-edge scientific re- at the advance undergraduate, Einstein received nomina- search of our time. and graduate levels. He helped tions for the Nobel physics train many Philippine teams in prize in every year but About the Speaker sent to the International Olym- two from 1910 to 1922. It piad of Astronomy and Astro- physics, the International Phys- was, however, the interna- ics Olympiad, and the Asian tional media coverage of Ed- Physics Olympiad. He was a dington’s 1919 observations judge and a member of the sci- confirming general relativi- entific review committee of the ty that made Einstein transi- Intel Philippine Science Fair / tion from a scientific star to a DepEd National Science and charismatic world figure and Technology Fair from 2000 to cultural icon. The press cov- 2015. erage turned Einstein into an icon of a “new physics” that Prof. Esguerra has published twenty papers in journals cov- was overturning established ered by the Thomson-Reuters/ notions of space, time, mat- Science Citation Index, in re- ose Perico “Perry” Esguerra is ter, and energy, and also into J search areas such as fraction- the Coordinator of the Theoret- a symbol of intellect at the al quantum mechanics, gen- ical Physics Group and a Profes- highest level. Later, the press eral relativity, random walks, sor of Physics in the National will also report on Einstein’s diffusion, Brownian motion, Institute of Physics in UP Dili- first-passage time problems, concerns on pacifism, the man. He was the President of statistical mechanics, nonlin- Jewish question, racial dis- the Samahang Pisika ng Pilipi- ear time-series analysis, and crimination, nuclear disar- nas from 2009 to 2010, and has self-gravitating systems. He has mament, as well as his views been a member of the Techni- co-authored more than a hun- cal Committee for Physics and on philosophy, religion, dred conference presentations Technical Panel for Science and world government, among and has refereed for Physical Mathematics of the Commis- many other things. Review E, Physica A, Physica sion on Higher Education since D, European Journal of Phys- 2009. He leads a team com- Today, more than sixty years ics, and the American Journal missioned by the CHED K+12 of Physics. His former students after his death, Einstein con- Transition Program to create included 3 PhD, 21 MS, and 49 tinues to be a figure of fasci- Teacher’s Guides for the physics BS graduates of which 3 gradu- nation. This is partly because component of Physical Science, ated summa cum laude. many of his opinions about a core subject in the Senior

10 Sentenaryo ng Teoryang General Relativity (March 14, 2016, UP-NIP) Einstein and the Music of the Spheres By Ian Vega Our understanding of the cos- the sun, and things fall, because We all share in the experience mos has come a long way from the space and time curve. Meanwhile, of looking up to the night sky and time of the ancient Greeks. The it is the sun and the planets that losing ourselves to wonder. What inexorable advance of technology tell space and time how to curve. might those shining white dots has allowed us to peer the heavens be? How did they get there? What in ways that the Greeks could not As a theory of gravity designed might their motions mean for have anticipated. With our much to extend Newton’s, general rel- our everyday lives? These sorts of improved gaze, we now know that ativity often corrects Newtonian questions are an essential part of the occupants of the night sky predictions only by a miniscule our humanity. They have capti- are neither white nor dots, they amount, like for instance, by vated humans of all persuasions, are not the perfect spheres of the shifting the precession of peri- from all places and all times. In- Greek ideals, nor do they move helion of Mercury (by only 40 deed, we can point to much in according to their simplistic geo- arcseconds per century) and by our cultural heritage – from metric theories. Nevertheless, slightly bending the Sun’s light myths and legends to religions the Pythagorean vision of math- when it is observed during a so- – as the result of our ancestors’ ematical harmony has held its lar eclipse. However, by giving centuries-long attempt to grapple ground, and has, if anything, been space and time an active role in with these profound mysteries. strengthened and enriched by the the workings of all of physics, GR From ancient Greece through many discoveries of modern sci- has truly revolutionized the way much of medieval Europe, these ence. we understand the Universe to- celestial objects were thought to day. No longer a mere stage on be perfect solid spheres perform- Albert Einstein’s Theory of Gen- which physics plays out, space- ing a grand mathematical waltz eral Relativity (GR), whose 100th time has become a roleplayer it- on a heavenly canvas. The pat- year we are rightfully celebrat- self, affected by and affecting the terns in their movements were ing, carries the torch of this Py- rest of physics. It is from this rad- said to be those also found in thagorean vision in our times. GR ical conceptual shift that GR has music. Pythagoras was the first nowadays is considered one of derived its power to stir count- to enunciate this musical celestial the foundational pillars of mod- less imaginations – of physicists, connection, which would would ern physics (though it was not al- poets and crackpots alike. This is prove to have a profound effect ways held in such high regard). It a power it has wielded since its on all subsequent intellectual his- is highly geometric in its content inception, with no abatement in tory. The Pythagorean vision of a and formulation, a fact that would sight. Over the years, Einstein’s mathematical/geometric harmo- have appealed to Pythagoreans theory has suffused popular cul- ny that underlies the workings of and made them stand in awe. The ture with its fantastic terminol- the Universe remains a core in- theory posits that gravity – that ogy, that nowadays utterances gredient of modern physics. And which causes a free object to fall of time-warps, wormholes, time so the scientific legacy we have to the ground – is not really a travel, black holes, and the like, inherited can be said to have had force in the sense that Isaac New- might be considered bromide. its early beginnings in the Greeks’ ton first espoused. Rather, gravity contemplation of the rhythms is a manifestation of the bending This state-of-affairs often -war of the heavens, the “music of the of space and time, of rants a reminder that general rel- spheres”. curvature. Planets circle around ativity is, in fact, a scientific the- Sentenaryo ng Teoryang General Relativity (March 14, 2016, UP-NIP) 11 ory buttressed by experiments are produced by moving masses. an experimental triumph of the and observations. This means Einstein predicted them in a pa- highest order. that general relativity is contin- per published in 1916, only a year ually being checked by scientists after formulating General Rela- The detected all over the world, with an eye tivity. But the history of gravita- by Advanced LIGO was produced towards finding where the theo- tional waves since its prediction by two black holes about 36 and ry might start to fail. Such work has been all but smooth. In fact, at 29 times the mass of the Sun that is made possible by tremendous some point, even Einstein had de- coalesced to form a single black advances in astronomy. With nied their existence! hole about 62 times the mass of powerful instruments scientists the Sun. The gravitational wave now routinely observe objects in Due to the incredible weakness came from 1.3 billion light-years the Universe that are far heavier, of gravity, the effects of a passing away, which means that its cre- denser, and more energetic than gravitational wave are typically ation took place 1.3 billion years ever before. It is for objects like too tiny to measure. These effects ago. Incredibly, this detection is these – black holes at the centers become appreciable only for a also our strongest evidence for of galaxies, neutron stars, white the of black holes! You can dwarfs; compact objects occu- therefore bet that Nobel Prizes pying the realm of strong gravi- will be awarded for this feat very ty – that General Relativity holds soon! sway. For some of these systems, e.g. binary pulsar systems, it has More significant than the detec- become possible to perform nu- tion itself, however, is the prom- merous exquisitely accurate tests ise gravitational waves hold as a of GR in the strong-gravity re- powerful tool for astronomy, es- gime. From these, no deviation Artist’s depiction of gravitational waves pecially since a worldwide net- from GR’s predictions has been generated by binary neutron stars. R. work of gravitational wave ob- found to date. Hurt/Caltech-JPL (http://www.jpl.nasa. servatories is about to go online gov/images/universe/20131106/pul- in just a few years time. Gravita- The latest, most spectacular con- sar20131106-full.jpg) tional waves will now be used to firmation of General Relativity probe the darkest regions of the came with the announcement by strong enough gravitational wave, cosmos, places in which very lit- the Advanced LIGO Team (La- which in turn is produced only by tle electromagnetic radiation is ser Interferometer Gravitation- extremely energetic events involv- produced, or places rendered al-Wave Observatory) of the first ing very heavy objects, e.g. black opaque to electromagnetic waves direct detection of gravitational hole mergers, supernovae, or the by thick intervening matter. In waves on 11 February 2016. This Big Bang. Even so, the chang- this sense, GWs will complement represented the culmination of es induced by such gravitation- traditional astronomy by provid- work spanning four decades and al waves are typically only about ing access to places the latter can- involving more than a thousand less than 10-18 meters, which is not reach. The opening of a new scientists from all over the world. about 1⁄(100,000,000) times the window from which to view the diameter of a typical atom. To be Universe is often accompanied Gravitational waves (GWs) are able to measure length changes of by a revolution in astronomy. It ripples in the fabric of space and this size unambiguously, a num- happened with radio waves and time that cause the relative dis- ber of phenomenal technologi- x-rays, so the same can be expect- tances of objects to move as they cal challenges first had to be met, ed of gravitational waves. We are pass through. They are analogous requiring advances in optics, la- extremely fortunate to be able to to electromagnetic waves, such sers, materials science, cryogen- witness this revolution as it un- as light. Just as electromagnet- ics, vibration isolation systems, folds. Far from closing the book ic waves are produced by mov- just to name a few fields. There is on General Relativity, the detec- ing charges, gravitational waves no doubt that the detection was tion of gravitational waves is just

12 Sentenaryo ng Teoryang General Relativity (March 14, 2016, UP-NIP) the first page of a potentially long About the Speaker Dr. Vega earned his PhD in and very exciting chapter. Physics (specializing in General Relativity, Black Holes and Grav- It is often said that gravitation- itational Waves) in 2009 from al waves are analogous to sound, the University of Florida (USA) that whereas electromagnetic under the supervision of Steve waves allow us to see objects in Detweiler. At Florida, he won the the sky, gravitational waves will Harris Fellowship for the most allow us to “hear” them. With outstanding senior graduate stu- gravitational waves, we thus find dent in , and our way back to Pythagoras. We the Charles Hooper Award for have, yet again, a resounding vic- most oustanding graduate re- tory for his vision of mathemat- search. He had also won the Blue ical harmony, a victory concret- Apple Award for best student ized by the genius of Einstein. talk by the American Physical Even better though, we see that Society, and a number of teach- gravitational waves are the music ing awards, most notably the of the spheres. And for the first AAPT Outstanding Teaching As- time in history, we don’t just talk Michael Francis Ian G. Vega II, sistant award by the American about it, we actually get to listen. known professionally only as Ian Association of Physics Teachers. Vega, is an Associate Professor After his PhD, Dr. Vega became at the National Institute of Phys- a postdoctoral research fellow This is dedicated to Steven De- ics (NIP), University of the Phil- of Eric Poisson at the University tweiler (1948-2016), who passed ippines Diliman. He is a member of Guelph (Canada) from 2009- away unexpectedly three days be- of the NIP Theoretical Physics 2012, and then a postdoctoral re- fore the big announcement of the Group, within which he is cur- search associate of Thomas So- detection of gravitational waves. rently trying to establish a re- tiriou in the Astrophysics Sector Steve was my mentor and good search subgroup in theoretical of SISSA-International School friend. He was my patient guide gravitational physics. His research for Advanced Studies (Italy) in the study of black holes and interests span many areas of the- from 2012-2015. gravitational waves. In these fields oretical physics, but his efforts are Steve was a pioneer and intellec- currently focused on understand- Dr. Vega is a native of Cagayan tual leader, beginning with his ing physical phenomena in the de Oro City, and studied phys- joint work with Subrahmanyan strong gravity regime. His work ics as an undergraduate Merit Chandrasekhar (Nobel Laureate, combines many exciting subjects Scholar at the Ateneo de Manila 1983) on the quasinormal ringing such as physics, alterna- University. Dr. Vega is a frequent of black holes. Steve performed pi- tive theories of gravity, self-force referee for D, oneering calculations on the grav- and radiation reaction in curved Classical and , itational wave emission by black spacetime, and gravitational International Journal of Modern holes and was one of the first to waves from compact objects. He Physics D, Journal of Cosmol- show how gravitational waves has published fourteen papers on ogy and Astroparticle Physics, could be detected by pulsar tim- these topics in top, high-impact and the New Journal of Phys- ing. I will remember him most for specialty journals such as the Liv- ics. More information about Dr. his generosity, optimism and hu- ing Reviews in Relativity, Physi- Vega and his work can be found mility. He was extremely excited cal Review D, and Classical and on his website: about the first detection. I miss Quantum Gravity. He has also lec- http://ianvega.wix.com/ianvega him dearly. tured and given many invited talks all across North America, Europe and Japan.

Sentenaryo ng Teoryang General Relativity (March 14, 2016, UP-NIP) 13 From Einstein’s Universe to the Multiverse By Reina Reyes shrink and collapse. To pre- Hubble himself did not have Today, we know that the vent this collapse, Einstein a physical explanation. Universe is filled with gal- introduced a new term to axies, and our Galaxy, The his equations, the so-called The answer was a revela- Milky Way, is only one of , tion: it was space itself that many hundreds of billions; which acts like a repulsive was expanding! Just as de- each galaxy is in turn made force counteracting the at- scribed by solutions to Ein- up of millions to hundreds tractive force of gravity. stein’s general theory of of billions of stars. relativity, as applied to a In the 1920’s, astronomi- homogenous and isotropic A century ago, in 1915, cal observations of novae Universe. Belgian priest and when Albert Einstein pub- in the nearby Andromeda physicist Georges Lemaitre lished his theory of gener- nebula, first by Heber Cur- published such a solution al relativity, the picture of tis, and more definitively for an expanding universe the universe was very dif- by Edwin Hubble, showed in a French journal in 1927. ferent. Nebulae have long that Andromeda is an is- It was allegedly first dis- been observed in the sky, land universe in itself, an- missed by Einstein as math- but they were thought to be other galaxy just like our ematically beautiful but un- gas clouds or groups of stars own. Observing from the physical, and subsequently residing within the Milky 100-inch Hooker telescope praised by him as an elegant Way. The Universe then was at Mt. Wilson Observatory solution, after the picture of composed only of our Gal- in California, Hubble dis- the expanding universe has axy sitting alone, surround- covered more nearby galax- been well established in the ed by an infinite, static, and ies, establishing our modern early 1930’s. eternal void. picture of a Universe filled with galaxies. Moreover, Today, the standard cosmo- In 1917, Einstein wrote a he discovered that almost logical solution, the Fried- paper on the cosmologi- all the galaxies he observed mann-Lemaitre-Robert- cal implications of his the- are moving away at great son-Walker metric, bears ory of general relativity. speeds, and that the farther the names of four people The equations naturally led away the galaxy is, the fast- who independently contrib- to a universe that dramati- er it is receding-- a relation uted to the discovery. This cally changes over time. In now known as Hubble’s law. metric describes models of particular, because gravity At that time, this was a puz- the universe that begin with pulls everything together, zling discovery for which a “Big Bang” then expand, the universe is expected to

14 Sentenaryo ng Teoryang General Relativity (March 14, 2016, UP-NIP) just as Hubble observed. tation of the dark energy is known as the vacuum ca- This expansion of space that it is the energy of space tastrophe, is one of the big- can either continue forev- itself, or vacuum energy. gest unsolved puzzles in all er, or reach a turning point The good news is, a Uni- of science. and reverse into a collapse, verse with around 70% dark leading to a so-called “Big energy, 25% dark matter, Perhaps the solution awaits Crunch”. The universe can and 5% normal matter, gov- a theory of quantum gravi- be open or closed, depend- erned by GR, can reproduce ty. Meanwhile, scientists are ing on how much matter it all available observations. contains.* If there is enough mass, gravity will eventually win. At this point, the cos- mological constant was out of the picture. And it has been called Einstein’s “big- gest blunder”.

Yet even the man’s so-called mistakes are brilliant. The cosmological constant makes a comeback many, many years later with an- other surprising discovery A century ago, the universe as we knew it only consisted of our own Gal- from astronomy. In 1998, axy in an eternal, infinite void. Today, we know it is one of only hun- two independent projects dreds of billions of galaxies in an active and evolving Universe. Thou- studying high-redshift su- sands of galaxies are visible in this image of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field taken from a very small portion of the sky. (Source: http://hyperphysics. pernovae found that the ex- phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/astro/deepfield.html) pansion of the Universe was not slowing down, but rath- This is our well-established being led to an alternative, er speeding up!** We have standard model of cosmolo- seemingly unscientific ex- an accelerating Universe, gy. Everything works. planation: enter the multi- and Einstein’s GR equations verse. Just as the Galaxy is again need something like The bad news is that we do not the only one, but only a cosmological constant to not have a plausible expla- one of many, many galax- provide the repulsive force nation for why the dark en- ies in our Universe, perhaps needed to overcome gravity. ergy density is as big as we our Universe is not the only find it to be-- or more fit- one, but only one of many, Today, this role is played by tingly, as small. Calculations or indeed, what could be an what we are calling dark en- from quantum physics pre- infinite number of univers- ergy, which has a negative dict a vacuum energy that es. Ideas from string theory pressure and constant den- is 120 orders of magnitude and inflationary cosmolo- sity. The simplest interpre- bigger! This mismatch, also

Sentenaryo ng Teoryang General Relativity (March 14, 2016, UP-NIP) 15 gy naturally lead to this pic- **Both groups were award- High Energy Physics from ture. ed the Nobel Prize in Phys- the Abdus Salam Interna- ics in 2011 for their discov- tional Centre for Theoreti- In the multiverse, univers- ery. cal Physics in Trieste, Italy. es will have different sets of fundamental constants, Dr. Reyes’ astrophysics re- including the dark energy About the Speaker search was in the field of density. In some, this value observational astrophys- will be so high, and acceler- ics, focusing on galaxy for- ated expansion so fast, that mation and cosmology. there will not be enough She has published papers time to form galaxies, plan- studying quasars, disk and ets, and therefore life. In elliptical galaxies, clusters such a universe, there can of galaxies, and large-scale be no observers, so such structure. Her work com- a universe cannot be ob- bines complementary ob- served. This is the logic be- servations, including grav- hind the so-called anthrop- itational lensing and galaxy ic principle. In this picture, velocities, to probe dark the fundamental constants matter. One study showed a einabelle “Reina” Reyes we observe do not require R proof of concept for testing is a part-time lecturer at any explanation. It was by Einstein’s theory of general Ateneo de Manila Univer- random chance that we live relativity on cosmological sity and Rizal Technologi- in this universe and not the scales using observations cal University. She received another. This non-explana- from the Sloan Digital Sky her Ph.D. in Astrophysics tion does not sit well with Survey. many scientists, but it is from Princeton Universi- something some are desper- ty in 2011 and was a post- Upon returning to the Phil- ate enough to consider at doctoral research fellow at ippines, she has expand- this point. the Kavli Institute for Cos- ed her interests to include mological Physics at The more earthly concerns, In other words, we desper- University of Chicago from through the practice of data ately need another Einstein. 2011-2014. science and analytics, as We can only hope that she well as through teaching is already daydreaming her She graduated B.S. Phys- and speaking about the joy way to the solution! ics summa cum laude from of science to young and old Ateneo de Manila Univer- alike. * Technically speaking, the sity and Valedictorian from universe can also be flat, Philippine Science High with just the critical mass School-Main Campus. She needed to keep it from col- also obtained a Diploma in lapsing.

16 Sentenaryo ng Teoryang General Relativity (March 14, 2016, UP-NIP) NIP Resonance “Life without playing music is inconceivable for me. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music… I get most joy in life out of music.” -Albert Einstein

One of the little known facts about Albert Einstein was his love for music. This part of him was given due recognition in 2005, the World Year of Physics, when Peregrine White described him as “…two parts renowned scientist, one jigger pacifist and Zionist fundraiser, and a dash amateur musician.” More often than not, when Einstein’s achievements are remembered, his the- ories on relatively are the star of the show. Consider this short write-up as an attempt to re-establish the bal- ance of Einstein the physicist and Einstein the musician. Armed with his trusty violin, “Lina”, Einstein the amateur violinist would often create chamber music with a chosen few. He fell in love with the works of Mozart at age 13, and never stopped learning since then. Even at the height of his career as a scientist, he was said to have kept a weekly schedule for chamber music sessions. Wednesday nights were always strictly for mu- sic. Einstein has contributed to more than our perception of reality. He has truly set the bar high for an amateur musician. More than talent and passion, it takes determination to merge two different worlds together in a satis- fying balance of logic and creativity. That being the case, it is not uncommon for a group of passionate individuals specializing in the sciences to share a special interest in the arts. In a world of problem sets, machines, theorems, and simulations, these people find comfort in the chords and clashes that create one of the most loved real-world signals – music. A single voice may be audible, but with the harmony of the whole choir, it multiplies three-fold. Equipped with the best voices from the National Institute of Physics, NIP Resonance brings you the most spectac- ular show on Earth - life. EINSTEIN COLLECTION

This Einstein collection is owned by Alexis De La Torre. “Lex” is a Chemical Engineer who works for the national oil company as a business and planning analyst. His fondness for the sciences and mathematics led him to choose a degree and a career that combines both. He is also a member of MENSA Philippines, the local chapter of MEN- SA International, the world’s largest and oldest high IQ society.

His collection includes an eclectic mixture of statues, action figures, stamps, bobbleheads and other memorabilias. Some highlights of his collection include an authenticated piece of wood from the “” in , Swit- zerland, several stamps commemorating Einstein’s life and other significant historical events, vintage trading cards from the 1950’s, A limited edition Fossil Einstein watch, high-end one-sixth scale figures and other famous char- acters dressed up as Einstein, such as Winnie the Pooh, Garfield, M&M mascots and others. He hopes to acquire the grail of his collection one day, and that is the actual autograph of Albert Einstein.

Sentenaryo ng Teoryang General Relativity (March 14, 2016, UP-NIP) 17 Brief Chronology of Albert Einstein

1917 Started directorship of Kaiser 1936 December 20, Elsa died after Wilhelm Institute of Physics in Berlin long battle with heart and kidney dis- 1879 March 14, Albert Ein- ease stein was born in Ulm, Germany 1919 February 14, divorced Mileva; May 29, Sir Eddington measured the 1939 Signed letter to President Roo- 1880 His family moved to Munich bending light confirming Einstein’s sevelt on the military implications of predictions; June 2, married Elsa who atomic energy, that led to the Man- 1885 Entered school and began violin has two daughters Ilse (age 22) and hattan Project lessons Margot (age 20) 1940 Became US citizen 1895 Entered Aargau Cantona School 1920 Became increasingly involved in in Switzerland pacifism 1945 Retired from faculty of the In- stitute for Advanced Study 1896 Relinquished German citizen- 1921 First trip to US, joined fund ship, attended Swiss Federal Poly- raising activities in behalf of Hebrew 1948 Mileva died in Zurich technical Institute in Zurich University in Jerusalem. Delivered 4 lectures in Princeton 1950 Signed his last will that his liter- 1900 Graduated from Polytech and ary archive be transferred to Hebrew announces he plans to marry fellow 1922 Took a trip to Far East, while in University in Jerusalem student Mileva Maric Shanghai he was notified he won the 1901 Became Swiss citizen. Began 1921 Nobel Prize in physics 1952 Was offered presidency of Israel work on doctoral dissertation at Uni- but declined versity of Zurich 1923 Visited Palestine and Spain 1902 Daughter Lieserl was born. 1925 Travelled to South America. Be- Started working at Patent Office in came ardent pacifist. Bern 1903 Married Mileva in Bern 1904 Son Hans Albert was born 1905 Year of miracles, wrote 4 papers: photoelectric effect, Brownian mo- tion, Special relativity, Mass-energy equivalence 1906 Received doctorate from the University of Zurich 1908 Became lecturer at University of Bern 1909 Appointed Extraordinary Pro- fessor of Physics at the University of Zurich 1910 Second son Eduard was born 1911 Taught in Prague for a year 1912 Reacquainted and began ro- mantic correspondence with di- vorced cousin Elsa Lowenthal. Ap- pointed Professor of Theoretical Physics at Polytech in Zurich Ulm, Germany (Birth city of Albert Einstein)

1913 Both sons were baptized as Or- 1928 Hired Helen Dukas as his secre- thodox Christians in Hungary at tary and remained with him as secre- their mother’s hometown. Accept- tary and housekeeper for the rest of April 11, wrote last ed professorship in Berlin, home of his life signed1955 letter to Bertrand Russell, cousin Elsa. agreeing to renounce nuclear weap- 1930 Visited New York and Cuba, ons. April 13, aneurysm ruptured. 1914 Moved to Berlin. Mileva and then stayed at Caltech in Pasadena Died April 18 at Princeton Hospital, children returned to Zurich because 1:15am, of a ruptured arteriosclerotic of Einstein’s desire to end marriage 1931 Delivered lectures at Oxford aneurysm of the abdominal aorta 1933 Gave up German citizenship Reference: and remained a Swiss citizen. Lec- Ultimate Quotable Einstein: Collect- 1916 Published “The Origins tured at Oxford and Switzerland. Left ed and Edited by Alice Calaprice, of the General Theory of Relativity” Europe for Princeton, New Jersey 2011, Princeton University Press and in Annalen der Physik and began professorship at the Insti- The Hebrew University of Jerusalem tute for Advanced Study

18 Sentenaryo ng Teoryang General Relativity (March 14, 2016, UP-NIP) Einstein Quotations

longing for knowledge and under- On Einstein himself One must divide one’s time between standing, and an appreciation for the Imagination is more important than politics and equations. But our equa- intellectual values, whether they be knowledge. Knowledge is limited. tions are much more important to artistic, scientific, or moral Imagination encircles the world. Written for the National Council of Supervisors of Ele- me, because politics is for the pres- In answer to the question, “Do you trust more to your mentary Science in 1934. Einstein Archives 28-277 imagination than you knowledge?” From interview with ent, while our equations are for eter- G.S. Viereck, Saturday Evening Post, October 26, 1929 nity To Scientists Quoted by E. Strauss in Seelig, Helle Zeit, dunkle Zeit, 71 I do not like to state an opinion on a In my opinion, the greatest creative matter unless I know the precise facts On Science From an interview with Richard Lewis, New York Time, geniuses are Galileo and Newton, August 12, 1945, on declining to comment on Germany’s whom I regard in a certain sense as I was sitting in the patent office in progress on the atom bomb forming a unity. And in this unity Bern when all of a sudden a thought My scientific work is motivated by Newton is the one who has achieved occurred to me: is a person falls free- an irresistible longing to understand the most imposing feat in the realm ly, he won’t feel his own weight. I was the secrets of nature and by no other of science. startled. This simple thought made a feelings. My love for justice and the 1920. Quoted by Moszkowski, Conversations with Ei- deep impression on me. It impelled stein, 40 striving to contribute toward the im- me toward a theory of gravitation. provement of human conditions are Great spirits have always encountered From his Kyoto lecture, December 14, 1922. Translated into English by Y.A. Ono in , August 1932, quite independent from my scientific opposition from mediocre minds. from notes taken by Yon Ishiwara The mediocre mind is incapable of interests. It is always a blessing when a great To F. Lentz, August 20, 1949, in answer to a letter asking understanding the man who refuses Einstein about his scientific motivation. Einstein Archives and beautiful conception is proven to to bow blindly to conventional preju- 58-418 be in harmony with reality. The only way to escape the corrupt- dices and chooses instead to express To Sigmund Freud, April 21, 1936, on Freud’s ideas. Ein- stein Archives 32-566 ible effects of praise is to go on work- his opinions courageously and hon- estly ing On the controversy surrounding the appointment of Rus- Quoted by L. Barnett, “On His Centennial, the Spirit of sel, regarded as propagandist against religion, to the fac- On love Einstein Abides in Princeton,” Smithsonian, 1979 ulty of the City University of New York. Quoted in New York Times, March 19, 1940. Einstein Archives 33-168 Falling in love is not at all the most stupid thing that people do – but On Students and Liberal On Religion gravitation cannot be held responsi- Education ble for it. The meaning of the word “truth” var- A scribbled response on a letter from Frank Wall, 1933, Most teachers waste their time by when asked is it would be “reasonable to assume that it is asking questions that are intended to ies according to whether we deal with while a person is standing on his head, i.e., upside down, a fact of experience a mathemati- he falls in love and does other stupid things.” Einstein Ar- discover what a pupil does not know, chives 31-845 whereas the true art of questioning is cal proposition, or a scientific theo- to discover what the pupil does know ry. “Religious truth” conveys nothing Where there is love, there is no impo- clear to me at all. sition. or is capable of knowing In answer to the question, Do scientific and religious 1920. Quoted by Moszkowski, Conversations with Ein- To editor Saxe Commins, Summer 1953. Quoted in Say- truths come from different points of view? December 14, en, Einstein in America, 294 stein, 65 1922, posed by interviewers for the Japanese magazine It is not so very important for a per- Kaizo 5, 1923 son to learn facts. For that he does I want to know how God created this On Wisdom not really need college. He can learn world. I am not interested in this or Wisdom is not a product of school- them from books. The value of an ed- that phenomenon, in the spectrum of ing but of the lifelong attempt to ac- ucation in a liberal arts college is not this or that element. I want to know quire it. To J. Dispentiere, March 24, 1954. Einstein Archives 59- the learning of many facts, but the his thoughts. The rest are details. Recalled by his Berlin student Esther Salaman, 1925, in 495 training of the mind to think some- Salaman, “A Talk with Einstein,” Listener 54 (1955), 370- thing that cannot be learned from 371 textbooks. Reference: Written in 1921, on Thomas Edison’s opinion that a col- On Politics Ultimate Quotable Einstein: Collect- lege education is useless. Quoted in Frank, Einstein: His ed and Edited by Alice Calaprice, Life and Times, 185 My political ideal is democracy. Ev- 2011, Princeton University Press and The most valuable thing a teacher eryone should be respected as an in- The Hebrew University of Jerusalem can impart to children is not knowl- dividual, but no one idolized. From “What I believe,” Forum and Century 84 (1930), edge and understanding per se but a 193-194

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