And this picture.
Schrödinger was an Austrian physicist who was known as one of the fathers of
Quantum Physics. He was born in Vienna in on August 12, 1887 and was an only child
from a semi-wealthy family. His parents were Rudolf Schrödinger and Georgine
Emilia Brenda (daughter of Alexander Bauer, Chemistry Professor at the Technical
College of Vienna). His father inherited a small and profitable linoleum and oil cloth
factory, he was also a gifted man with broad education .His mother was half Austrian
and half English, so Schrödinger learned both languages while growing up. He was
home schooled until the age of eleven. Then, he was sent to Akademisches Gymnasium
in autumn of 1898. Schrödinger was always the top of his class, especially in
mathematical and scientific studies. He graduated from the academy and enrolled
into the University of Vienna in 1906. His main interest in college was theoretical
physics. While at the University of Vienna, he studied under Franz Serafin Exner,
Friedrich Hasenohrl, and Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Kohlrausch. He obtained a PhD in
physics was a commissioned officer in the Austrian fortress artillery from 1914-1918.
In 1920, he married Annemarie Bertel and became the assistant to Max Wien. He
attained the position of an Associate Professor at Stuttgart. Then in 1921, he obtained a
position as a full professor in Breslau (Wroclaw), Poland.
In 1926, He produced several papers that brought about the creation of
quantum wave mechanics, which is now known as Schrödinger’s equation. Within
those papers, he described his partial differential equation, which is the basic equation
of quantum mechanics. It has a relation to the functions of an atom in a way similar to
Newton’s motion equations relate to planetary astronomy. Then he adopted the idea
from Louis de Broglie about particles of matter having dual natures and that in some
situations behave like waves. Using this idea, he introduced a theory describing the
behavior of such a system by a wave equation. The wave equation also described the
behavior or electrons around the nucleus in an atom. The wave equation is solved with
wave functions that can only be related to the probable occurrence of physical events.
The idea is visualized through the definite events of the planetary orbits through
Newton’s equations, but is replaced with abstract notions of probability. His theories
are often interpreted as a deeper glimpse into atomic behavior, such that it compares
to Bohr’s atomic model. Schrödinger made it clear that everything exists in multiple
states.
While Schrödinger is most commonly known for his famous experiment
involving a cat, it was merely an example to explain the concept in more simplistic
terms. The major truth behind Schrödinger’s genius is that everything, principally
atoms, possesses both particle- and wave-like properties. These properties are
apparent under certain circumstances, based not only on interacting particles, but
also on observation. Simply put, atoms behave differently when observed than when
not. The quality of wave mechanics in particles was demonstrated via a particle
cannon, which fired charged particles towards a plate with tiny slits permitting flow.
Under normal principles, and observation, the particles flow directly through the slits
and only proceed in a straight line. However, when observation is ceased, the particles
flow through the slits and bump against each other, refracting just as waves would
in a pond or other fluid body. When these particles reached the back wall lined with
detectors, they no longer were directed from the slits, but rather dispersed according
to the flow of the waves. This potentially opens many possibilities, such as data and
energy transmission.
Supporting Information Referenced From:
Wikipedia - Erwin Schrödinger
Nobel Prize Organization - Schrodinger Biography
Wolfram - Schroedinger Biography
Britannica - Erwin Schrodinger
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