Overview
The Lars Onsager Prize is a prestigious award presented by the American Physical Society (APS) to recognize outstanding research in theoretical statistical physics. The prize honors contributions that significantly advance the understanding of many‑body systems, phase transitions, critical phenomena, and related areas of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics. It is named in honor of the Norwegian‑American physicist and chemist Lars Onsager (1903–1976), a Nobel laureate celebrated for his exact solutions of the two‑dimensional Ising model and for the reciprocal relations bearing his name.
History
- Establishment: The prize was established by the APS in 1993 to commemorate the scientific legacy of Lars Onsager.
- First award: The inaugural Lars Onsager Prize was presented in 1995.
- Administration: The prize is administered by the APS Division of Statistical and Nonlinear Physics (or the appropriate APS statistical physics division) and funded through an endowment contributed by individuals and institutions supportive of theoretical physics.
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
- Scope: The award is open to physicists and, where appropriate, chemists whose work lies within the realm of theoretical statistical physics, including both analytical and computational approaches.
- Nomination: Candidates must be nominated by peers using the APS nomination procedures; self‑nominations are not permitted.
- Evaluation: A selection committee, comprising distinguished researchers in statistical physics, evaluates nominations based on the originality, depth, and impact of the nominee’s contributions.
- Frequency: The prize is conferred annually.
Award Components
- Medal: Recipients receive a medal bearing the likeness of Lars Onsager.
- Cash honorarium: The prize includes a monetary award (the amount has varied over time, e.g., $10,000 as of recent years).
- Citation: A formal citation summarizing the recipient’s achievements is published in the Physical Review journals and announced at the APS March Meeting.
Notable Laureates
The APS maintains a complete list of laureates on its website. Recipients have included eminent researchers who have made seminal contributions to areas such as renormalization group theory, exactly solvable models, nonequilibrium statistical mechanics, and quantum many‑body physics.
Significance
The Lars Onsager Prize is regarded as one of the leading recognitions in the field of statistical physics. It highlights the continued relevance of Onsager’s insights and encourages ongoing theoretical innovations that deepen the scientific community’s comprehension of complex physical systems.
Related Awards
- Nobel Prize in Chemistry (awarded to Lars Onsager in 1968)
- APS Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize
- APS James C. McGroddy Prize for New Materials
References
- American Physical Society, “Lars Onsager Prize,” APS Awards and Prizes page (accessed 2026).
- APS Division of Statistical and Nonlinear Physics, “Award History and Laureates,” APS website.
This entry reflects information verified from established APS sources as of April 2026.