Chandre Dharma-wardana
Encyclopedia
Chandre Dharma-wardana is a Sri Lanka
n-born academic and scientist. A former President of Vidyodaya Campus (now the University of Sri Jayewardenepura
), he is currently a Professor
of Theoretical Physics
at the Université de Montréal
.
and at Royal College, Colombo he earned a BSc
(Hon.) from the University of Ceylon
in 1961.Whose Who, Canada (University of Toronto Publication, updated annually) He proceeded to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
where he earned his PhD
with a dissertation on quantum mechanics
and statistical mechanics
.
, he returned to Vidyodaya University (now the University of Sri Jayewardenepura
), Sri Lanka, then under leadership of Ven. Walpola Rahula
as President in 1969. Joining the university as a senior lecturer, he was later appointed Professor of Chemistry
. From 1974 to 1975 he was appointed as President of Vidyodaya Campus. During this period he also held associate appointments with the Université de Paris, Orsay
via the CECAM institute, associated with the French Atomic Energy Commission
and the CNRS. He was also a Director of the CeyLon Leather Products and Tannery from 1972 to 1974. Currently, he is affiliated with the National Research Council of Canada and the Université de Montréal, and works on various topics in the quantum theory
and nanotechnology
.
, statistical mechanics
and solid state physics. He has also done research into many-body theory
and plasma physics, often in collaboration with François Perrot of the French Atomic Energy commission. Thus the construction of the classical-map scheme for quantum systems is a ground-breaking work, leading to the formulation of the classical-map hyper-netted chain method (CHNC). This method has led to a new approach for the evaluation of properties of Fermi liquid
s. His previous work on the density-functional theory of dense plasmas is now a well-established method in the field. It has led to the development of methods for the first-principles evaluation of the equation of state
, and the transport properties of dense plasmas. His
contributions to the energy-relaxation of hot electrons in semiconductors and also in plasmas, has presented a new direction in the theory of non-equilibrium states of two-temperature charged fluids. His paper elucidating the unusual thermal conductivity of clathrates still attracts many citations. His contributions to surface science (e.g. reconstruction of the sulphur-passivated InP surface), nanotechnology, phonons in semiconductor structures, quasi-periodic systems
etc., are well known and are contained in over 200 research publications. Dharma-wardana currently serves as a Principal Research scientist at the National Research Council of Canada
, and is a Professor of Theoretical Physics
at the Université de Montréal
, so also Whose Who, Canada.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n-born academic and scientist. A former President of Vidyodaya Campus (now the University of Sri Jayewardenepura
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
The University of Sri Jayewardenepura is one of the Universities in Sri Lanka. It is located in Gangodawila, Nugegoda, near Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, the capital city of Sri Lanka...
), he is currently a Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Theoretical Physics
Theoretical physics
Theoretical physics is a branch of physics which employs mathematical models and abstractions of physics to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena...
at the Université de Montréal
Université de Montréal
The Université de Montréal is a public francophone research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It comprises thirteen faculties, more than sixty departments and two affiliated schools: the École Polytechnique and HEC Montréal...
.
Education
Educated at Ananda CollegeAnanda College
Ananda College , Colombo which is considered as the leading National school in Sri Lanka, was established on November 1, 1886, by the Buddhist Theosophical Society led by Colonel Henry Steel Olcott...
and at Royal College, Colombo he earned a BSc
BSC
BSC is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:Science and technology* Bachelor of Science , an undergraduate degree* Base Station Controller, part of a mobile phone network; see: Base Station subsystem...
(Hon.) from the University of Ceylon
University of Ceylon
The University of Ceylon was the only university in Sri Lanka from 1942 until 1972. It had several constituent campuses at various locations around Sri Lanka. The University of Ceylon Act No. 1 of 1972, replaced it with the University of Sri Lanka which existed from 1973 to 1978. In 1978 it was...
in 1961.Whose Who, Canada (University of Toronto Publication, updated annually) He proceeded to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
where he earned his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
with a dissertation on quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and matter. It departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic...
and statistical mechanics
Statistical mechanics
Statistical mechanics or statistical thermodynamicsThe terms statistical mechanics and statistical thermodynamics are used interchangeably...
.
Academic career
After a period at the National Research Council of CanadaNational Research Council of Canada
The National Research Council is an agency of the Government of Canada which conducts scientific research and development.- History :...
, he returned to Vidyodaya University (now the University of Sri Jayewardenepura
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
The University of Sri Jayewardenepura is one of the Universities in Sri Lanka. It is located in Gangodawila, Nugegoda, near Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, the capital city of Sri Lanka...
), Sri Lanka, then under leadership of Ven. Walpola Rahula
Walpola Rahula
The venerable Prof Walpola Sri Rahula Maha Thera was a Buddhist monk, scholar and writer. He is considered to be one of the top Sri Lankan intellectuals of the 20th century. In 1964, he became the Professor of History and Religions at Northwestern University, thus becoming the first bhikkhu to...
as President in 1969. Joining the university as a senior lecturer, he was later appointed Professor of Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
. From 1974 to 1975 he was appointed as President of Vidyodaya Campus. During this period he also held associate appointments with the Université de Paris, Orsay
Orsay
Orsay is a commune in the Essonne department in Île-de-France in northern France. It is located in the southwestern suburbs of Paris, France, from the center of Paris.Inhabitants of Orsay are known as Orcéens.-History:...
via the CECAM institute, associated with the French Atomic Energy Commission
Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique
The Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives or CEA, is a French “public establishment related to industrial and commercial activities” whose mission is to develop all applications of nuclear power, both civilian and military...
and the CNRS. He was also a Director of the CeyLon Leather Products and Tannery from 1972 to 1974. Currently, he is affiliated with the National Research Council of Canada and the Université de Montréal, and works on various topics in the quantum theory
Quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and matter. It departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic...
and nanotechnology
Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally, nanotechnology deals with developing materials, devices, or other structures possessing at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometres...
.
Fields of research
Professor Dharma-wardana has worked on a wide variety of scientific topics, where the unifying theme is the application of the quantum theory, usually to many-body problems. His work focused on quantum theoryQuantum field theory
Quantum field theory provides a theoretical framework for constructing quantum mechanical models of systems classically parametrized by an infinite number of dynamical degrees of freedom, that is, fields and many-body systems. It is the natural and quantitative language of particle physics and...
, statistical mechanics
Statistical mechanics
Statistical mechanics or statistical thermodynamicsThe terms statistical mechanics and statistical thermodynamics are used interchangeably...
and solid state physics. He has also done research into many-body theory
Many-body theory
The many-body theory is an area of physics which provides the framework for understanding the collective behavior of vast assemblies of interacting particles. In general terms, the many-body theory deals with effects that manifest themselves only in systems containing large numbers of constituents...
and plasma physics, often in collaboration with François Perrot of the French Atomic Energy commission. Thus the construction of the classical-map scheme for quantum systems is a ground-breaking work, leading to the formulation of the classical-map hyper-netted chain method (CHNC). This method has led to a new approach for the evaluation of properties of Fermi liquid
Fermi liquid
Fermi liquid theory is a theoretical model of interacting fermions that describes the normal state of most metals at sufficiently low temperatures. The interaction between the particles of the many-body system does not need to be small...
s. His previous work on the density-functional theory of dense plasmas is now a well-established method in the field. It has led to the development of methods for the first-principles evaluation of the equation of state
Equation of state
In physics and thermodynamics, an equation of state is a relation between state variables. More specifically, an equation of state is a thermodynamic equation describing the state of matter under a given set of physical conditions...
, and the transport properties of dense plasmas. His
contributions to the energy-relaxation of hot electrons in semiconductors and also in plasmas, has presented a new direction in the theory of non-equilibrium states of two-temperature charged fluids. His paper elucidating the unusual thermal conductivity of clathrates still attracts many citations. His contributions to surface science (e.g. reconstruction of the sulphur-passivated InP surface), nanotechnology, phonons in semiconductor structures, quasi-periodic systems
etc., are well known and are contained in over 200 research publications. Dharma-wardana currently serves as a Principal Research scientist at the National Research Council of Canada
National Research Council of Canada
The National Research Council is an agency of the Government of Canada which conducts scientific research and development.- History :...
, and is a Professor of Theoretical Physics
Theoretical physics
Theoretical physics is a branch of physics which employs mathematical models and abstractions of physics to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena...
at the Université de Montréal
Université de Montréal
The Université de Montréal is a public francophone research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It comprises thirteen faculties, more than sixty departments and two affiliated schools: the École Polytechnique and HEC Montréal...
, so also Whose Who, Canada.