John Perdew

Laura H. Carnell Professor of Physics and Chemistry

Ph.D., Cornell University

SERC, Room 720D
1925 N. 12th Street 
Philadelphia, PA 19122
215-204-1407
perdew@temple.edu

Research Interests

John Perdew’s research in the Hohenberg-Kohn-Sham density-functional theory of electronic structure has helped to establish this theory as the most widely-used method to predict the properties of atoms, molecules, and solids from the principles of quantum mechanics. A density functional is a formula that expresses the energy of a many-electron system in terms of its electron density, facilitating the easy computer calculation of both. Perdew and his collaborators have discovered some unexpected properties of the exact density functional, including its derivative discontinuity and scaling properties, and more recently a strongly-tightened lower bound on the exchange energy. They have also constructed a ladder of nonempirical approximations to the exact functional, on which higher rungs are more complex and more accurate.  In essence, they have been making educated guesses at the rule for “nature’s glue” that binds electrons into atoms and atoms into molecules and solids. They seek functionals that are rooted in physical principles and work reliably for atoms, molecules, solids, surfaces, and molecules on surfaces. Their functionals are built into standard computer codes, and are widely used by both physicists and chemists. Current research includes the development of better meta-generalized gradient approximations from a dimensionless ingredient that can recognize and assign appropriate descriptions to covalent, metallic, and weak bonds.

Accolades and Affiliation

  • Elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2011
  • Received the Materials Theory Award of Materials Research Society in 2012
  • Received John Scott Award in 2015

Key Publications

  • J. Sun, R.C. Remsing, Y. Zhang, Z. Sun, A. Ruzsinszky, H. Peng, Z. Yang, A. Paul, U. Waghmare, X. Wu, M.L. Klein, and J.P. Perdew, "Accurate First-Principles Structures and Energies of Diversely-Bonded Systems from an Efficient Density Functional", Nature Chemistry 8, 831 (2016).
  • H. Peng, Z. Yang. J. Sun, and J.P. Perdew, "Versatile van der Waals Density Functional from a Meta-Generalized Gradient Approximation", Phys. Rev. X 6, 041005 (2016).
  • J. Sun, A. Ruzsinszky, and J.P. Perdew, "Strongly Constrained and Appropriately Normed Semilocal Density Functional", Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 036402 (2015).
  • J. Sun, B. Xiao, Y. Fang, R. Haunschild, P. Hao, A. Ruzsinszky, G.I. Csonka, G.E. Scuseria, and J.P, Perdew, "Density Functionals that Recognize Covalent, Metallic, and Weak Bonds", Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 106401 (2013).
  • A. Ruzsinszky, J.P. Perdew, G.I. Csonka, O.A. Vydrov, and G.E. Scuseria, "Spurious Fractional Charge on Dissociated Atoms: Pervasive and Resilient Self-Interaction Error of Common Density Functionals", J. Chem. Phys. 125, 194112 (2006).
  • J.P. Perdew, K. Burke, and M. Ernzerhof, "Generalized Gradient Approximation Made Simple", Phys. Rev. Lett. 77, 3865 (1996).
  • J.P. Perdew and M. Levy, "Physical Content of the Exact Kohn-Sham Orbital Energies: Band Gaps and Derivative Discontinuities", Phys. Rev. Lett. 51, 1884 (1983).
  • J.P. Perdew, R.G. Parr, M. Levy, and J.L. Balduz, "Density Functional Theory for Fractional Particle Number: Derivative Discontinuities of the Energy", Phys. Rev. Lett. 49, 1691 (1982).
  • J.P. Perdew and A. Zunger, "Self-Interaction Correction to Density Functional Approximations for Many-Electron Systems", Phys. Rev. B 23, 5048 (1981).
  • D.C. Langreth and J.P. Perdew, "Theory of Non-Uniform Electronic Systems. I. Analysis of the Gradient Approximation and a Generalization that Works", Phys. Rev. B 21, 5469 (1980).