# Theodore Holstein

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{{Short description|American theoretical physicist (1915–1985)}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name              = Theodore Holstein
| birth_date        = {{Birth date|1915|9|18}}
| death_date        = {{Death date and age|1985|5|8|1915|9|18}}
| birth_place       = [New York City](/source/New_York_City), [United States](/source/United_States)
| death_place       = [San Pedro, Los Angeles](/source/San_Pedro%2C_Los_Angeles), [United States](/source/United_States)
| fields            = [Condensed matter physics](/source/Condensed_matter_physics)
| workplaces        = [New York University](/source/New_York_University)<br>{{no wrap|[University of California, Los Angeles](/source/University_of_California%2C_Los_Angeles)}}<br>[University of Pittsburgh](/source/University_of_Pittsburgh)<br>[Westinghouse Electric Corporation](/source/Westinghouse_Electric_Corporation)
| doctoral_advisor  = {{Ill|Otto Halpern|de}}
| known_for         = [Holstein equation](/source/Radiation_trapping)<br>[Holstein–Herring method](/source/Holstein%E2%80%93Herring_method)<br>{{no wrap|[Holstein–Primakoff transformation](/source/Holstein%E2%80%93Primakoff_transformation)}}<br>[Fröhlich-Holstein Hamiltonian](/source/Davydov_soliton)
| awards            = 
| alma_mater        = [New York University](/source/New_York_University)
| thesis_title      = Passage of Neutrons through Ferromagnetic Materials
| thesis_year       = 1943
}}
'''Theodore David Holstein''' (18 September 1915 – 8 May 1985) was an American theoretical physicist, specialized in [solid-state physics](/source/solid-state_physics) and [atomic physics](/source/atomic_physics). 

With [Henry Primakoff](/source/Henry_Primakoff) in 1940 he introduced the [Holstein-Primakoff transformation](/source/Holstein%E2%80%93Primakoff_transformation),<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Holstein |first1=T. |last2=Primakoff |first2=H. |date=1940-12-15 |title=Field Dependence of the Intrinsic Domain Magnetization of a Ferromagnet |journal=Physical Review |volume=58 |issue=12 |pages=1098–1113 |doi=10.1103/PhysRev.58.1098 |bibcode=1940PhRv...58.1098H }}</ref> of importance for the theory of [spin wave](/source/spin_wave)s. Other significant papers included the [polaron](/source/polaron) (introduction of the small polaron),<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Holstein |first=T |date=1959-11-01 |title=Studies of polaron motion: Part I. The molecular-crystal model |journal=Annals of Physics |volume=8 |issue=3 |pages=325–342 |doi=10.1016/0003-4916(59)90002-8 |bibcode=1959AnPhy...8..325H |issn=0003-4916}}</ref> [infrared](/source/Infrared_spectroscopy) absorption of metals, a microscopic theory of the collision drag phenomenon by [Brian Pippard](/source/Brian_Pippard), [Bloch electrons](/source/Bloch's_theorem) in magnetic fields ([Hall effect](/source/Hall_effect)) and his review on the transport properties in an electron-phonon gas. He corrected the [Förster-Dexter theory of photoinduced energy transfer](/source/F%C3%B6rster_resonance_energy_transfer) between molecules and found new mechanisms for energy transfer in disordered systems. He is also known for introducing the [Holstein–Herring method](/source/Holstein%E2%80%93Herring_method).

== Life ==
Theodore David Holstein was born in 1915 in [New York City](/source/New_York_City), United States.

Holstein studied at [New York University](/source/New_York_University), earning a bachelor's degree in 1935 and his Master's degree was earned at [Columbia University](/source/Columbia_University) in 1936.

For his PhD studies he returned to New York University. His thesis ''Passage of Neutrons through Ferromagnetic Materials''<ref>{{MathGenealogy|id=126313}}</ref> was supervised by {{Ill|Otto Halpern|de}}, and he earned his degree in 1940.  

From 1941 he worked in a research lab at [Westinghouse Electric Corporation](/source/Westinghouse_Electric_Corporation).  In 1960, he left Westinghouse and became a professor at the [University of Pittsburgh](/source/University_of_Pittsburgh). In 1965 he became a professor at the [University of California, Los Angeles](/source/University_of_California%2C_Los_Angeles).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://history.aip.org/phn/11601014.html|title=Holstein, Theodore David, 1915-1985|website=history.aip.org|access-date=2019-11-29}}</ref>

His most notable contribution to atomic physics was in 1947 when he was the first to treat the capture of resonance radiation in gases correctly (later applied in [laser physics](/source/Laser_science), [astrophysics](/source/astrophysics) and photochemistry, but was also applied to [phonon](/source/phonon)s and in the solid state).<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Holstein|first=T.|date=1947-12-15|title=Imprisonment of Resonance Radiation in Gases|journal=Physical Review|volume=72|issue=12|pages=1212–1233|doi=10.1103/PhysRev.72.1212 |bibcode=1947PhRv...72.1212H }}</ref>

Holstein died in [San Pedro, Los Angeles](/source/San_Pedro%2C_Los_Angeles) in 1985 due to a heart attack.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Theodore Holstein Obituary (2014) - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA - Daily Breeze |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/dailybreeze/name/theodore-holstein-obituary?id=8839340 |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=Legacy.com}}</ref>

== Memberships and fellowships ==
He became a member of the [American Academy of Arts and Sciences](/source/American_Academy_of_Arts_and_Sciences),<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-09 |title=Theodore David Holstein |url=https://www.amacad.org/person/theodore-david-holstein |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=American Academy of Arts & Sciences |language=en}}</ref> and the [National Academy of Sciences](/source/National_Academy_of_Sciences) in 1976 and 1981, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nasonline.org/member-directory/deceased-members/54444.html|title=Theodore Holstein|website=www.nasonline.org|access-date=2019-11-29}}</ref>

== Further reading ==

{{Cite book|url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9780387965284|title=Condensed Matter Physics: The Theodore D. Holstein Symposium|date=1987|publisher=Springer-Verlag|isbn=978-0-387-96528-4|editor-last=Orbach|editor-first=Raymond L.|location=New York|language=en}}

== References ==
<references />

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Holstein, Theodore}}
Category:1985 deaths
Category:1915 births
Category:Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences
Category:Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Category:University of Pittsburgh faculty
Category:University of California, Los Angeles faculty
Category:20th-century American physicists
Category:Westinghouse Electric Company

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Theodore Holstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Holstein) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Holstein?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.