Virtual Issue in Memory of David Chandler

W mourn the loss of David Chandler, who passed away on April 18, 2017. Early in his career David established himself as a standard-bearer of statistical mechanics, demonstrating over and over again its power to reveal the essential workings of complex molecular systems. His extensive accomplishments in applying its principles, advancing its physical underpinnings, and innovating methods of analysis and computer simulation address a range of molecular phenomena that mark the modern frontiers of physical chemistryfrom the glass transition to biomolecular assembly, from electron transfer in solution to the hydrophobic effect, from the microscopic dynamics of acid−base chemistry to the collective dynamics of water at electrodes. David’s work invigorated research in these diverse areas, injecting many key ideas and techniques, and held it to exacting standards that were both treasured and feared. The magnitude of David’s scientific achievements is clear from the influence of his researchpapers cited thousands of times (some of which appeared in J. Phys. Chem. and are referenced below) decade after decadeevidence of the creativity, longevity, and impact of his work. These achievements were of course recognized by his peers. David, among his many accolades, was both a member of the National Academy of Sciences and a Foreign Member of the Royal Society. Such objective measures surely indicate David’s significance and distinction, but they do not alone paint an accurate portrait of a man whose life was inseparable from his science. Early in his life David was perceived as having no talent for academics. He was keen on music (an accomplished pianist) and excelled in sport, playing tennis at a very high standard. Only during his first year at university did he find the calling of science, subsequently excelling in both chemistry and physics. As an undergraduate David met Hans Andersen, and as a postdoc, John Weeks. Together they produced WCA theory, which soon became the standard theory of the liquid state. Beyond the enormous success of this early work, the bond that formed between them stands out, of which David remarked in his 2005 autobiography (J. Phys. Chem. B 2005, 109, 6459− 6464): “The ties I made [with them] during this time are everlasting. They are my brothers in science and in spirit. We have faithfully supported one another for more than three decades.” This quote highlights how David saw science and humanity intertwined, and the way in which he cultivated the ties of friendship with his close collaborators. Conversely, bonds of friendship and family nourished David’s scientific life. Most notably, his wife Elaine served throughout his career as a critical collaborator and consultant, pushing him to communicate clearly, to reason carefully, and to employ the most sophisticated mathematical and computational tools available. His reputation as an unrivaled expert in these very skills testifies to the depth of Elaine’s influence. A constant in David’s work was the search for connections between problems in diverse areas of science and the use of statistical mechanics as the conceptual and methodological framework with which to address them. This synthetic approach is a signature of the school of thought he built at Berkeley, whose basic perspective is articulated in his “little green book”, Introduction to Modern Statistical Mechanics. This academic best seller became the standard introductory text in statistical mechanics for a generation of physical scientists. By all accounts, David was an outstanding teacher, both in writing and in front of a class. A second notable effort toward creating a community of thought was establishing the Berkeley Mini StatMech Meeting. These yearly meetings are unique in style, covering broad topics in chemistry, physics, biology, and beyond, with statistical mechanics as a common theme. They aim to bring down the barriers between disciplines, and have been instrumental in fostering a sense of common purpose among those who adhere to the way David thought about science. Adding to his legacy is the number of David’s trainees who now occupy faculty positions across the world. David, for the authors of this piece, was in turn a mentor, a colleague, and a close friend. We are part of a large group of scientists who have been profoundly influenced by our interactions with him, an international group that includes many scientists of distinction, and many who are on their way to being so. We believe we speak on behalf of them all in expressing our debt of gratitude to David for the impact he had in our lives both as a scientist and as a friend. The papers in this Virtual Issue exemplify David’s accomplishments in a few of the primary areas of his scholarship. The thrust of these efforts is summarized below. Implicit in our summaries are important contributions from David’s co-workers, invariably enabled by his unique and dedicated mentorship.