Lars Onsager

Kirkwood onsager

Lars Onsager (November 27, 1903 – October 5, 1976) was a Norwegian-American physical chemist and theoretical physicist, known for his seminal contributions to the fields of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics. Onsager was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1968 for his discovery of the reciprocal relations bearing his name, the Onsager reciprocal relations, which are fundamental to the thermodynamic theory of irreversible processes. His work laid the groundwork for various developments in the physics and chemistry of solids, liquids, and magnetic systems, influencing areas as diverse as electrolyte theory and critical phenomena.

Biography

Lars Onsager was born in Kristiania (now Oslo), Norway, and completed his engineering education at the Norwegian Institute of Technology in Trondheim. After moving to the United States, he joined the faculty of Johns Hopkins University before moving to Yale University, where he spent the majority of his academic career. Onsager's early work in the United States included significant contributions to the understanding of the Debye-Hückel theory of electrolytes.

Scientific Contributions

Onsager Reciprocal Relations

Onsager's most famous contribution, the reciprocal relations, emerged from his work in the 1930s. These relations express a symmetry in the transport coefficients that describe the flow of heat and matter in thermodynamic systems out of equilibrium, providing a deep insight into the second law of thermodynamics. This work not only earned him the Nobel Prize but also had a profound impact on the development of non-equilibrium thermodynamics.

Statistical Mechanics and Phase Transitions

Beyond the reciprocal relations, Onsager made significant contributions to the field of statistical mechanics, particularly in the study of phase transitions. His exact solution of the two-dimensional Ising model in the absence of an external magnetic field was a landmark achievement, demonstrating for the first time that a model of a system undergoing a phase transition could be solved mathematically, predicting the occurrence of a critical point and providing a method to calculate critical exponents.

Electrolyte Solutions and Other Contributions

Onsager's work on the theory of electrolyte solutions, including the development of the Onsager-Fuoss theory for the conductance of strong electrolytes, and his contributions to the understanding of dielectric properties of molecules and the theory of quantum mechanics related to molecular structure, have also been highly influential.

Legacy

Lars Onsager's contributions to science extend beyond his own research. He was known for his unique approach to problem-solving and his ability to apply rigorous mathematical methods to complex physical problems. His work has influenced not only theoretical chemistry and physics but also the fields of chemical engineering, materials science, and mathematics. The Onsager Lecture Series, established in his honor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, continues to celebrate his legacy by inviting distinguished scientists to discuss their work related to Onsager's scientific interests.

Awards and Honors

In addition to the Nobel Prize, Onsager received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the Lorentz Medal and the National Medal of Science. He was a member of the National Academy of Sciences and a foreign member of the Royal Society among other prestigious organizations.