Jürgen Warnatz
Encyclopedia
Jürgen Warnatz was a German physicist
. Between 1999 and 2004 he served as managing director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing
(IWR) at Ruprecht Karls University of Heidelberg, Germany. From 2003 until his death he chaired the German Section of the Combustion Institute.
In 1971, he finished his doctorate of physical chemistry
at Göttingen University under Heinz Georg Wagner, having written his doctorate thesis on "Bestimmung der Geschwindigkeitskonstanten für Reaktionen von Fluoratomen in der Gasphase" (Identification of velocity constants for fluorine atom reactions in the gas phase). Between 1973 and 1982 he had a scientific staff position at Darmstadt University of Technology
(Germany), School of Physical Chemistry and Chemical Technology. In the meantime, he finished his post-doctoral lecturing qualification in 1978 on "Berechnung der Flammengeschwindigkeit und der Struktur von laminaren Flammen" (Calculation of flame velocity and structure of laminar flames).
Between 1982 and 1986, in 1987 and 1988, Jürgen Warnatz was professor at Heidelberg University, Germany. In 1989 he was appointed to the chair of the combustion group at Stuttgart University
. From 1994 onwards he was back at Heidelberg University, professor and head of the reactive flows working group. Between 1999 and 2004 Jürgen Warnatz served as managing director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing. In 1997 he received the honorary doctorate of Trondheim University
, Norway. On September 11, 2003 he was elected chair of the German Section of the Combustion Institute and held the chair until his death.
and simulation
of chemical reactive
flows
, particularly looking at molecular reactions involved and transport processes. The main research priorities of his working group were:
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
. Between 1999 and 2004 he served as managing director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing
Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing
thumb|right|200px|South west view of the IWR building, located at Heidelberg's New CampusThe Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing is a scientific research institute of the University of Heidelberg, Germany...
(IWR) at Ruprecht Karls University of Heidelberg, Germany. From 2003 until his death he chaired the German Section of the Combustion Institute.
Academic Profile
Jürgen Warnatz studied physics at Georg August University of Göttingen, Germany, and graduated in 1969. His diploma thesis was titled "Untersuchungen über die Reaktion von Stickstoffatomen mit Propin" (Studies of nitrogen atom reactions with propyne).In 1971, he finished his doctorate of physical chemistry
Physical chemistry
Physical chemistry is the study of macroscopic, atomic, subatomic, and particulate phenomena in chemical systems in terms of physical laws and concepts...
at Göttingen University under Heinz Georg Wagner, having written his doctorate thesis on "Bestimmung der Geschwindigkeitskonstanten für Reaktionen von Fluoratomen in der Gasphase" (Identification of velocity constants for fluorine atom reactions in the gas phase). Between 1973 and 1982 he had a scientific staff position at Darmstadt University of Technology
Darmstadt University of Technology
The Technische Universität Darmstadt, abbreviated TU Darmstadt, is a university in the city of Darmstadt, Germany...
(Germany), School of Physical Chemistry and Chemical Technology. In the meantime, he finished his post-doctoral lecturing qualification in 1978 on "Berechnung der Flammengeschwindigkeit und der Struktur von laminaren Flammen" (Calculation of flame velocity and structure of laminar flames).
Between 1982 and 1986, in 1987 and 1988, Jürgen Warnatz was professor at Heidelberg University, Germany. In 1989 he was appointed to the chair of the combustion group at Stuttgart University
University of Stuttgart
The University of Stuttgart is a university located in Stuttgart, Germany. It was founded in 1829 and is organized in 10 faculties....
. From 1994 onwards he was back at Heidelberg University, professor and head of the reactive flows working group. Between 1999 and 2004 Jürgen Warnatz served as managing director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing. In 1997 he received the honorary doctorate of Trondheim University
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology , commonly known as NTNU, is located in Trondheim. NTNU is the second largest of the eight universities in Norway, and, as its name suggests, has the main national responsibility for higher education in engineering and technology...
, Norway. On September 11, 2003 he was elected chair of the German Section of the Combustion Institute and held the chair until his death.
Research
Jürgen Warnatz’ general research approach was modelingScientific modelling
Scientific modelling is the process of generating abstract, conceptual, graphical and/or mathematical models. Science offers a growing collection of methods, techniques and theory about all kinds of specialized scientific modelling...
and simulation
Computer simulation
A computer simulation, a computer model, or a computational model is a computer program, or network of computers, that attempts to simulate an abstract model of a particular system...
of chemical reactive
Chemical reaction
A chemical reaction is a process that leads to the transformation of one set of chemical substances to another. Chemical reactions can be either spontaneous, requiring no input of energy, or non-spontaneous, typically following the input of some type of energy, such as heat, light or electricity...
flows
Fluid dynamics
In physics, fluid dynamics is a sub-discipline of fluid mechanics that deals with fluid flow—the natural science of fluids in motion. It has several subdisciplines itself, including aerodynamics and hydrodynamics...
, particularly looking at molecular reactions involved and transport processes. The main research priorities of his working group were:
- CombustionCombustionCombustion or burning is the sequence of exothermic chemical reactions between a fuel and an oxidant accompanied by the production of heat and conversion of chemical species. The release of heat can result in the production of light in the form of either glowing or a flame...
processes - Hypersonic flowsHypersonicIn aerodynamics, a hypersonic speed is one that is highly supersonic. Since the 1970s, the term has generally been assumed to refer to speeds of Mach 5 and above...
- Heterogeneous catalysisHeterogeneous catalysisIn chemistry, heterogeneous catalysis refers to the form of catalysis where the phase of the catalyst differs from that of the reactants. Phase here refers not only to solid, liquid, vs gas, but also immiscible liquids, e.g. oil and water. The great majority of practical heterogeneous catalysts...
- PlasmaPlasma (physics)In physics and chemistry, plasma is a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain portion of the particles are ionized. Heating a gas may ionize its molecules or atoms , thus turning it into a plasma, which contains charged particles: positive ions and negative electrons or ions...
reactions - Fuel cellFuel cellA fuel cell is a device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent. Hydrogen is the most common fuel, but hydrocarbons such as natural gas and alcohols like methanol are sometimes used...
s
Publications (selection)
- J. Warnatz, Chemistry of Stationary and Non-Stationary Combustion, Chap. 12 in K. H. Ebert, P. Deuflhard, W. Jäger (Ed.), Modelling of Chemical Reaction Systems, Springer, ISBN 3-540-10983-8 (1981)
- N. Peters, J. Warnatz (Ed.), Numerical methods in laminar flame propagation, Vieweg, ISBN 3-528-08080-9 (1982)
- J. Warnatz, Rate Coefficients in the C/H/O System, Chap. 5 in W.C. Gardiner, Jr., Combustion Chemistry, Springer, ISBN 0-387-90963-X (1984)
- J. Warnatz, W.Jäger (Ed.), Complex Chemical Reaction Systems, Springer, ISBN 3-540-18364-7 (1987)
- J. Warnatz, U. Maas, R. W. Dibble, Combustion, 4th ed., Springer, ISBN 978-3540677512 (2006)
Prizes and Awards
- Study grant of Karl-Winnacker-Foundation at Hoechst Inc. (1982)
- Silver Combustion Medal (1982)
- Philip Morris Research Award (1991)
- Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz PrizeGottfried Wilhelm Leibniz PrizeThe Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize is a research prize awarded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft every year since 1985 to scientists working in Germany. This highest German research prize consists of a research grant of 2.5 million euro, to be used within seven years...
(1993) - Gerhard Damköhler Medal (1994)
- A.K. Oppenheim Award (2001)