Prof. Emeritus John Light, a distinguished figure in the world of chemical physics and a long-serving editor of the esteemed Journal of Chemical Physics, passed away on January 18th at the age of 81 after a period of illness in Denver. His contributions spanned decades, marking him as a true innovator in understanding molecular dynamics and a guiding force in scientific publishing.
John Light’s career was characterized by groundbreaking research and dedicated service to the scientific community. Donald Levy, UChicago’s Vice President for Research and for National Laboratories, fondly remembered him as “a wonderful friend and colleague.” Levy emphasized Light’s significant impact, stating, “Getting to work with him, both at the Journal of Chemical Physics and as a scientific colleague, was a major factor in making a career in our department so enjoyable and productive.” He further highlighted the exceptional nature of the physical chemistry group at the University of Chicago, recognizing John Light as a key leader in its success.
Gregory Voth, the Haig P. Papazian Distinguished Service Professor in Chemistry, echoed these sentiments, describing Light as “a wonderful man and a great theorist.” Voth underscored Light’s influential editorship, noting that it “in many ways, oversaw a golden era in the field of chemical physics.”
James Norris Jr., Robert A. Millikan Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus in Chemistry, also recalled John Light with deep respect, calling him “a true champion of the department and the University.” Norris valued Light’s willingness to offer guidance, even amidst his demanding editorial responsibilities at the Journal of Chemical Physics.
Pioneering Molecular Dynamics
John Light’s rise to prominence began in the 1960s, a transformative era for theoretical chemical dynamics. Prior to this period, the study of chemical reactions relied heavily on macroscopic experiments. However, the advent of molecular beam experiments, which involved colliding beams of reactant molecules under vacuum conditions, opened new avenues for understanding chemical reactions at a fundamental level. These experiments, aimed at measuring the probabilities and angles of product molecules, provided the inspiration for Light’s groundbreaking work.
Image alt text: Illustration of molecular beams colliding in a vacuum chamber, representing the experimental setup that inspired John Light’s theoretical work in chemical dynamics.
William H. Miller, the Kenneth S. Pitzer Distinguished Professor Emeritus in Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, highlighted John Light’s pioneering role in this emerging field. “Inspired by these molecular beam experiments, John was one of the real pioneers in developing the theory of chemical dynamics starting in the 1960s,” Miller explained. He further added that for young scientists at the time, including himself, John Light was an inspiring figure, “one of my early heroes” whose path they aspired to follow.
John Light’s development of theoretical and computational methods proved crucial for determining reaction rates and related information. These advancements have significant applications in modeling complex processes such as combustion and atmospheric chemistry, as noted by George C. Schatz, the Morrison Professor of Chemistry at Northwestern University and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Physical Chemistry. Schatz emphasized Light’s expertise in “developing numerical tools and algorithms,” highlighting the enduring impact of his research, with “many methods that came out of his research work are still in common use decades later.”
Leadership at the Journal of Chemical Physics
Beyond his research, John Light made substantial contributions as the editor of the Journal of Chemical Physics. George Schatz credited Light with imparting valuable lessons on journal editorship, admiring his “sense of professionalism.” Schatz asserted that Light’s dedication “did much to secure the reputation of the journal, making it the top journal for the fields that it represented while he was editor.” He concluded by recognizing the University of Chicago’s leading position in chemical physics during Light’s tenure, stating, “Thanks to John, the University of Chicago was the top institution in the field of chemical physics during his period as editor.”
A Distinguished Career and Lasting Legacy
Born on November 24, 1934, John C. Light’s academic journey began with honors at Oberlin College in 1956, followed by a PhD from Harvard University in 1960. He furthered his research as a National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellow at Université Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium before joining the University of Chicago in 1961. He became a professor in 1970, marking the progression of a remarkable academic career.
Throughout his career, John Light held visiting professorships at Yale University and research positions at Argonne National Laboratory and JILA. His influence extended beyond academia through consulting roles with the Institute for Defense Analyses, IBM Research Laboratories, and Lawrence Livermore Laboratory. Within the University of Chicago, he served as Director of the Materials Research Laboratory and Chair of the Chemistry Department, demonstrating his commitment to institutional leadership.
Image alt text: Portrait of John C. Light in his office at the University of Chicago, surrounded by books and scientific materials, reflecting his academic environment and intellectual pursuits.
As a mentor, John Light guided 31 graduate students and 25 postdoctoral fellows, many of whom have become successful researchers worldwide. In a special issue of the Journal of Physical Chemistry A dedicated to him in 2006, John Light expressed his gratitude for these collaborations, writing, “I learned much more from them than they did from me. It has been a great pleasure to have worked with so many gifted people.” Even after retiring as professor emeritus in 2001, his insightful contributions were valued at scientific meetings, as Schatz noted his ability to “digging into the essentials of research topics.”
In retirement, John Light moved to Nathrop, Colorado, with his wife in 2004, embracing outdoor activities like skiing, hiking, and horseback riding. His distinguished career was recognized through fellowships from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the American Physical Society, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, as well as memberships in prestigious scientific societies.
John Light is survived by his wife, Phyllis Kittel, his brother Richard, his three sons David, Robert, and Erik, and ten grandchildren. Memorial services are planned in Colorado and New York, with a memorial service and symposium at the University of Chicago to be arranged, honoring the life and contributions of a remarkable scientist and leader, John Light.
