Ervin Shredinger Austrian theoretical physicist one of the creators of quantum mechanics Date of Birth: 12.08.1887 Country: Austria

1. Biography of Erwin Schrödinger
2. Early Life and Education
3. Career and Achievements
4. Contributions to Physics
5. Interests in Biology

Biography of Erwin Schrödinger

Erwin Schrödinger was an Austrian theoretical physicist, renowned for his contributions to the field of quantum mechanics. He was born on August 12, 1887, in Vienna, Austria.

Early Life and Education

Schrödinger completed his education at the University of Vienna in 1910. However, his career in physics did not begin until after his military service, which ended in 1920.

Career and Achievements

Schrödinger worked at various universities throughout his career. He served as a professor at the Vienna University and the University of Jena, and later held positions at the Stuttgart and Breslau Universities. In 1921, he became a professor at the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule in Zurich, Switzerland.

In 1927, Schrödinger succeeded Max Planck as a professor of theoretical physics at the University of Berlin. However, with the rise of Adolf Hitler in 1933, he left his position. He then spent time as a professor at the University of Oxford, the University of Graz, and the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin. He also founded his own research institute, the Institute for Advanced Studies.

Contributions to Physics

Schrödinger's most significant contributions were in the areas of statistical physics, quantum theory, quantum mechanics, and biophysics. He developed the wave mechanics, which described the movement of subatomic particles using wave functions. He derived the fundamental equation of non-relativistic quantum mechanics, known as the Schrödinger equation, and provided solutions for specific cases.

Schrödinger also established the connection between wave mechanics and matrix mechanics, developed by Werner Heisenberg. He showed their physical equivalence. Despite his achievements, Schrödinger, like Albert Einstein, was unsatisfied with the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics and sought to develop a theory solely based on waves.

Interests in Biology

Schrödinger had a strong interest in biology and made notable contributions to the field. In 1943, he published his influential book "What is Life?", where he applied physical concepts and approaches to understand the nature of genes and solve problems related to living organisms. His book had a profound impact on the post-war generation of molecular biologists and biophysicists, including James Watson and Francis Crick, who later proposed the double helix model of DNA.

Erwin Schrödinger returned to Austria in 1956 and remained a professor at the University of Vienna until his death. He passed away on January 4, 1961, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the field of physics and biology.