Discover
/
Article

Kirkwood Memorial Symposium

FEB 01, 1961

DOI: 10.1063/1.3057385

John S. Dahler

John Gamble Kirkwood was one of world’s most distinguished and versatile scientists. His eminence in the field of statistical physics and chemistry was evidenced by his ingenious theoretical analyses which have played a major role in clarifying our understanding of such subjects as order‐disorder phenomena, polymers, liquids, solutions, irreversible thermodynamics, transport phenomena in fluids, the propagation of shocks and detonations, molecular quantum mechanics, liquid helium, and nuclear structure. His theory of electrolytes has been especially valuable in explaining the properties of proteins. Although he frequently dealt with abstract mathematical concepts, many of his ideas had practical applications. For example, he combined electrophoresis with thermal convection to provide an important means for effecting separations of proteins in solution.

More about the Authors

John S. Dahler. University of Minnesota.

This Content Appeared In
pt-cover_1961_02.jpeg

Volume 14, Number 2

Related content
/
Article
Technical knowledge and skills are only some of the considerations that managers have when hiring physical scientists. Soft skills, in particular communication, are also high on the list.
/
Article
Professional societies can foster a sense of belonging and offer early-career scientists opportunities to give back to their community.
/
Article
Interviews offer a glimpse of how physicists get into—and thrive in—myriad nonacademic careers.
/
Article
Research exchanges between US and Soviet scientists during the second half of the 20th century may be instructive for navigating today’s debates on scientific collaboration.
/
Article
The Eisenhower administration dismissed the director of the National Bureau of Standards in 1953. Suspecting political interference with the agency’s research, scientists fought back—and won.
/
Article
Alternative undergraduate physics courses expand access to students and address socioeconomic barriers that prevent many of them from entering physics and engineering fields. The courses also help all students develop quantitative skills.

Get PT in your inbox

Physics Today - The Week in Physics

The Week in Physics" is likely a reference to the regular updates or summaries of new physics research, such as those found in publications like Physics Today from AIP Publishing or on news aggregators like Phys.org.

Physics Today - Table of Contents
Physics Today - Whitepapers & Webinars
By signing up you agree to allow AIP to send you email newsletters. You further agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.