Pierre Hohenberg
Encyclopedia
Pierre C. Hohenberg is a French-American theoretical physicist, who works primarily on statistical mechanics
.
Hohenberg studied at Harvard, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1956, his master's degree in 1958 (after a stay 1956/57 at École Normale Supérieure
), and his doctorate in 1962. Afterwards he was from 1962-1963 at the Institute for Physical Problems
in Moscow
and at the École Normale Supérieure
in Paris
. From 1964 to 1995 he was at Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, there from 1985 to 1989 as director of the department of theoretical physics and there from 1989 to 1995 as "Distinguished Member of Technical Staff". At the same time he was from 1974 to 1977 professor for theoretical physics at the TU München, where he was already in 1972-1973 guest professor. From 1995 to 2003 he was "Deputy Provost of Science and Technology" at Yale University
. Since then he is at Yale "Eugene Higgins Adjunct Professor of Physics and Applied Physics". Hohenberg was additionally from 1963–1964 and again in 1988 guest professor in Paris and 1990-1991 as Lorentz-Professor in Leiden. In 2004 he became Senior Vice Provost of Research at New York University
.
Hohenberg is also politically active. In 1983 he chairman of the committee of the APS
for the freedom of scientists and in 1992-1993 on an APS committee for the support of scientists in the former Soviet Union. From 1984 to 1996 he was on the committee for human rights of the New York Academy of Sciences
.
Hohenberg is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
, the National Academy of Sciences
(from 1989), and the New York Academy of Sciences. He received in 1990 the Fritz London Prize, in 1999 the Max Planck Medal
, and in 2003 the Lars Onsager Prize of the APS.
Hohenberg formulated in 1964 with Walter Kohn
the Hohenberg-Kohn theorem in the course of his work on density functional theory
. He became famous primarily for his investigations in the 1960s and 1970s in the theory of more dynamic (i.e., more temporally variable) critical phenomena close to phase transitions. He collaborated thereby with Bertrand Halperin
and Ernest Ma in the application of renormalization
methods. Additionally Hohenberg worked (with Swift) on hydrodynamic instabilities and on pattern formation in non-equilibrium systems. Independently of Mermin
and Wagner
he proved in 1967 the impossibility of spontaneous symmetry breaking
in one and two dimensions.
Statistical mechanics
Statistical mechanics or statistical thermodynamicsThe terms statistical mechanics and statistical thermodynamics are used interchangeably...
.
Hohenberg studied at Harvard, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1956, his master's degree in 1958 (after a stay 1956/57 at École Normale Supérieure
École Normale Supérieure
The École normale supérieure is one of the most prestigious French grandes écoles...
), and his doctorate in 1962. Afterwards he was from 1962-1963 at the Institute for Physical Problems
Institute for Physical Problems
P.L. Kapitza Institute for Physical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The Institute was founded in 1934. The founder of the Institute, Prof. Kapitsa served as its head for many years. The head of the theoretical division of the Institute was Prof. Landau. The primary direction of...
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and at the École Normale Supérieure
École Normale Supérieure
The École normale supérieure is one of the most prestigious French grandes écoles...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. From 1964 to 1995 he was at Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, there from 1985 to 1989 as director of the department of theoretical physics and there from 1989 to 1995 as "Distinguished Member of Technical Staff". At the same time he was from 1974 to 1977 professor for theoretical physics at the TU München, where he was already in 1972-1973 guest professor. From 1995 to 2003 he was "Deputy Provost of Science and Technology" at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. Since then he is at Yale "Eugene Higgins Adjunct Professor of Physics and Applied Physics". Hohenberg was additionally from 1963–1964 and again in 1988 guest professor in Paris and 1990-1991 as Lorentz-Professor in Leiden. In 2004 he became Senior Vice Provost of Research at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
.
Hohenberg is also politically active. In 1983 he chairman of the committee of the APS
American Physical Society
The American Physical Society is the world's second largest organization of physicists, behind the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. The Society publishes more than a dozen scientific journals, including the world renowned Physical Review and Physical Review Letters, and organizes more than 20...
for the freedom of scientists and in 1992-1993 on an APS committee for the support of scientists in the former Soviet Union. From 1984 to 1996 he was on the committee for human rights of the New York Academy of Sciences
New York Academy of Sciences
The New York Academy of Sciences is the third oldest scientific society in the United States. An independent, non-profit organization with more than members in 140 countries, the Academy’s mission is to advance understanding of science and technology...
.
Hohenberg is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
, the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
(from 1989), and the New York Academy of Sciences. He received in 1990 the Fritz London Prize, in 1999 the Max Planck Medal
Max Planck medal
The Max Planck medal is an award for extraordinary achievements in theoretical physics. It is awarded annually by the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft , the world's largest organization of physicists.-List of recipients:...
, and in 2003 the Lars Onsager Prize of the APS.
Hohenberg formulated in 1964 with Walter Kohn
Walter Kohn
Walter Kohn is an Austrian-born American theoretical physicist.He was awarded, with John Pople, the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1998. The award recognized their contributions to the understandings of the electronic properties of materials...
the Hohenberg-Kohn theorem in the course of his work on density functional theory
Density functional theory
Density functional theory is a quantum mechanical modelling method used in physics and chemistry to investigate the electronic structure of many-body systems, in particular atoms, molecules, and the condensed phases. With this theory, the properties of a many-electron system can be determined by...
. He became famous primarily for his investigations in the 1960s and 1970s in the theory of more dynamic (i.e., more temporally variable) critical phenomena close to phase transitions. He collaborated thereby with Bertrand Halperin
Bertrand Halperin
Bertrand I. Halperin is the Hollis Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy at the physics department of Harvard University.He grew up in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. He attended Harvard University , and did his graduate work at Berkeley with John J. Hopfield .In the 1970s, he, together with...
and Ernest Ma in the application of renormalization
Renormalization
In quantum field theory, the statistical mechanics of fields, and the theory of self-similar geometric structures, renormalization is any of a collection of techniques used to treat infinities arising in calculated quantities....
methods. Additionally Hohenberg worked (with Swift) on hydrodynamic instabilities and on pattern formation in non-equilibrium systems. Independently of Mermin
David Mermin
Nathaniel David Mermin is a solid-state physicist at Cornell University best known for the eponymous Mermin-Wagner theorem and his application of the term "Boojum" to superfluidity, and for the quote "Shut up and calculate!"Together with Neil W...
and Wagner
Herbert Wagner (physicist)
Herbert Wagner is a German theoretical physicist, who mainly works in statistical mechanics. He is a professor emeritus of Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.-Biography:...
he proved in 1967 the impossibility of spontaneous symmetry breaking
Spontaneous symmetry breaking
Spontaneous symmetry breaking is the process by which a system described in a theoretically symmetrical way ends up in an apparently asymmetric state....
in one and two dimensions.
Selected works
- P. Hohenberg and W. Kohn: Inhomogeneous Electron Gas. Phys. Rev. 136 (1964) B864-B871
- B. I. Halperin and P. C. Hohenberg: Generalization of scaling laws to dynamical properties of a system near its critical point, Physical Review Letters 19, 1967, p. 700,
- B. I. Halperin and P. C. Hohenberg: Scaling laws for dynamical critical phenomena, Physical Review Vol. 177, 1969, p. 952,
- B. I. Halperin, P. C. Hohenberg, Shang-keng Ma: Calculation of dynamical critical properties using Wilson's expansion methods, Physical Review Letters Vol. 29, 1972, p. 1548,
- J. Swift, P. C. Hohenberg: Hydrodynamic Fluctuations at the convective instability, Physical Review, A, Vol. 15, 1977, p. 319,
- P. C. Hohenberg: Existence of long range order in one and two dimensions, Physical Review Vol. 158, 1967, p. 383,
- P. C. Hohenberg: Dynamical theory of critical phenomena, in E. G. D. Cohen (Ed.) "Statistical mechanics at the turn of the decade", Dekker, New York 1971
- P. C. Hohenberg, B. I. Halperin: Theory of dynamical critical phenomena, Reviews of Modern Physics, Vol. 49, 1977, pp. 435–479,
- M. C. Cross, P. C. Hohenberg: Pattern formation out of equilibrium, Reviews of Modern Physics, Vol. 65, 1993, pp. 851–1112,