Erwin Schrödinger
Erwin Schrödinger was an Austrian physicist who is regarded as one of the founders of quantum mechanics. He formulated the wave equation that bears his name and proposed the thought experiment known as Schrödinger's cat.
Early Life and Education
Schrödinger was born in 1887 in Vienna to a family of mixed Austrian and English descent. He studied at the University of Vienna and took a doctorate in physics.
He worked at several universities, including Jena, Zurich, and Berlin. He was influenced by the philosophy of Schopenhauer and of the Indian Vedanta.
He was appointed a professor at the University of Zurich in 1921. He worked on statistical mechanics and on the theory of colour.
The Wave Equation
Schrödinger formulated the wave equation in 1926. The equation describes the behaviour of the quantum system and is a foundation of quantum mechanics.
He showed that his wave mechanics was equivalent to the matrix mechanics of Heisenberg. The two formulations describe the same physical reality.
The equation is used to calculate the energy levels of the atom and the behaviour of the electron. It is one of the most important equations in physics.
The Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics
Schrödinger was critical of the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics. He objected to the idea of the collapse of the wave function.
The thought experiment of Schrödinger's cat illustrates the problem of the measurement. The cat is neither alive nor dead until the box is opened.
The paradox has been the subject of much discussion. It remains a central problem of the interpretation of quantum mechanics.
The Later Career
Schrödinger left Germany in 1933 in protest against the persecution of the Jews. He held positions in Oxford, in Graz, and in Dublin.
He wrote a book on the philosophy of biology, What Is Life?, which influenced the development of molecular biology. The book argues for the existence of a genetic code.
He returned to Vienna in 1956 and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1933. He shared the prize with Paul Dirac.
He died in 1961 in Vienna. He was buried in Alpbach, in the Tyrol.
The Personal Life
Schrödinger had a complex personal life and had several relationships. He had three children with different women.
He was interested in the philosophy of the East and in the unity of consciousness. He wrote on the nature of the self and on the relation between science and mysticism.
He was a poet and a man of letters. His letters and his notebooks are an important source for the study of his thought.
The Legacy
Schrödinger is regarded as one of the greatest theoretical physicists of the twentieth century. The wave equation and the thought experiment are central to the study of quantum mechanics.
His book What Is Life? influenced the development of molecular biology. The phrase Schrödinger's cat has entered the popular culture.
He is remembered for his insight and for his breadth of interest. His work continues to be studied and to be taught.
The Wave Mechanics
Schrödinger formulated the wave equation in 1926. The equation describes the behaviour of the quantum system.
He showed that his wave mechanics was equivalent to the matrix mechanics of Heisenberg. The two formulations describe the same reality.
The equation is one of the most important in physics. It is used to calculate the energy levels of the atom.
Schrödinger's Cat
Schrödinger proposed the thought experiment of the cat in 1935. The cat is placed in a box with a radioactive source.
The cat is neither alive nor dead until the box is opened. The paradox illustrates the problem of the measurement.
The paradox remains a central problem of the interpretation of quantum mechanics. It has entered the popular culture.
What Is Life?
Schrödinger published What Is Life? in 1944. The book argues for the existence of a genetic code and of a molecular basis of heredity.
The work influenced the development of molecular biology. Watson and Crick cited the book as an inspiration.
Schrödinger also wrote on the philosophy of the East and on the nature of consciousness. His work reflects a wide range of interests.
The Personal Life and the Career
Schrödinger was born in Vienna in 1887. He studied at the university there and served in the war.
He held professorships in Zurich, Berlin, Oxford, and Dublin. He was the director of the school of theoretical physics in Dublin for many years.
He returned to Vienna at the end of his career. He died in 1961 and was buried in Alpbach.
The Later Work
Schrödinger wrote on the philosophy and on the history of science. He was interested in the Greek philosophy and in the Eastern thought.
He wrote on the nature of the scientific revolution. He argued for a broad and unified view of the sciences.
He received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1933. The award recognised his contribution to the wave mechanics.
See also
- Quantum mechanics
- Schrödinger's cat
References
- ↑ Moore, Walter. Schrödinger: Life and Thought. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989.
- ↑ Schrödinger, Erwin. What Is Life? Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1944.
- ↑ Bitbol, Michel. Schrödinger's Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1996.
- ↑ Mehra, Jagdish and Rechenberg, Helmut. The Historical Development of Quantum Theory. New York: Springer, 1987.