Pierre-Gilles de Gennes: A Trailblazer in Soft Matter Physics
Pierre-Gilles de Gennes (24 October 1932 – 18 May 2007) was a French physicist who made significant contributions to the field of condensed matter physics, particularly in the study of liquid crystals and polymers. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1991.
Life and Career
He was born on 24 October 1932, in Paris, France. He studied at the Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris, where he received a degree in physics in 1955. He then pursued his Ph.D. at the University of Paris, where he conducted research on superconductivity, a phenomenon in which certain materials can conduct electricity with zero resistance at low temperatures. He earned his Ph.D. in 1959.
After completing his Ph.D., he held research positions at several institutions, including the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the Collège de France. In 1971, he became a professor of physics at the University of Paris-Sud, a position he held until his retirement in 2002.
He made several ground-breaking contributions to the field of condensed matter physics throughout his career. He was particularly interested in the study of liquid crystals, which are materials that exhibit properties of both solids and liquids. His research in this area led to the development of several new technologies, including flat panel displays and liquid crystal displays (LCDs), which are now ubiquitous in electronic devices such as televisions, computer monitors, and smartphones.
De Gennes was also known for his work on polymers, which are large molecules made up of repeating units. His research in this area helped to establish the field of polymer physics and led to the development of new materials with a wide range of applications.
He died on 18 May 2007, in Orsay, France.
Award and Legacy
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1991, which he received for his contributions to studying the properties of surfaces and interfaces.
His contributions to the field of condensed matter physics continue to have a lasting impact on the scientific community, and he is remembered as one of the most influential physicists of the 20th century.
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