Dr. Manuel Cardona was a preeminent condensed matter physicist who established foundational methodologies for investigating solid-state materials through optical spectroscopy techniques. Born in Barcelona, Spain in 1934, he earned his PhD in Applied Physics from Harvard University before beginning his research career at RCA Laboratories in Zurich and later Princeton. His exceptional scientific leadership led to his recruitment in 1971 as one of the founding directors of the newly established Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research in Stuttgart, Germany, where he served until his retirement in 2000 while continuing active research until his passing in 2014. Dr. Cardona's career trajectory reflected his growing international stature, having previously held positions at Brown University and conducted influential research at institutions worldwide including the University of Buenos Aires under the Ford Foundation.
Dr. Cardona pioneered the application of Raman scattering and other optical spectroscopies to investigate electronic and vibrational properties of semiconductor microstructures, isotopically pure materials, and high-temperature superconductors. His groundbreaking theoretical work on the k·p approximation provided a simple yet powerful framework for understanding band structure relationships in solids, becoming the standard methodology for analyzing electronic properties in semiconductors. He demonstrated how core-level transitions could directly determine conduction-band density-of-states in solids, significantly advancing band structure measurement techniques and enabling more accurate theoretical calculations. With over 1,300 scientific publications and ten monographs, Cardona was recognized as one of the eight most cited physicists since 1970, reflecting the profound impact of his research across condensed matter physics.
Beyond his experimental and theoretical contributions, Dr. Cardona profoundly shaped the global physics community through his editorial leadership as Editor-in-Chief of Solid State Communications from 1992 to 2005 and service on multiple journal editorial boards since 1972. His mentorship cultivated generations of physicists, with former students and collaborators establishing prominent research programs worldwide while implementing his methodologies across diverse materials systems. The research frameworks and experimental approaches he developed continue to underpin contemporary investigations in semiconductor physics and nanoscale materials characterization. Dr. Cardona's legacy endures through the ongoing scientific impact of his work, the researchers he trained, and the enduring influence of his conceptual approaches to understanding electronic phenomena in solids.
