Relationship : Marriage 1974 (Gunthara Falke)
Work : Prize February 2005 (Kings Medal of Merit) chart Placidus Equal_H.
Death:Death, Cause unspecified 29 January 2009 (Age 73) chart Placidus Equal_H.
Norwegian astrophysicist best known for his pioneering work on gravitational lensing, including the Chang-Refsdal lens. He was professor of astrophysics at the University of Hamburg from 1972 to 2001, and professor II at the University of Oslo 1992-2001. He is particularly known for the "Refsdal Method," which describes how one may estimate the expansion rate of the Universe (Hubble constant) using the measured time-delay and lens properties of a gravitationally lensed quasar (QSO). The first detected multiply-lensed supernova was nicknamed "SN Refsdal" in his honor. In February 2005 Refsdal was awarded the Kings Medal of Merit (gold). Refsdal died on 29 January 2009, aged 73. Link to Wikipedia biography Read less
Sjur Refsdal, born in Oslo, Norway on December 30, 1935, was a prominent astrophysicist known for his pioneering work on gravitational lensing. He sadly passed away in 2009.
Refsdal's work was ahead of its time. He predicted several phenomena related to gravitational lensing years before they were observationally confirmed. These include:
His 1964 paper on the use of time delays in gravitational lenses to determine the Hubble constant is considered a landmark contribution to the field. While observational capabilities at the time prevented immediate application of his ideas, they became highly relevant with advancements in telescope technology.
Refsdal's groundbreaking contributions have been widely recognized by the scientific community. Although he didn't live to see the full extent of his ideas applied, his work has become fundamental to modern cosmology and the study of gravitational lensing. Numerous research projects and scientific papers build upon the foundation he laid.
Unfortunately, readily available information about Sjur Refsdal's personal life, including social media presence or specific projects beyond his core research, is limited. Much of the available information focuses on his scientific publications and their impact.
To learn more about Sjur Refsdal's scientific work, searching for his publications on academic databases like the NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS) is recommended. Look for articles authored by "Refsdal, S." to find his original papers and subsequent citations which demonstrate the lasting influence of his research.
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