Johannes (Jan) M. Burgers

University of Maryland

January 13, 1895 – July 6, 1981

Fluid Dynamics and Statistical Mechanics

Awarded Bingham Medal 1964

Johannes M. Burgers was born and educated in the Netherlands. His father was a self-taught amateur scientist, who would often give public lectures on physics. This encouraged both Burgers and his brother, Wilhelm, to go into the sciences. Burgers received his PhD in both physics and mathematics from the University of Leiden in 1918, where he was advised by P. T. Ehrenfest. While studying here he met many of the contemporary leading names in science, such as Lorentz, Einstein, Onnes, and Bohr. After graduation, Burgers worked at the Technical University of Delft from 1918-1955 where he founded the laboratory of Aero- and Hydrodynamics. When Burgers immigrated to the United States, he took a professorship in 1955 at the Institute for Fluid Dynamics and Applied Mathematics at the University of Maryland until 1965, when he retired.

Dr. Burgers’ research led him to become a leading authority on fluid dynamics. At the Technical University of Delft, he met Theodore von Kármán who influenced him to study turbulence. Burgers developed what is now known as the Burgers’ Equation from an analysis of the statistical theory of turbulence. This equation is a one-dimensional, nonlinear partial differential equation that is now commonly studied in condensed matter physics and cosmology. Burgers also collaborated with his brother, Willy Burgers, on studies of dislocations in crystal lattices, which led to the development of the Burgers Vector that measures the strength of the dislocation in a lattice. Burgers also studied the fluid dynamics of dilute polymer solutions, which led to fundamental papers on the intrinsic viscosity of suspensions that provided the foundation for subsequent research on this topic.

Sources

Alkemade, A.J.Q. BURGERS, Johannes Martinus (1895-1981). Biografisch Woordenboek van Nederland 2002; Den Haag, Posted 12 Nov 2013. Go to link (accessed July 10. 2018).

Johannes Martinus Burgers: 13 January 1895 to 7 June 1981. The Burgers Program for Fluid Dynamics, University of Maryland; Updated Oct 6, 2007. Go to link (accessed July 10, 2018).

Joyce, Maureen. Dr. Johannes M. Burgers, 86, Authority on Fluid Dynamics. The Washington Post, June 10, 1981. Go to link (accessed June 10, 2018).

Dorfman, J.R.; Faller, A.J. Jan Burgers. Physics Today 1982, 35(1), 84. Go to link.