Elihu Abrahams

Biography

Abstract

Abrahams' research is in theoretical condensed matter physics. His main interests concern the quantum-mechanical many-body problem in the presence of very strong particle-particle interactions. In this area, he has been using the techniques of quantum statistical mechanics and field theory to investigate the phase transitions and the transport and thermodynamic properties of a number of systems.

Important Dates

April 3, 1927Birth, Port Henry (N.Y.).

1947Obtained undergraduate degree, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley (Calif.).

1952Obtained PhD in Physics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley (Calif.).

1952 – 1953Research Associate in Physics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley (Calif.).

1953 – 1956Research Associate (1953-1955) and Assistant Professor (1955-1956), University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

1956 – presentAssistant Professor to Associate Professor (1956-1964) and Professor to Bernard Serin Professor of Physics (1964-present), Rutgers University, New Brunswick (N.J.).

1976 – 2000Member, Board of Trustees (1976-1982; 1992); President and Chair of Executive Committee (1979-1982); and Chair, Board of Trustees (1997-2000), Aspen Center for Physics, Aspen (Colo.).

1982 – 1985Member, Advisory Board, Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara.

1987Elected member, National Academy of Sciences.

Occupation

Condensed matter physicist.

Places

Birth

Port Henry (N.Y.)

Undergraduate Education

Berkeley (Calif.)

Graduate Education

Berkeley (Calif.)

Employment

New Brunswick (N.J.)

Aspen (Colo.)

Subjects

Condensed matter.

Fermi liquids.

Field theory (Physics).

High temperature superconductivity.

Liquid helium.

Quantum liquids.

Relationships

People

Advisors & Collaborators

Kittel, Charles

Ph.D. advisor at University of California, Berkeley on ferromagnetic relaxation.

Colleagues

Aizenman, Michael

Both employed at Rutgers University.

Almy, Gerald Marks, 1904-

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Alvarez, Luis W., 1911-1988

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Bardeen, John

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Birge, Raymond T. (Raymond Thayer), 1887-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Brode, Robert B. (Robert Bigham), 1900-1986

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Ceperley, David

Both employed at Rutgers University.

Chabal, Yves Jean, 1952-

Both employed at Rutgers University.

Chamberlain, O. (Owen)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Chew, Geoffrey F.

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Cohen, Morrel H.

Both employed at Rutgers University.

Frauenfelder, Hans, 1922-

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Goldhaber, Gerson

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Helmholz, August Carl, 1915-2003

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Jackson, Shirley Ann, 1946-

Both employed at Rutgers University.

Jeffries, C. D., 1922-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Kerst, Donald William, 1911-1993

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Lawrence, Ernest Orlando, 1901-1958

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Lazarus, David, 1921-

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Lebowitz, Joel Louis, 1930-

Both employed at Rutgers University.

Loomis, F. W. (Francis Wheeler), 1889-1976

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Low, Francis E. (Francis Eugene), 1921-2007

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Maldacena, Juan Martin, 1968-

Both employed at Rutgers University.

McMillan, Edwin M. (Edwin Mattison), 1907-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Millis, Andrew J.

Both employed at Rutgers University.

Moyer, Burton J., 1912-1973

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Nierenberg, William Aaron, 1919-2000

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Overhauser, Albert Warner, 1925-

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Phillips, J. C.

Both employed at Rutgers University.

Pines, David, 1924-2018

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Reynolds, John Hamilton, 1923-2000

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Ruderman, Malvin A.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Segrè, Emilio

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Seitz, Frederick, 1911-2008

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Slichter, Charles P.

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Teller, Edward, 1908-2003

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Wheatley, John Charles

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

York, Herbert F. (Herbert Frank)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Zamolodchikov, A. B., 1952-

Both employed at Rutgers University.

Additional

Keffer, Frederic

Institutions

Major Positions

Rutgers University. Department of Physics and Astronomy

Assistant Professor to Associate Professor and Professor to Bernard Serin Professor of Physics.

University of California, Berkeley. Department of Physics

Obtained undergraduate degree; PhD in Physics; and Research Associate in Physics.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Department of Physics

Research Associate and Assistant Professor.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

Aspen Center for Physics

Member, Board of Trustees; President and Chair, Executive Committee; and Chair, Board of Trustees.

Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics

Member, Advisory Board.

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

Resources

Archival Resources

Subject

Berkeley days: how great events shaped our careers, for Elihu Abrahams at his 80th birthday celebration, 2007.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA