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Authorised form of nameBaxter; Rodney James; theoretical physicist
NationalityBritish
Place of birthLondon, England, United Kingdom
Date of birth08 February 1940
Place of deathCanberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Date of death20250720
OccupationTheoretical physicist
Research fieldPhysics
Theoretical physics
Statistical Mechanics
ActivityEducation:
Bancroft's School, Essex; Trinity College Cambridge BA; MA; Australian National University PhD
Career:
Royal Society Research Professor, Cambridge University (1992); Assistant Professor, Massachussetts Institute of Technology (1968-1970); Fellow (1970-1975), Professorial Fellow (1975-1981), Institute of Advanced Studies, Australian National University; Professor, Department of Theoretical Physics, Research School of Physical Sciences, Australian National University (1981) and Professor, School of Mathematical Sciences (1989-2022).
Memberships:
FAA
Awards/Medals:
Pawsey Medal, Australian Academy of Science 1975
Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal, Australian Academy of Science 1983
Harrie Massey Medal and Prize, Australian Institute of Physics and Institute of Physics 1994
Centenary Medal - for service to Australian society in mathematical sciences 2001
Membership categoryFellow
Date of election18/03/1982
Age at election42
RSActivityRoyal Medal 2013
RelationshipsParents: Thomas J. Baxter and Florence Baxter.
Spouse: (m. 22 June 1968) Elizabeth, daughter of A Phillips.
Children: One son and one daughter.
PublishedWorksRCN 13591
OtherInfoSucceeded in giving exact solutions to a variety of problems in statistical mechanics. Their significance lies in the test they offer of any general framework solutions to statistical thermodynamics. In this respect, they have played a role similar to that of Lars Onsager's solution of the two-dimensional Ising model, 70 years ago. The solution of such classical problems as the eight-vertex model and the Potts model, and the discovery of models whose critical indices vary with interaction parameters are major contributions to the mathematical framework of physics and chemistry. This work gained Rodney the Boltzmann Prize of the IUPAP for 1980.
SourceSources:
WWA1998
The Royal Society Fellows Directory [URL: https://royalsociety.org/people/rodney-baxter-11058/; last accessed: 20/08/2025]
Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Baxter, Rodney James (1940 - 2025), [URL: https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P000212b.htm; last accessed: 20/08/2025]
CodeNA3956
Archives associated with this Fellow
RefNoTitleDate
EC/1982/02Baxter, Rodney James: certificate of election to the Royal Society1980
IM/005308Baxter, Rodney Jamesnd
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