Professor
Debra Bernhardt
FAA
Debra Bernhardt (nee Searles) is a world leader in nonequilibrium statistical mechanics. She is widely known for the first rigorous derivation of a fluctuation relation, known as the Evans–Searles Fluctuation Theorem, showing the second law of thermodynamics can be derived mathematically rather than just postulated as a law of nature. The theorem has broad implications for the behaviour of small systems where fluctuations become pronounced.
Debra has also made significant contributions to theoretical computational chemistry, including combining quantum chemistry and molecular simulation, as well as the calculation of transport properties of materials.
Fields of research
10 TECHNOLOGY 34 CHEMICAL SCIENCES- 3406 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY (INCL. STRUCTURAL)
- 3407 THEORETICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY
- 401807 Nanomaterials
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4902
MATHEMATICAL PHYSICS
- 490206 Statistical Mechanics, Physical Combinatorics and Condensed Matter Maths
-
5103
CLASSICAL PHYSICS
- 510304 Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
For full list of research codes, please visit the ARC Website .
Expertise type
- Chaos
- Small Molecule Transport
- Sustainable Materials
- Solution Thermodynamics
- Nanomaterials
- Physical Chemistry
- Polymer Processing
- Quantum Chemistry
- Chemical Physics
- Classical Mechanics
- Surfaces
- Computational Chemistry
- Chemistry
- Electrolytes
- Statistical Mechanics
- Theoretical Chemical Physics
- Thermodynamics
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