Erwin Schrödinger

Erwin Rudolf Josef Alexander Schrödinger (12 August 1887 – 4 January 1961) was an Austrian–Irish theoretical physicist. He made important discoveries in quantum theory. He is best known for creating the Schrödinger equation. This idea helps scientists understand how very small particles act and change over time. In 1935, he also introduced the term "quantum entanglement".

Schrödinger received the 1933 Nobel Prize in Physics together with Paul Dirac for their work in atomic theory. He also wrote about many science topics like statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, and physics. One of his books, What Is Life?, looked at living things using physics ideas.

People often think of Schrödinger because of his famous thought experiment named "Schrödinger's cat". This experiment helps explain some difficult ideas in quantum physics. Schrödinger worked in several places, including Oxford, Graz, and later Dublin, where he stayed until he retired in 1955.

Early life and education

Erwin Rudolf Josef Alexander Schrödinger was born on 12 August 1887 in Vienna. He was the only child of Rudolf Schrödinger, a botanist, and Georgine Emilia Brenda Bauer, whose father was a chemistry professor at TU Wien. Schrödinger grew up with strong interests in Eastern religions and pantheism, even though he was an atheist.

He went to the Akademisches Gymnasium and later studied at the University of Vienna. In 1910, he earned his Ph.D. there. After that, he worked as an assistant to Franz S. Exner and finished his habilitation in 1914.

Career

From 1914 to 1918, Erwin Schrödinger worked in Austria. In 1920, he became an assistant at the University of Jena, and later a professor at several universities.

In 1939, he moved to Dublin, Ireland. He joined the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies and stayed there until 1955. While in Dublin, he wrote a book called What Is Life?. This book inspired scientists like James Watson and Francis Crick in their discovery of the DNA double helix. Schrödinger became an Irish citizen in 1948 but kept his Austrian citizenship too.

Main article: Schrödinger's cat

Later life and death

In 1956, after Austria became neutral, Schrödinger went back to Vienna to work as a professor at the University of Vienna. During a big talk at the World Power Conference, he decided not to speak about nuclear power because he was unsure. Instead, he talked about philosophy. At this time, he also talked more about the idea of waves, which caused some discussion.

Schrödinger had been dealing with tuberculosis for many years and often stayed at a sanatorium in Arosa, Switzerland. He passed away from tuberculosis on 4 January 1961 in Vienna at the age of 73. Even though he was not a Catholic, he was buried in a Catholic cemetery in Alpbach after the priest there learned he was a member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

Research and interests

Erwin Schrödinger studied many areas of science. Early on, he worked on electrical engineering, atmospheric electricity, and radioactivity, often with his teacher Franz Exner. He also looked at vibrational theory, Brownian motion, and mathematical statistics.

Schrödinger is best known for his work in quantum mechanics. He created the Schrödinger equation, which helps scientists learn about how tiny particles act. This was a big discovery and changed how people study physics and chemistry. He also talked about quantum entanglement in 1935, saying it was an important difference between old and new physics.

Personal life

Erwin Schrödinger married Annemarie Bertel in 1920. In 1938, he moved to Ireland and brought his wife and another woman, Hilde March, with him. They all lived together in Dublin.

Schrödinger had relationships with several women during his life. Some people have criticized his behavior toward young women.

One of his grandchildren, Terry Rudolph, became a quantum physicist and teaches at Imperial College London.

Recognition

Erwin Schrödinger received many awards and titles for his important work in science. He joined several groups that honor the best scientists in the world. His discoveries helped us understand how tiny particles move and change, especially through his well-known equation.

Commemoration

Erwin Schrödinger's ideas, like Schrödinger's cat, still inspire discussions in science. His work helped create quantum mechanics. Several places and things are named after him. For example, there is a crater on the far side of the Moon called Schrödinger crater.

Schrödinger was also shown on a special Austrian banknote from 1983 to 1997. Buildings and streets in countries like Ireland, Berlin, and France carry his name. In 2013, Google celebrated his 126th birthday with a special drawing called a Google Doodle.

Publications

Erwin Schrödinger wrote many important books about science and nature. Some of his well-known works include What Is Life?, which talks about his ideas on biology, and Science and the Human Temperament, where he shares his thoughts on how people think about science. His books are still studied today.

You can find a full list of his publications online, compiled by researchers Auguste Dick, Gabriele Kerber, Wolfgang Kerber, and Karl von Meyenn.