Loup Verlet

Loup Verlet [ lu vɛʁlɛ ] ( born May 24, 1931 in Paris ) is a French physicist, known as a pioneer of computer simulations of liquids at the molecular level.

Career

Loup Verlet in 1967 suggested a numerical integration method in molecular dynamics ( numerical simulation of the Newtonian equations of motion of several hundred particles via a Lennard -Jones potential ), which then became widespread. It was also in 1907 by Carl Størmer in connection with the motion of charged particles in magnetic fields ( theory of auroras ) and astronomy (hence Störmer - Verlet method or Störmer integration) and used by others. Injury found the inspiration for his method directly in Newton's Principia

Verlet studied at the École Normale Supérieure (ENS ) in Paris and in 1957 at the Sorbonne doctorate ( Contribution à l' étude du modèle optique du noyau ). He then spent two years at Victor Weisskopf. He was Director of Research at the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS ), where he dealt primarily with the microscopic theory of fluids.

Later he turned, after he underwent a long-term psychoanalysis at the suggestion of the psychoanalyst Daniel Sibony and mathematician, from physics from, to devote himself to the history of science. As a result, he published books on the history of science and philosophy of science, including Isaac Newton in the context of three socio- cultural revolutions ( introduction of parliamentarism, development of capitalism and scientific revolution ). Finally, he dealt with climate change. Already in the 1970s he was in the activist group Survivre et Vivre involved (including with Alexander Grothendieck ).

Writings

  • Computer experiments on classical fluids. I. Thermodynamical properties of Lennard -Jones molecules, Physical Review, Vol 159, 1967, p 98
  • Computer experiments on classical fluids. II. Equilibrium correlation functions, Physical Review, Vol 165, 1968, p 201
  • La malle de Newton, Gallimard 1993
  • Chimères et paradox, Editions Cerf 2007
  • With others: Le changement climatique - Aubaine ou désastre Éditions Cerf, 2007?
France
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