Lars Onsager

Lars Onsager was a prominent physicist and physical chemist known for his work on thermodynamics, particularly in understanding how systems behave out of equilibrium. He developed Onsager's reciprocal relations, which describe how certain processes, like heat flow and chemical reactions, are interrelated. His contributions helped explain how systems can achieve balance and how they react when disturbed. This work is essential in both equilibrium and non-equilibrium thermodynamics, influencing fields such as physical chemistry, material science, and biological systems, providing insights into how processes evolve over time in various conditions.