Chia-Chiao Lin

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Chia-Chiao Lin

1916-

Chinese-American mathematician whose work on density waves helped to explain the structure of spiral galaxies. Lin was able to show mathematically that the spiral arms seen in many galaxies are actually the result of basic physical processes that occur during the formation of a galaxy. Many of his predictions, which now form the basis for much of galactic dynamics theory, have been borne out by detailed Hubble Space Telescope observations.

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