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David Mintzer
Emeritus Professor

Emeritus professor of Mechanical Engineering, 1991-
Emeritus Professor of Physics and Astronomy, 1991 –

dmin@northwestern.edu

S.B., Physics, MIT, 1945
Ph.D., Physics, MIT, 1949

Research

  • Theoretical research on acoustic wave propagation in the ocean; underwater sound; waves in randomly inhomogeneous media
  • Kinetic theory of rarified gases; solutions of the Boltzman equation
  • Thermodynamics; statistical mechanics

Appointments and Memberships

  • Associate Dean for Graduate Study and Research, Technological Institute*, Northwestern University, 1970-1973
  • Acting Dean, Technological Institute, Northwestern University 1971-73
  • Vice President for Research and Dean of Science, Northwestern University 1973-86
  • Special Assistant to the President, Northwestern University, 1986-87
  • (Technological Institute is the former name for the Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science)
  • Member, Board of Trustees, Adler Planetarium, Chicago, IL (1976 - 1992) Life trustee (1992 -)
  • Member, Board of Directors, Northwestern University/Evanston Research Park, Evanston, IL (1986-1992); Treasurer (1986-1991)
  • Member, mine Advisory Committee, National Academy of Sciences – National Research Council (1963-1973);
  • Member, Board of Trustees, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, Aurora, IL (1987- 1997); Executive committee (1989 -95); Chairman, IMSA Alliance Council (1991-93)
  • Chairman, Board of Trustees, Heartland Venture Capital Network, Inc., Evanston, IL (1987-1990);
  • Member, Board of Directors, Technology Innovation Center, Inc., Evanston, IL (1990-1992); Treasurer (1990-1992)
  • Member, Illinois Governor’s Commission on Science and Technology (1987-89)
  • Member, Advisory Board, Ordnance Research Laboratories, Pennsylvania State University; (1976-1982); Chairman (1980 -1982);
  • Member, Board of Trustees, EDUCOM (Interuniversity Communications Council, Inc.) Princeton, NJ (1975-1983); Chairman (1978-1981);
  • Fellow, American Physical Society; Fellow, Acoustical Society of America; Member; American Society of Mechanical Engineers; American Society for Engineering Education; American Astronomical Society; Sigma Xi; Tau Beta Pi; Pi Tau Sigma

Selected Publications

  • “Wave Propagation in a Randomly Inhomogeneous Medium”, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 25, 922 (1953); II, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 25, 1107 (1953) III, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 26, 186 (1954)
  • “Energy Transfer in a Turbulent Fluid:, Phys. Fluids, 3, 529 (1960) (with B. S. Tanenbaum).
  • “Wave Propagation in a Partly Ionized Gas”, Phys. Fluids 5, 1226 (1962) (with B. S. Tanenbaum).
  • Chap. 1, “Transport Theory of Gases”, Math. of Phys. And Chem. Vol. II, Ed. H. Margenau and G. M. Murphy (D. van Nostrand and Co., Princeton, 1964) pp. 1-49.
  • “Generalized Orthogonal Polynomial Solutions of the Boltzmann Equation”, Phys. Fluids 8, 1076 (1965).
  • “Orthogonal Polynomial Solution of the Boltzmann Equation for a Strong Shock Wave”, Phys. Fluids 9, 1621 (1996) (with S. H. Radin).
  • “Electron Distribution Function is a Slightly Ionized Moving Gas”, Phys. Fluids 11, 1042 (1969).