Loup Verlet
Encyclopedia
Loup Verlet is a French physicist who pioneered the computer simulation of molecular dynamics models. In a famous 1967 paper he used what is now known as Verlet integration
(a method for the numerical integration of equations of motion) and the Verlet list
(a data structure that keeps track of each molecule's immediate neighbors in order to speed computer calculations of molecule to molecule interactions). He received his Ph.D. in 1957; he was a student of Victor Weisskopf
. From 1957 to 1993 he worked mostly on the physics of the liquid state.
He has also written about the history of science. In his book "La Malle de Newton" (1993) he argued that Isaac Newton
was an important transition figure between the medieval, mainly religious, world of ideas and the modern scientific way of analyzing physical problems. Newton had a foot in both worlds, as shown by the fact that his writings are not only concerned with mathematics and physics, but also theology and alchemy, a combination that seems bizarre to us today. The publication of Newton's Principia
in 1687 and the Glorious Revolution
of 1688 (with the king's powers limited by an elected Parliament) were the key events that brought the old era to a close and ushered in the modern one.
His latest book is 'Chimères et Paradoxes' (Ed. Cerf, 2007), an extended essay that touches on the philosophy of science as well as the history of science. Among other things, it considers how three great thinkers (Descartes
, Newton
and Freud
) changed our world view.
Verlet integration
Verlet integration is a numerical method used to integrate Newton's equations of motion. It is frequently used to calculate trajectories of particles in molecular dynamics simulations and computer graphics...
(a method for the numerical integration of equations of motion) and the Verlet list
Verlet list
A Verlet list is a data structure in molecular dynamics simulations to efficiently maintain a list of all particles within a given cut-off distance of each other.This method may easily be applied to Monte Carlo simulations...
(a data structure that keeps track of each molecule's immediate neighbors in order to speed computer calculations of molecule to molecule interactions). He received his Ph.D. in 1957; he was a student of Victor Weisskopf
Victor Frederick Weisskopf
Victor Frederick Weisskopf was an Austrian-born Jewish American theoretical physicist. He did postdoctoral work with Werner Heisenberg, Erwin Schrödinger, Wolfgang Pauli and Niels Bohr...
. From 1957 to 1993 he worked mostly on the physics of the liquid state.
He has also written about the history of science. In his book "La Malle de Newton" (1993) he argued that Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton PRS was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian, who has been "considered by many to be the greatest and most influential scientist who ever lived."...
was an important transition figure between the medieval, mainly religious, world of ideas and the modern scientific way of analyzing physical problems. Newton had a foot in both worlds, as shown by the fact that his writings are not only concerned with mathematics and physics, but also theology and alchemy, a combination that seems bizarre to us today. The publication of Newton's Principia
Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica
Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica, Latin for "Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy", often referred to as simply the Principia, is a work in three books by Sir Isaac Newton, first published 5 July 1687. Newton also published two further editions, in 1713 and 1726...
in 1687 and the Glorious Revolution
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
of 1688 (with the king's powers limited by an elected Parliament) were the key events that brought the old era to a close and ushered in the modern one.
His latest book is 'Chimères et Paradoxes' (Ed. Cerf, 2007), an extended essay that touches on the philosophy of science as well as the history of science. Among other things, it considers how three great thinkers (Descartes
René Descartes
René Descartes ; was a French philosopher and writer who spent most of his adult life in the Dutch Republic. He has been dubbed the 'Father of Modern Philosophy', and much subsequent Western philosophy is a response to his writings, which are studied closely to this day...
, Newton
Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton PRS was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian, who has been "considered by many to be the greatest and most influential scientist who ever lived."...
and Freud
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud , born Sigismund Schlomo Freud , was an Austrian neurologist who founded the discipline of psychoanalysis...
) changed our world view.