Origins & Early Life

Philip Warren Anderson (December 13, 1923 – March 29, 2020) was an American theoretical physicist who shared the 1977 Nobel Prize in Physics with Nevill Mott and John Van Vleck "for their fundamental theoretical investigations of the electronic structure of magnetic and disordered systems." Anderson made contributions to the theories of localization, antiferromagnetism, symmetry breaking (including a paper in 1962 discussing symmetry breaking in particle physics, leading to the development of the Standard Model around 10 years later), and high-temperature superconductivity, and to the philosophy of science through his writings on emergent phenomena. He is also responsible for naming the field of physics that is now known as condensed matter physics. Philip Warren Anderson was born on December 13, 1923, in Indianapolis, Indiana, and grew up in Urbana, Illinois. His father, Harry Warren Anderson, was a professor of plant pathology at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign; his maternal grandfather was a mathematician at Wabash College, where Anderson's father studied; and his maternal uncle was a Rhodes Scholar who became a professor of English, also at Wabash...

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Philip Warren Anderson (December 13, 1923 – March 29, 2020) was an American theoretical physicist who shared the 1977 Nobel Prize in Physics with Nevill Mott and John Van Vleck "for their fundamental theoretical investigations of the electronic structure of magnetic and disordered systems." Anderson made contributions to the theories of localization, antiferromagnetism, symmetry breaking (including a paper in 1962 discussing symmetry breaking in particle physics, leading to the development of the Standard Model around 10 years later), and high-temperature superconductivity, and to the philosophy of science through his writings on emergent phenomena. He is also responsible for naming the field of physics that is now known as condensed matter physics. Philip Warren Anderson was born on December 13, 1923, in Indianapolis, Indiana, and grew up in Urbana, Illinois.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Andrés Avelino Cáceres — Contemporary (Died in 1923) (1923): Peruvian general and politician, celebrated national hero for leading resistance.
• Alan Parker — Contemporary (Died in 2020) (2020): Acclaimed English filmmaker known for genre versatility and numerous BAFTA and Golden Globe wins.
• Armando Manzanero — Contemporary (Died in 2020) (2020): Mexican composer and singer, celebrated for defining the romantic sound of postwar Latin America.
• Arthur Ashkin — Contemporary (Died in 2020) (2020): Pioneering physicist, recognized as the father of optical tweezers.
• Archie Moore — Shared historical date (12-13 · Born) (1913): Legendary American boxer, known for his longevity and strategic defense.
• Christopher Plummer — Shared historical date (12-13 · Born) (1929): Esteemed Canadian actor known for Broadway mastery and film versatility.
• Agnès Varda — Shared historical date (03-29 · Died) (2019): Pioneering French filmmaker, artist, and documentarian celebrated for her unique vision.
• Alexei Abrikosov (physicist) — Shared historical date (03-29 · Died) (2017): Pioneering theoretical physicist known for low-temperature condensed matter physics.
• 1923 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1923
• December 13 (12-13) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on December 13
• 2020 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2020
• March 29 (03-29) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on March 29