Nico van Kampen

Nicolaas 'Nico' Godfried van Kampen (June 22, 1921 – October 6, 2013) was a Dutch theoretical physicist, who worked mainly on statistical mechanics and non-equilibrium thermodynamics.[1]

Nicolaas 'Nico' Godfried van Kampen
Born(1921-06-22)June 22, 1921
Leiden, Netherlands
DiedOctober 6, 2013(2013-10-06) (aged 92)
Nieuwegein, Netherlands
NationalityDutch
Alma materLeiden University
Known forStatistical physics
Non-equilibrium thermodynamics
System size expansion
Scientific career
FieldsTheoretical physics
InstitutionsUtrecht University
Doctoral advisorHendrik Anthony Kramers

Van Kampen was born in Leiden, and was a nephew of Frits Zernike. He studied physics at Leiden University, where in 1952 under the direction of Hendrik Anthony Kramers he earned his PhD with thesis Contributions to the quantum theory of light scattering.[2] He showed in his thesis how to deal with singularities in quantum mechanical scattering processes, an important step in the development of renormalization, according to Kramers.[3] Van Kampen made fundamental contributions to non-equilibrium processes (in particular on the master equation) and in many-body theory (especially in plasma physics). His work on non-equilibrium processes began in 1953 in the research group of Sybren Ruurds de Groot (the successor to Kramers) in Leiden. In 1955 Van Kampen joined the Institute of Theoretical Physics at Utrecht University, where he later became full professor and professor emeritus after his retirement.[4][5]

His monograph Stochastic processes in physics and chemistry (1981) is considered a classic. In his 2002 book Waanwetenschap (Science), Van Kampen condemned what he saw as pseudoscience, even within the scientific community; the book met with a mixed reaction—five scientists, including Vincent Icke, Floris Takens and Dennis Dieks, wrote a commentary on his book.[6]

Van Kampen was an uncle of the Dutch theoretical physicist and Nobel prize winner Gerard 't Hooft, and encouraged 't Hooft to study physics in Utrecht.[7] Van Kampen was a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences since 1973.[8] He died, aged 92, in Nieuwegein.

Quantum mechanics

Van Kampen was a severe critic of non-orthodox interpretations of quantum mechanics. Some of his views on this subject were published in his article "The scandal of quantum mechanics".[9] He disclosed his own approach to quantum mechanics in his paper "Ten theorems about quantum mechanical measurements".[10]

Additional works
  • N. G. van Kampen: Views of a physicist. Selected papers of N. G. van Kampen, World Scientific 2000 (ed. Paul H. E. Meijer)[11]
  • N. G. van Kampen: Stochastic processes in physics and chemistry, North Holland 1981, 3rd edn., 2007, ISBN 0-444-89349-0
  • N. G. van Kampen, B. U. Felderhof: Theoretical methods in plasma physics, North Holland 1967, ISBN 0720401208
  • N. G. van Kampen: Entropie (in German), Plus Lucis, 1997

References
  1. "Emeritus-hoogleraar Nico van Kampen overleden – BINNENLAND – PAROOL". Parool.nl. 2013-06-13. Retrieved 2013-10-09.
  2. Nico van Kampen (1952). "Contribution to the quantum theory of light scattering" (PDF).
  3. Laudatio uitgesproken door H.A. Kramers op 16 januari 1952, bij de promotie van Nicolaas Godfried van Kampen.
  4. Rosalio F. Rodriguez, Nicholas G. van Kampen: brief biography, in: Alfredo Macías et al. (eds.), Developments in Mathematical and Experimental Physics: Cosmology and gravitation, Springer, 2002, p. 295 e.v.
  5. Alberto Giovannini, The legacy of Léon Van Hove, World Scientific, 2000, p. 489.
  6. Waanwetenschap als achterhoedegevecht, in Dutch from Delta (universiteitsblad), 29 January 2004.
  7. 't Hooft, G. (1999). "Gerardus 't Hooft – Autobiography". Nobel web. Retrieved 2012-08-14.
  8. "N.G. (Nico) van Kampen (1921 - 2013)" (in Dutch). Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  9. van Kampen, N. G. (Oct 2008). "The scandal of quantum mechanics". Am. J. Phys. 76 (11): 989. Bibcode:2008AmJPh..76..989V. doi:10.1119/1.2967702.
  10. van Kampen N. G. (1988). "Ten theorems about quantum mechanical measurements". Physica A. 153 (1): 97–113. Bibcode:1988PhyA..153...97V. doi:10.1016/0378-4371(88)90105-7.
  11. ter Haar, Dirk (Jan 2001). "Nico van Kampen: charlatans beware! (review of "Views of a physicist")" (PDF). Physics World: 46.
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