Abstract
WalterKohn transformed theoretical chemistry and solid state physics with his development of density functional theory, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize. This article tries to explain, in simple terms, why this was an important advance in the field, and to describe precisely what it was that he (together with his collaborators Pierre Hohenberg and Lu Jeu Sham) achieved.
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Shobhana Narasimhan is a Professor in the Theoretical Sciences Unit at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research in Bangalore. Her research focuses on making use of density functional theory in the rational design of novel nanomaterials for various applications. She is also interested in science writing, science education, and issues related to gender and science.
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Narasimhan, S. A tryst with density. Reson 22, 731–746 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12045-017-0522-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12045-017-0522-x