Philip Warren Anderson
Early Life and Education
Philip Warren Anderson was born on December 13, 1923, in Indianapolis, Indiana. His early interest in science was sparked by his father, who was a professor of plant pathology at the University of Illinois. Anderson attended University Laboratory High School in Urbana, Illinois, where he excelled in mathematics and physics.
After high school, Anderson enrolled at Harvard University, where he studied physics. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1943 and a Ph.D. in 1949. His doctoral thesis, supervised by John Hasbrouck Van Vleck, focused on the theory of ferromagnetism.
Career and Research
After completing his Ph.D., Anderson joined the Bell Laboratories in New Jersey. His work at Bell Labs was primarily focused on the study of condensed matter physics, a branch of physics that deals with the physical properties of matter in its condensed phase.
Anderson's research at Bell Labs led to several significant contributions to the field of condensed matter physics. He developed the Anderson model for magnetic impurities, which explains the behavior of magnetic impurities in metals. He also proposed the concept of localization, a phenomenon that explains the behavior of electrons in disordered systems.
In 1963, Anderson moved to Cambridge University, where he held the position of Cavendish Professor of Physics. During his time at Cambridge, he continued his research on condensed matter physics, focusing on the theory of superconductivity.
In 1975, Anderson returned to the United States and joined the faculty of Princeton University. He continued his research on condensed matter physics, making significant contributions to the understanding of the electronic structure of materials.
Contributions to Physics
Anderson's work in condensed matter physics has had a significant impact on the field. His development of the Anderson model for magnetic impurities and his work on the theory of localization have provided valuable insights into the behavior of materials at the atomic level.
Anderson also made significant contributions to the theory of superconductivity. His work on the BCS theory of superconductivity, which explains the phenomenon of superconductivity in terms of the pairing of electrons, has been widely recognized for its importance in the field.
In addition to his work on condensed matter physics, Anderson also made significant contributions to the field of quantum mechanics. His work on the Anderson-Higgs mechanism, which explains the origin of mass in elementary particles, has had a significant impact on the field of particle physics.
Awards and Honors
Throughout his career, Anderson received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to physics. In 1977, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the electronic structure of magnetic and disordered systems. He shared the prize with Sir Nevill Francis Mott and John Hasbrouck Van Vleck.
In addition to the Nobel Prize, Anderson also received the National Medal of Science in 1982, the Wolf Prize in Physics in 1980, and the Kyoto Prize in 1994. He was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
Later Life and Legacy
Anderson retired from Princeton University in 1997, but remained active in the field of physics. He continued to publish papers and give lectures on various topics in physics.
Anderson passed away on March 29, 2020, leaving behind a significant legacy in the field of physics. His work on condensed matter physics, superconductivity, and quantum mechanics continues to influence the field, and his theories and models are still widely used in research today.