Distinguished University Professor Emeritus Jan V. Sengers
Joint Appointment: Institute for Physical Science & Technology
Ph.D., University of Amsterdam, 1962
Room 1113 IPST Building
E-mail: sengers@ipst.umd.edu
Phone: (301) 405-4805
Fax: (301) 314-9404
Research Interests
Thermodynamics of Fluids and Fluid Mixtures
The behavior of thermodynamic properties of fluids and fluid mixtures is strongly affected by the presence of critical points, such as the vapor-liquid critical point in one-component fluids, plait points and consolute points in liquid mixtures, etc. Associated with critical phase-transition phenomena is the presence of long-range fluctuations. Based on modern theoretical approaches we are trying to obtain an accurate representation of the thermodynamic behavior of fluids and fluid mixtures close to and not so close to these critical points. The aim is to obtain fundamental equations for chemical engineering applications over large ranges of temperatures and densities that incorporate the crossover from singular critical thermodynamic behavior to regular thermodynamic behavior far away from critical phase transitions. Some of the research is pursued in collaboration with scientists and chemical engineers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Transport Properties of Fluids and Fluid Mixtures
The presence of long-range fluctuations in fluids and fluid mixtures near critical-point phase transitions also strongly affects the behavior of transport properties. The effects of long-range fluctuations on the transport properties can be understood quantitatively with the methods of generalized hydrodynamics. The aim is to obtain accurate representations of the transport properties of fluids and fluid mixtures over a large range of temperatures and densities consistent with the thermodynamic behavior discussed above. In addition, an experimental program is pursued for measuring transport properties, like viscosity and Soret coefficients, of fluids and fluid mixtures.
Fluctuations in Nonequilibrium Fluids
There exists currently considerable interest in the nature of fluctuations in fluids and fluid mixtures driven far away from equilibrium either by imposing a temperature gradient or by imposing a shear rate. An interesting feature is that under such nonequilibrium conditions all fluctuations become long range even when the system is far away from a critical-point phase transition. Little actual experimental information is available and we are studying these fluctuations by observing the static and dynamic properties of laser light scattered from such fluids out of thermal equilibrium. Optical experiments for studying mass diffusion and chemical diffusion processes in fluid mixtures are being pursued.
TopSelected Honors and Awards
- University of Maryland Distinguished International Service Award, 2008
- Fellow, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, 2004
- Academician Emeritus of the International Academy of Refrigeration of the Russian Federation, 2002
- Honorary Fellow, International Association for the Properties of Water and Steam, 2000
- Fellow, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, 1999
- Associate Editor Emeritus, International Journal of Thermophysics, 1999
- Certificate of Recognition, President’s Commission on Ethnic Minority Issues, University of Maryland, 1998
- Elected Member, Sigma Circle of the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society, 1998
- Distinguished University Professor, University of Maryland, 1997
- Fellow, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 1996
- Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1984
- Fellow, American Physical Society, 1977
Selected Recent Publications
Dr. Sengers is the author of over 200 journal articles. For a complete list, please visit his web site.
"Thermal conductivity of mixtures of carbon dioxide and ethane", R. Mostert and J.V. Sengers, Int. J. Thermophys., in press.
"Principle of isomorphism and complete scaling for binary-fluid criticality", J.T. Wang, C.A. Cerdereiña, M.A. Anisimov, and J.V. Sengers, Phys. Rev. E 77, 031127 (2008), 12pp.
"Transverse-velocity fluctuations in a liquid under steady shear", J.M.Ortiz de Zárate and J.V. Sengers, Phys. Rev. E 77, 026306 (2008), 10pp.
"A note on the critical locus of mixtures of carbon dioxide and ethane", J.V. Sengers and G.X. Jin, Int. J. Thermophys. 28, pp. 1181-1187 (2007).
"Simulating critical dynamics in liquid mixtures: short-range and long-range contributions", S.K. Das, J.V. Sengers, and M.E. Fisher, J. Chem. Phys. 127, 144506 (2007), 5pp.
"Dynamics of critical fluctuations in polymer solutions", A.F. Kostko, M.A. Anisimov, and J.V. Sengers, Phys. Rev. E 76, 021804 (2007), 13pp.
"Concentration fluctuations in non-isothermal reaction-diffusion systems", J.M. Ortiz de Zárate, J.V. Sengers, D. Bedeaux, and S. Kjelstrup, J. Chem. Phys. 127, 034501 (2007), 15pp.
"Thermal fluctuations in non-equilibrium thermodynamics", J.V. Sengers and J.M. Ortiz de Zárate, J. Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics 32, pp. 319-329 (2007).
"Long-wavelength nonequilibrium concentration fluctuations induced by the Soret effect", J.M. Ortiz de Zárate, J.A. Fornés, and J.V. Sengers, Phys. Rev. E 74, 046305 (2006), 11pp.
"Static and dynamic critical behavior of a symmetrical binary fluid: A computer simulation", S.K. Das, J. Horbach, K. Binder, M.E. Fisher, and J.V. Sengers, J. Chem. Phys. 125, 024506 (2006), 12pp.
"Critical dynamics in a binary fluid: simulations and finite-size scaling", S.K. Das, M.E. Fisher, J.V. Sengers, J. Horbach, and K. Binder, Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 025702 (2006), 4pp.
Selected Recent Books and Book Chapters
Dr. Sengers is the author of over 30 books and book chapters. For a complete list, please visit his web site.
"Hydrodynamic Fluctuations in Fluids and Fluid Mixtures", J.M. Ortiz de Zárate and J.V. Sengers (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2006), 320pp. [Book review in: J. Stat. Phys. 130, 1217-1218 (2008)].
"Near-Critical Behavior of Aqueous Systems", M.A. Anisimov, J.V. Sengers and J.M.H. Levelt Sengers, in "Aqueous Systems at Elevated Temperatures and Pressures: Physical Chemistry in Water, Steam and Hydrothermal Solutions", D.A. Palmer, R. Fernández-Prini and A.H. Harvey, eds. (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2004), pp. 29-71.
"Nonequilibrium Concentration Fluctuations in Binary Liquid Systems Induced by the Soret Effect", J.V. Sengers and J.M. Ortiz de Zárate, in "Thermal Nonequilibrium Phenomena in Fluid Mixtures", Lecture Notes in Physics 584, W. Köhler and S. Wiegand, eds. (Springer, Berlin, 2002), pp. 121-145.
"Critical Region", M.A. Anisimov and J.V. Sengers, in "Equations of State for Fluids and Fluid Mixtures", Part I, J.V. Sengers, R.F. Kayser, C.J. Peters, and H.J. White, Jr., eds. (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2000), pp. 381-434.
"Equations of State for Fluids and Fluid Mixtures", Part I and Part II, J.V. Sengers, R.F. Kayser, C.J. Peters, and H.J. White, Jr., eds. (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2000), 885pp. [Book review in: J. Stat. Phys. 106, 403-404 (2002); 112, 885 (2003)].
"Critical and Crossover Phenomena in Fluids and Fluid Mixtures", M.A. Anisimov and J.V. Sengers, in "Supercritical Fluids - Fundamentals and Applications", E.Kiran, P.G. Debenedetti, and C.J. Peters, eds. (Kluwer, Dordrecht, 2000), pp. 89-121.
"Special Issue in Honor of Edward Allen Mason", J.V. Sengers and J.R. Dorfman, eds., Int. J. Thermophys. 18(4), pp. 887-1076 (1997).
"Monatonic Fluids-Argon", E.P. Sakonidou, H.R. van den Berg and J.V. Sengers, in "Transport Properties of Fluids: Their Correlation, Prediction and Estimation", J. Millat, J. H. Dymond and C.A. Nieto de Castro, eds. (Cambridge Univ. Press, 1996), Ch. 14.1, pp. 311-331.
"The Critical Enhancements", J.V. Sengers and J. Luettmer-Strathmann, in "Transport Properties of Fluids: Their Correlation, Prediction and Estimation", J. Millat, J.H. Dymond and C.A. Nieto de Castro, eds. (Cambridge Univ. Press, 1996), Ch. 6, pp. 113-137.
"IAPWS Releases and Guidelines", D.B. Neumann, H.J. White, Jr., J.V. Sengers and R.B. Dooley, eds., in "Physical Chemistry of Aqueous Systems: Meeting the Needs of Industry", H.J. White, Jr., J.V . Sengers, D.B. Neumann and J.C. Bellows, eds. (Begell, New York, 1995), pp. A1-A165.
Selected Recent Invited Seminars
For a complete list, please visit Dr. Sengers' web site.
"Viscosity of H2O in the critical region", J.V. Sengers, R.A. Perkins, M.L. Huber, and D.G. Friend, Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on the Properties of Water and Steam, Berlin, Germany, September 7-11, 2008.
"Nonequilibrium Phenomena in Fluids: A History of Surprises", Plenary Lecture, 8th International Meeting on Thermodiffusion, Bonn, Germany, June 9-13, 2008.
"Thermal Fluctuations in Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics", Katholieke Universiteit, Leuven, Belgium, May 5, 2008.
"Thermal Fluctuations in Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics", Ornstein Colloquium, Utrecht University, The Netherlands, January 24, 2008.
"Computer Simulations of Critical Dynamics in Fluids", Thermophysics Informal Seminar, Universidad de Vigo, Ourense, Spain, December 5, 2007.
"Computer Simulations of Critical Dynamics in Fluids", International Symposium on Strongly Interacting Systems: Past, Present and Future: A Symposium in memory of Richard A. Ferrell, Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany, November 16-17, 2007.
"Computer Simulations of Critical Slowing Down of Fluctuations in Fluids" Departamento de Química-Física I, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain, November 8, 2007.
"Thermal Fluctuations in Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics", Focus Meeting on Nonequilibrium Steady States, Institut Henri Poincaré, Paris, France, October 8-12 (2007).
"Mesoscopic Fluctuations in Nonequilibrium Fluids", GRANFL07: Granular Fluids-A Proving Ground for Nonequilibrium Statistical Mechanics, Sevilla, Spain, September 26-29 (2007).
"Critical Dynamics in Polymer Solutions", Simposio de Termodynámica, Calorimetría y Análisis Térmico, XXXI Reunión de la Real Sociedad Española de Física, Granada, Spain, September 10-11, 2007.
"Computer Simulations of Transport Properties in Liquid Mixtures near Critical Points", Mini-Symposium on TRANSPORT PHENOMENA/NONEQUILIBRIUM THERMODYNAMICS, Department of Chemical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, July 30, 2007.
Professional Affiliations
- Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences (correspondent)
- American Institute of Chemical Engineers (fellow)
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers (fellow)
- American Physical Society (fellow)
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (fellow)
- International Association for the Properties of Water and Steam (honorary fellow)
- International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (fellow)
- World Innovation Foundation (fellow)
- Federation of American Scientists
- American Chemical Society
- European Physical Society
- Dutch Physical Society
- Belgian Physical Society
- Sigma Xi
- Golden Key National Honor Society (honorary member)
- University of Maryland Link of the Order of the Engineer
- Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society
