Thinking Like Einstein: Stephen Poprocki Re-Examines
Theory of Relativity

Albert Einstein would probably have taken a liking to Stephen Poprocki, even though the senior physics and mathematics double major from Amherst, Ohio, has some questions about the legendary scientist ’s theory of relativity.

Poprocki is trying to determine whether gravitational waves are created when two black holes collide. Einstein’s 1916 theory of general relativity predicts the existence of gravitational waves, which Poprocki describes as “a ripple in the fabric of space-time,” but physicists have not yet been able to detect their presence directly. Poprocki’s research will be summarized in his Independent Study project, The College of Wooster’s nationally acclaimed senior capstone experience in which students research a topic of their choice with guidance from a faculty member and produce a thesis-like report. The results could cast a different light on the world’s preeminent physicist and his theory of relativity.

“If we can detect these gravitational waves, it provides further evidence to support Einstein’s theory of general relativity,” says Poprocki. “If we cannot detect them, it may show that there is a flaw in Einstein’s theory.”

In order to conduct his study, Poprocki traveled to the California Institute of Technology during winter break to collaborate with a research group analyzing data from the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO). It was Poprocki’s second trip to Caltech. He first went there last summer on an REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates), where he began to study the topic under Patrick Sutton, a senior research fellow. When Sutton asked Poprocki if he would like to continue the research, Poprocki suggested that Sutton might serve as an advisor for his I.S.

After approval from Poprocki’s advisor and mentor at Wooster, Professor of Physics John Lindner, Poprocki immersed himself in the topic. If a gravitational wave is detected, his goal is to locate the direction in the sky from which it came. “So far, my method, based on Bayesian probability theory, has been shown in simulations to yield improved performance over previous methods,” says Poprocki.

The similarities between Poprocki and Einstein do not end with their shared interest in black holes and gravitational waves. Poprocki, like Einstein, was a child prodigy. His extraordinary intellect was first discovered through his ability to play guitar at a very young age. Poprocki thought that music would be his calling in life, until one day his mother came home with a new computer. “I really became interested in what I could do on the computer,” he says. “I started programming it and even created my own games on it, but I realized I needed more information.” So Poprocki, at the age of 10, began making regular trips to the local library to check out books on math and physics.

School bored him because he already knew most of what was being taught, so he convinced his parents that he could actually home school himself. After some discussion, his parents agreed, and Poprocki developed a self-designed curriculum. Following one year at home, he figured he was ready for college, even though his class standing was equivalent to that of a junior in high school. Undeterred, he applied to Wooster and was accepted.

“Wooster took a chance on me, and I am grateful for that,” says Poprocki. He is also thankful for the many other learning opportunities including the chance to study abroad. “I was able to spend the first semester of my junior year in Japan to pursue my interest in the Japanese language,” he says. “Learning the language has been a hobby of mine since before college, and I was very pleased with Wooster's ability to be flexible enough to make it happen.”

After graduating from Wooster in May, Poprocki hopes to earn a Ph.D. so that he can become a professor of physics at a college or university, where he hopes to advance the field of theoretical physics.