James S. Langer

Biography

Abstract

James S. Langer is Professor Emeritus of Physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara (1982-present). Other institutional affiliations include Carnegie Mellon University. His research interests include theories of nonequilibrium phenomena and pattern formation in fluid dynamics.

Important Dates

September 21, 1934Birth, Pittsburgh (Pa.).

1955Obtained BS, Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie-Mellon University), Pittsburgh (Pa.).

1958Obtained PhD in Mathematical Physics, University of Birmingham, Birmingham (England).

1958 – 1982Instructor in Physics (1958-1964, when Carnegie Institute of Technology); Assistant Professor to Professor (1964-1982); and Associate Dean, Mellon Institute of Science (1971-1974), Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh (Pa.).

1966 – 1967Visiting Associate Professor, Cornell University.

1982 – presentProfessor of Mathematics and Physics (1982-2007); Director, Institute for Theoretical Physics (1989-1995); and Professor Emeritus of Physics (2007-present), University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara (Calif.).

1985Member, National Academy of Sciences.

1997Awarded Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize, American Physical Society.

2000President, American Physical Society.

2001 – 2005Vice President, National Academy of Sciences.

Occupation

Condensed matter physicist.

Places

Birth

Pittsburgh (Pa.)

Undergraduate Education

Pittsburgh (Pa.)

Graduate Education

Birmingham (England)

Employment

Pittsburgh (Pa.)

Santa Barbara (Calif.)

Subjects

Condensed matter.

Fluid dynamics.

Nucleation.

Phase transformations (Statistical physics).

Relationships

People

Advisors & Collaborators

Carlson, Jean M. (Jean Marie), 1962-

Advised by Langer at University of California, Santa Barbara.

Foglia, Anthony J.

Advised by Langer at University of California, Santa Barbara, "Shear localization in the shear-transformation-zone theory of plasticity in amorphous systems."

Frischknecht, Amalie L.

Advised by Langer at University of California, Santa Barbara, "Stability of domains in phase-separating binary fluids in shear flow."

Maloney, Craig E.

Advised by Langer at University of California, Santa Barbara, "Amorphous systems in athermal, quasistatic shear."

Marder, Michael P., 1960-

Advised by Langer at University of California, Santa Barbara.

Peierls, Rudolf E. (Rudolf Ernst), 1907-1995

PhD advisor at University of Birmingham.

Colleagues

Ahlers, G. (Günter)

Both employed at University of California, Santa Barbara.

Awschalom, D. (David)

Both employed at University of California, Santa Barbara.

Bialek, William S.

Both employed at University of California, Santa Barbara.

Griffiths, R. B. (Robert Budington)

Both employed at Carnegie-Mellon University.

Gross, David J. (David Jonathan)

Both employed at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Hartle, J. B. (James B.)

Both employed at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Heeger, Alan J.

Both employed at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Horowitz, Gary T., 1955-

Both employed at University of California, Santa Barbara.

Kivelson, Steven

Both employed at University of California, Santa Barbara.

Kohn, Walter, 1923-2016

Both employed at Carnegie Institute of Technology and University of California, Santa Barbara.

Peale, Stanton Jerrold

Both employed at University of California, Santa Barbara.

Polchinski, Joseph Gerard

Both employed at University of California, Santa Barbara.

Scalapino, Douglas J.

Both employed at University of California, Santa Barbara.

Schrieffer, J. R. (John Robert), 1931-

Both employed at University of California, Santa Barbara.

Stern, Otto, 1888-1969

Both employed at Carnegie Institute of Technology.

Stever, H. Guyford

Both employed at Carnegie-Mellon University.

Strominger, Andrew Eben

Both employed at University of California, Santa Barbara.

Stubbs, Christopher

Both employed at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Wilczek, Frank

Both employed at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Witherell, Michael S., 1949-

Both employed at University of California, Santa Barbara.

Wolfenstein, L. (Lincoln)

Both employed at Carnegie Institute of Technology.

Additional

Markovitz, Hershel, 1921-2006

Institutions

Major Positions

Carnegie Institute of Technology. Department of Physics

Obtained BS (1955). Instructor in Physics and Assistant Professor to Professor.

Carnegie-Mellon University. Physics Department

Assistant Professor to Professor and Associate Dean, Mellon Institute of Science.

Cornell University. Department of Physics

Visiting Associate Professor.

University of California, Santa Barbara. Department of Mathematics

Professor of Mathematics.

University of California, Santa Barbara. Department of Physics

Professor of Physics and Professor Emeritus of Physics.

University of California, Santa Barbara. Institute for Theoretical Physics

Director.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

American Physical Society

Received 1997 Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize and President.

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

Member and Vice President.

University of Birmingham. Department of Physics

Obtained PhD in Mathematical Physics (1958).

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

Selected talks from Corporate Associates Meetings [videorecording] : 1983-1987.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA