Non-equilibrium thermodynamics Statistical physics Van Kampen expansion Van Kampen modes
Scientific career
Fields
Theoretical physics
Institutions
Utrecht University
Doctoral advisor
Hendrik Anthony Kramers
Nicolaas 'Nico' Godfried van Kampen (June 22, 1921 – October 6, 2013) was a Dutch theoretical physicist, who worked mainly on statistical mechanics and non-equilibrium thermodynamics.[1]
Van Kampen was born in Leiden, and was a nephew of Frits Zernike. He studied physics at Leiden University, where in 1952 under the direction of Hendrik Anthony Kramers he earned his PhD with thesis Contributions to the quantum theory of light scattering.[2] He showed in his thesis how to deal with singularities in quantum mechanical scattering processes, an important step in the development of renormalization, according to Kramers.[3] Van Kampen made fundamental contributions to non-equilibrium processes (in particular on the master equation) and in many-body theory (especially in plasma physics). His work on non-equilibrium processes began in 1953 in the research group of Sybren Ruurds de Groot (the successor to Kramers) in Leiden. In 1955 Van Kampen joined the Institute of Theoretical Physics at Utrecht University, where he later became full professor and professor emeritus after his retirement.[4][5]
His monograph Stochastic processes in physics and chemistry (1981) is considered a classic. In his 2002 book Waanwetenschap (Science), Van Kampen condemned what he saw as pseudoscience, even within the scientific community; the book met with a mixed reaction—five scientists, including Vincent Icke [nl], Floris Takens and Dennis Dieks, wrote a commentary on his book.[6] Van Kampen had 15 Dutch-type PhD students, including Barend Felderhof (1963), John Tjon (1964) and Johannes Roerdink (1983).[7]
Van Kampen was an uncle of the Dutch theoretical physicist and Nobel prize winner Gerard 't Hooft, and encouraged 't Hooft to study physics in Utrecht.[8] Van Kampen was a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences since 1973.[9] He died, aged 92, in Nieuwegein.
^"Emeritus-hoogleraar Nico van Kampen overleden – BINNENLAND – PAROOL" (in Dutch). Parool.nl. 2013-06-13. Retrieved 2013-10-09.
^Nico van Kampen (1952). "Contribution to the quantum theory of light scattering" (PDF). ilorentz.org. Lorentz Institute for theoretical physics, Leiden University. LCCN a52006862.
^Kramers, H.A. (16 January 1952). "Laudatio uitgesproken door H.A. Kramers op 16 januari 1952, bij de promotie van Nicolaas Godfried van Kampen". ilorentz.org (in Dutch). Lorentz Institute for theoretical physics, Leiden University. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
^Rosalio F. Rodriguez, Nicholas G. van Kampen: brief biography, in: Alfredo Macías et al. (eds.), Developments in Mathematical and Experimental Physics: Cosmology and gravitation, Springer, 2002, p. 295 e.v.
^Alberto Giovannini (ed.), The legacy of Léon Van Hove, World Scientific, 2000, p. 489. LCCN 00-46280 ISBN 981-02-4330-8
^Jongeneel, Christiaan (29 January 2004). "Waanwetenschap als achterhoedegevecht". delta.tudelft.nl (in Dutch). TUDelta, weekly magazine Technical University Delft. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
^Nicolaas Godfried van Kampen at the Mathematics Genealogy Project
^'t Hooft, G. (1999). "Gerardus 't Hooft – Autobiography". Nobel web. Retrieved 2012-08-14.
^"N.G. (Nico) van Kampen (1921 - 2013)" (in Dutch). Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
Nicolaas 'Nico' Godfried vanKampen (June 22, 1921 – October 6, 2013) was a Dutch theoretical physicist, who worked mainly on statistical mechanics and...
system size expansion, also known as vanKampen's expansion or the Ω-expansion, is a technique pioneered by NicovanKampen used in the analysis of stochastic...
theoretical physicist in the line of Dirk Polder, Ralph Kronig, and NicovanKampen. His scientific work inter alia involves laser theory, path integrals...
(1894–1952), in Biografisch Woordenboek van Nederland. (in Dutch) J.M. Romein, Hendrik Anthony Kramers, in: Jaarboek van de Maatschappij der Nederlandse Letterkunde...
oscillation frequency and N {\displaystyle N} is the electron density. Later NicovanKampen proved that the same result can be obtained with Fourier transform...
about interpretation issues like quantum measurement. Others, like NicovanKampen and Willis Lamb, have openly criticized non-orthodox interpretations...
(1921–2007) Andrew M. Gleason (1921–2008) Marcos Moshinsky (1921–2009) NicovanKampen (1921–2013) Eugen Merzbacher (1921–2013) Albert Messiah (1921–2013)...
van der Horst Ambrosius Hubrecht Johannes Alphonsus Huisman John Huizinga G.P. van Itterzon Cornelis de Jager Mark Janse Hans Jansen NicovanKampen Paul...
Lectures, Steve Goldman Lectures in Mathematical Physics, NicovanKampen Colloquium, Johannes Diderik van der Waals Lectures, Zi-Ping Distinguished Lectures...
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building blocks of matter . His closest colleagues were Léon Van Hove and NicovanKampen. In 1961, Van Hove left for CERN in Geneva and Ben Nijboer became his...
the Earth (3) – Livius". livius.org. Retrieved 28 February 2019. Roymans, Nico, Ethnic Identity and Imperial Power: The Batavians in the Early Roman Empire...
Harry van der Kamp (born 1947 in Kampen) is a Dutch bass singer in opera and concert. Mostly active in Historically informed performance, he founded the...
9 casualties. 9: Establishment of the Dutch Language Union. 13: Bart vanKampen establishes the Black Market in Beverwijk. 11: A merger meeting between...
physician Nicolaas Godfried vanKampen (1776-1839) Dutch Mennonite deacon Frederik Lauesen (born 1972), television presenter Marinus van der Lubbe (1909–1934)...
Testament. Een onderzoek naar de voorstellingen van het oude Israel omtrent de kosmos under his doctoral advisor Nico H. Ridderbos. From 1970 Houtman worked at...
Witte de With, Jan Evertsen. vanKampen. Reine, Ronald Boudewijn Prud'homme van (2003). Admiraal Zilvervloot: biografie van Piet Hein (in Dutch). De Arbeiderspers...
Dutch] Stapel, F.W.: De Oostindische Compagnie en Australië. (Amsterdam: VanKampen, 1937) [in Dutch] Stein, Stephen K.: The Sea in World History: Exploration...
Netherlands M title application Van Foreest, Lucas 1039792 2001-03-03 Groningen 2018 Netherlands M title application VanKampen, Robin 1020854 1994-11-14 Blaricum...
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