Sigrid D. Peyerimhoff
Encyclopedia
Sigrid Doris Peyerimhoff (born January 12, 1937 in Rottweil
) is a theoretical chemist
and Emeritus Professor at the Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Bonn
, Germany
.
After completing her abitur
, Peyerimhoff studied physics at the University of Gießen, completing her degree in 1961 and receiving her doctorate in 1963. After researching at the University of Chicago
, the University of Washington
and Princeton University
, she returned to Germany and gained her habilitation
at the University of Gießen in 1967. She became professor for theoretical chemistry at the University of Mainz in 1970, and at the University of Bonn
in 1972.
In 1994, she was awarded the German Federal Order of Merit
, first class. She received the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz-Prize in 1988. She is a member of the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science
and received its annual medal in 1977. She is member of many scientific academies and professional societies and on the executive board of many of them.
She is the author of over 400 original articles in various international journals and coauthor of Umweltstandards: Fakten und Bewertungsprobleme am Beispiel des Strahlenrisikos. Her history of computational chemistry
in Germany" is of particular note. She edited Interactions in Molecules.
methods, in particular, multireference configuration interaction
, and to their application in many fields of physics and chemistry. Particular emphasis has been given to electronically excited state
s, molecular spectra
and photochemistry
. Many studies are on atmospheric molecules and ions, their lifetimes in excited states and decomposition due to radiative and non-radiative processes, and on stability and spectra of clusters.
Rottweil
Rottweil is a town in the south west of Germany and is the oldest town in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg.Located between the Black Forest and the Swabian Alb hills, Rottweil has about 25,000 inhabitants...
) is a theoretical chemist
Theoretical chemistry
Theoretical chemistry seeks to provide theories that explain chemical observations. Often, it uses mathematical and computational methods that, at times, require advanced knowledge. Quantum chemistry, the application of quantum mechanics to the understanding of valency, is a major component of...
and Emeritus Professor at the Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
After completing her abitur
Abitur
Abitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
, Peyerimhoff studied physics at the University of Gießen, completing her degree in 1961 and receiving her doctorate in 1963. After researching at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
and Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, she returned to Germany and gained her 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...
at the University of Gießen in 1967. She became professor for theoretical chemistry at the University of Mainz in 1970, and at the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
in 1972.
In 1994, she was awarded the German Federal Order of Merit
Bundesverdienstkreuz
The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany is the only general state decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has existed since 7 September 1951, and between 3,000 and 5,200 awards are given every year across all classes...
, first class. She received the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz-Prize in 1988. She is a member of the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science
International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science
The International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science is an international scientific learned society covering all applications of quantum theory to chemistry and chemical physics. It was created in Menton in 1967. The founding members were Raymond Daudel, Per-Olov Löwdin, Robert G. Parr, John...
and received its annual medal in 1977. She is member of many scientific academies and professional societies and on the executive board of many of them.
She is the author of over 400 original articles in various international journals and coauthor of Umweltstandards: Fakten und Bewertungsprobleme am Beispiel des Strahlenrisikos. Her history of computational chemistry
Computational chemistry
Computational chemistry is a branch of chemistry that uses principles of computer science to assist in solving chemical problems. It uses the results of theoretical chemistry, incorporated into efficient computer programs, to calculate the structures and properties of molecules and solids...
in Germany" is of particular note. She edited Interactions in Molecules.
Quantum chemistry
Her contributions have been to the development of ab initio quantum chemicalQuantum chemistry
Quantum chemistry is a branch of chemistry whose primary focus is the application of quantum mechanics in physical models and experiments of chemical systems...
methods, in particular, multireference configuration interaction
Multireference configuration interaction
In quantum chemistry, the multireference configuration interaction method consists in a configuration interaction expansion of the eigenstates of the electronic molecular Hamiltonian in a set of Slater determinants which correspond to excitations of the ground state electronic configuration but...
, and to their application in many fields of physics and chemistry. Particular emphasis has been given to electronically excited state
Excited state
Excitation is an elevation in energy level above an arbitrary baseline energy state. In physics there is a specific technical definition for energy level which is often associated with an atom being excited to an excited state....
s, molecular spectra
Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy is the study of the interaction between matter and radiated energy. Historically, spectroscopy originated through the study of visible light dispersed according to its wavelength, e.g., by a prism. Later the concept was expanded greatly to comprise any interaction with radiative...
and photochemistry
Photochemistry
Photochemistry, a sub-discipline of chemistry, is the study of chemical reactions that proceed with the absorption of light by atoms or molecules.. Everyday examples include photosynthesis, the degradation of plastics and the formation of vitamin D with sunlight.-Principles:Light is a type of...
. Many studies are on atmospheric molecules and ions, their lifetimes in excited states and decomposition due to radiative and non-radiative processes, and on stability and spectra of clusters.
Students
Some of her students became well-known for their contribution to quantum chemistry: Bernd Engels, Stefan Grimme, Bernd A. Hess, Christel Marian, and Bernd M. Nestmann.Partial bibliography
- Peyerimhoff, Sigrid D. Interactions in Molecules: Electronic and Steric Effects. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH, 2003. ISBN 3527277323