Robert Graham (physicist)
Encyclopedia
Robert Graham is a German theoretical physicist.
Graham attended the Karls-Gymnasium in Stuttgart
and studied at the University of Stuttgart
, where in 1967 he earned under Hermann Haken
his physics Diplom
(quantum fluctuations of the optical parametric oscillator
) and in 1969 his PhD (light propagation in laser-active fluctuating media). Continuing this work, he applied the theory of cooperative systems in quantum optics, which was publicized by Haken as "Synergetik" (Synergetics). As a post-doc, he was a guest scientist at New York University
and, after his Habilitation
in 1971, scientific advisor and professor at the University of Stuttgart. From 1975 he was a professor at the Universität Duisburg-Essen, where he is now retired as professor emeritus. He was there also dean and prorector for research.
He worked on extremely diverse areas of quantum theoretical statistical mechanics, apart from laser theory also in the 1990s with the theory of Bose-Einstein condensate. In 2009 he received the Max Planck medal
, the highest honor of the DPG
in theoretical physics for his contributions in the areas of quantum optics, the statistical mechanics of open stationary systems outside thermodynamic equilibrium, quantum fluids and quantum gases as well as quantum chaos (according to the Laudatio of the Max Planck medal 2009) and his contributions to quantum aspects of cosmology and gravitation.
Graham attended the Karls-Gymnasium in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
and studied at the University of Stuttgart
University of Stuttgart
The University of Stuttgart is a university located in Stuttgart, Germany. It was founded in 1829 and is organized in 10 faculties....
, where in 1967 he earned under Hermann Haken
Hermann Haken
Hermann Haken is physicist and professor emeritus in theoretical physics at the University of Stuttgart. He is known as the founder of synergetics....
his physics Diplom
Diplom
A Diplom is an academic degree in the German-speaking countries Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and a similarly named degree in some other European countries including Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Estonia, Finland , Greece, Hungary, Russia, Serbia, Macedonia, Slovenia, and Ukraine...
(quantum fluctuations of the optical parametric oscillator
Optical parametric oscillator
An optical parametric oscillator is a parametric oscillator which oscillates at optical frequencies. It converts an input laser wave into two output waves of lower frequency by means of second order nonlinear optical interaction. The sum of the output waves frequencies is equal to the input wave...
) and in 1969 his PhD (light propagation in laser-active fluctuating media). Continuing this work, he applied the theory of cooperative systems in quantum optics, which was publicized by Haken as "Synergetik" (Synergetics). As a post-doc, he was a guest scientist at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
and, after his Habilitation
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
in 1971, scientific advisor and professor at the University of Stuttgart. From 1975 he was a professor at the Universität Duisburg-Essen, where he is now retired as professor emeritus. He was there also dean and prorector for research.
He worked on extremely diverse areas of quantum theoretical statistical mechanics, apart from laser theory also in the 1990s with the theory of Bose-Einstein condensate. In 2009 he received the Max Planck medal
Max Planck medal
The Max Planck medal is an award for extraordinary achievements in theoretical physics. It is awarded annually by the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft , the world's largest organization of physicists.-List of recipients:...
, the highest honor of the DPG
Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft
The Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft is the world's largest organization of physicists. The DPG's worldwide membership is cited as 60,000, as of 2011...
in theoretical physics for his contributions in the areas of quantum optics, the statistical mechanics of open stationary systems outside thermodynamic equilibrium, quantum fluids and quantum gases as well as quantum chaos (according to the Laudatio of the Max Planck medal 2009) and his contributions to quantum aspects of cosmology and gravitation.
Selected works
- Von der Laserschwelle zum Quantenphasenübergang - Photonen und Atome als Quantengase im Fließgleichgewicht. In: Physik Journal. 2009, No. 8/9 (prize acceptance speech for the Max Planck medal)
- Statistical theory of instabilities in stationary nonequilibrium systems with applications to lasers and nonlinear optics (= Springer Tracts in Modern Physics, Vol. 66). 1973 (Habilitation 1971)
- Macroscopic potentials, bifurcations and noise in dissipative systems. In: F. Moss und P.V.E. McClintock (eds.): Noise in nonlinear dynamical systems. Band 1, Cambridge University Press 1989, pages 225–278