- Jacob Israelachvili
Dr. Jacob Israelachvili is a professor of
chemical engineering and materials at theUniversity of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). Dr. Israelachvili received hisPh.D. inPhysics from theUniversity of Cambridge (in theUnited Kingdom ) in 1972, and joined UCSB in 1986. His research has involved study of molecular and interfacial forces. His work is applicable to a wide range of industrial and fundamental science problems. In particular, he has contributed significantly to the understanding of colloidal dispersions, biological systems, andpolymer engineering applications. Currently, he is studying interfacial phenomena, the physics of thin films, and fundamental questions inrheology andtribology of surfaces.Dr. Israelachvili has developed numerous techniques for the static and dynamic measurement of material and molecular properties of vapors, liquids, and surfaces. In particular, he pioneered a sensitive interfacial force-sensing technique known as the
surface forces apparatus (SFA). This instrument involves carefully approaching two surfaces (usually immersed in asolvent , such aswater ), and measuring the force of attraction and repulsion between them. Usingpiezoelectric positional movement and opticalinterferometry for position sensing, this instrument can resolve distances to within 0.1nanometer , andforces at the 10–8 N level. This technique is similar to measuring the force of interaction between anatomic force microscope (AFM) and a sample surface, except that the specialized SFA can measure much longer-range forces and is intended for surface-surface interaction measurements (as opposed to tip-surface or molecule-surface measurements). The results of SFA experiments can be used to characterize the nature of intermolecular potentials and other molecular properties.Dr. Israelachvili is also well-known as the author of the textbook "Intermolecular and Surface Forces," published by
Academic Press. This authoritative book describes the fundamental concepts and equations applicable to all intermolecular and interfacial science disciplines. He has been awarded the Fellow of theRoyal Society of London award, a Foreign Associate award from theNational Academy of Engineering , and was the recipient of the 1991 Alpha Chi Sigma Award for Research from theAmerican Institute of Chemical Engineers .References
Israelachvili, "Intermolecular and Surface Forces", Academic Press (1985-2004)
External links
* [http://www.mrl.ucsb.edu/mrl/faculty/israelachvili.html Jacob Israelachvili at UCSB]
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