Erwin Schrödinger

Erwin Schrödinger - Physicists, Facts and Life

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Erwin Schrödinger's Personal Details

Erwin Schrodinger was a Nobel Prize winning physicist who formulated the Schrodinger equation in quantum physics

InformationDetail
BirthdayAugust 12, 1887
Died onJanuary 4, 1961
NationalityAustrian
FamousScientists, Physicists
SpousesAnnemarie Bertel
Known asErwin Schrodinger, Erwin Schrödinger, Erwin Rudolf Josef Alexander Schrödinger
Universities
  • 1910 - University of Vienna
  • 1906 - Akademisches Gymnasium
Birth PlaceVienna
ReligionAtheism
GenderMale
FatherRudolf Schrödinger
MotherGeorgine Emilia Brenda
Sun SignLeo
Born inVienna
Famous asPhysicist
Died at Age73

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Erwin Schrödinger's photo

Who is Erwin Schrödinger?

Known for his contribution in the theory of matter and quantum mechanics, Erwin Schrodinger was an Austrian theoretical physicist who shared the Nobel Prize in physics with P.A.M. Dirac. In his years in ‘Akademisches Gymnasium’, Erwin showed varied interest in scientific disciplines, ancient grammar and German poetry. In the University of Vienna, he was tutored by Fritz Hasenohrl and gained valuable knowledge in eigenvalue problems. Later, together with K.W.F Kohlrausch and as an assistant of Franz Exner, he carried on his study in experimental physics. During World War I, he worked as an artillery officer and after the war he embarked on an academic career. Schrodinger’s stay in the ‘University of Zurich’ was his most fruitful period in theoretical physics which ultimately culminated in his greatest discovery, Schrodinger’s wave equation. His move to Berlin, as Planck’s successor was strategic, but short-lived with Hitler coming to power. Erwin continued to shift to different universities, and when his homeland Austria was annexed after World War II, he was in a difficult position and thus had to escape to Italy. After years of relocation, Erwin finally settled in ‘Advanced Studies of Dublin’ where he continued to teach till his retirement. Erwin however took an honorary position in Vienna after his retirement.

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Childhood & Early Life

Erwin was born on August 12, 1887 to Rudolf Schrodinger and Emily Bauer in Vienna. He had a mixed parentage; his father being Austrian and his mother being half-British and half-Austrian.

His father ran a tiny linoleum factory; he was a well-educated man who studied Chemistry, Italian painting and Botany and published different papers in plant phylogeny.

Schrodinger was home-schooled till the age of ten and was well-conversed in both German and English.

After graduating from ‘Akademisches Gymnasium’, he was accepted in the ‘University of Vienna’ in 1906 and was greatly influenced by Fritz Hasenohrl’s lectures in theoretical physics.

On 20th May, 1910 Schrodinger received his Doctorate for his dissertation, ‘On the conduction of electricity on the surface of insulators in moist air’.

In 1911, Erwin got an opportunity to work as an assistant to Franz Exner for experimental physics; the experience which he later described as invaluable for his theoretical work as the experiments provided a practical framework for his theoretical ideas.

During World War I, he rendered voluntary services in a fortress artillery.

On September 1st, 1914, Erwin was awarded the ‘Habilitation’, which is the highest academic degree denoting independent scholarship.

Career

During the phase of 1915-1920 he continued his research work along with his military duties and published several research papers. He also taught a course in meteorology in Hungary.

In 1920 he took up the position of an assistant to Max Wein and later went on to ‘University of Stuttgart’ and ‘University of Zurich’.

During his six-year-stay in the ‘University of Zurich’, he enjoyed the companionship of some of his esteemed colleagues like Peter Debye and Hermann Weyl. His papers mostly emphasized on thermodynamics problems, atomic spectra, the nature of specific heats in solids and colour theory.

In 1926, in the course of six months, at the age of 39, he put forth his findings on quantum wave mechanics in his papers, which later came to be known as Schrodinger’s wave equation.

In 1927, Erwin accepted an invitation and succeeded Max Planck, the inventor of quantum hypothesis in the ‘University of Berlin’, where he met the famous theoretical physicist Albert Einstein.

He was part of the distinguished faculty till the year 1933, but could not comply with Hitler’s anti-Semitic policies which led to his seven-year relocation to Austria, Great Britain, Belgium, Rome and finally to Berlin.

In Dublin, Erwin became the Director of the School for Theoretical Physics in the Advanced Studies in Dublin where he remained till his retirement in 1955.

After his retirement, he published his last book ‘Meine Weltansicht’, in 1961, in Vienna, which expressed his metaphysical outlook.

Major Work

Schrodinger laid the foundation of wave mechanics which is fundamental in understanding the behaviour of light and subatomic particles. In the theory known as ‘Schrodinger Equation’, he explained that the different stages of atom’s electrons can be described and their state of energy can also be predicted via wave equation. His findings were published in the paper ‘Quantisierungals Eigenwert problem’ or ‘Quantization as an Eigenvalue Problem’.

Awards & Achievements

At the age of 27, in the year 1914 Erwin was given highest possible academic degree in Germany, Habilitation. This is awarded for those who excel in the field of independent scholarship.

In the year 1933, Erwin Schrodinger was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics which he shared with British physicist Paul A.M. Dirac. The prize was awarded for his ‘discovery of new productive forms of atomic theory’.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1920, he married Annemarie Bertel as they were engaged in the previous year when Anny had come to Vienna to work as a Secretary.

Schrodinger had a liking for several women in his life, including the wife of his colleague Hilde March. His daughter Ruth Georgia Erica was born out of his wedlock with Hilde in Oxford, in 1934. In his years in Dublin he had two other daughters from two different Irish women.

The eminent scientist breathed his last on January 4, 1961 after suffering from a long bout of tuberculosis. He was interred at a Catholic cemetery in Alpbach town of Austria.

Trivia

Schrodinger had started an interesting mind experiment known as the Schrödinger’s Cat, where he explained the unusual behaviour of electrons. A cat was put inside a box with a source of poison gas. The unpredictable behaviour of electrons confused the onlooker at one point of time, making it difficult to figure out whether the cat was dead or alive.

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Erwin Schrödinger's awards

YearNameAward

Other

01933 - Nobel Prize in Physics
0 1937 - Max Planck Medal
0 1956 - Erwin Schrödinger Prize

Erwin Schrödinger biography timelines

  • // 12th Aug 1887
    Erwin was born on August 12, 1887 to Rudolf Schrodinger and Emily Bauer in Vienna. He had a mixed parentage; his father being Austrian and his mother being half-British and half-Austrian.
  • // 1906
    After graduating from ‘Akademisches Gymnasium’, he was accepted in the ‘University of Vienna’ in 1906 and was greatly influenced by Fritz Hasenohrl’s lectures in theoretical physics.
  • // 20th May 1910
    On 20th May, 1910 Schrodinger received his Doctorate for his dissertation, ‘On the conduction of electricity on the surface of insulators in moist air’.
  • // 1911
    In 1911, Erwin got an opportunity to work as an assistant to Franz Exner for experimental physics; the experience which he later described as invaluable for his theoretical work as the experiments provided a practical framework for his theoretical ideas.
  • // 1914
    At the age of 27, in the year 1914 Erwin was given highest possible academic degree in Germany, Habilitation. This is awarded for those who excel in the field of independent scholarship.
  • // 1st Sep 1914
    On September 1st, 1914, Erwin was awarded the ‘Habilitation’, which is the highest academic degree denoting independent scholarship.
  • // 1915 To 1920
    During the phase of 1915-1920 he continued his research work along with his military duties and published several research papers. He also taught a course in meteorology in Hungary.
  • // 1920
    In 1920 he took up the position of an assistant to Max Wein and later went on to ‘University of Stuttgart’ and ‘University of Zurich’.
  • // 1920
    In 1920, he married Annemarie Bertel as they were engaged in the previous year when Anny had come to Vienna to work as a Secretary.
  • // 1926
    In 1926, in the course of six months, at the age of 39, he put forth his findings on quantum wave mechanics in his papers, which later came to be known as Schrodinger’s wave equation.
  • // 1927
    In 1927, Erwin accepted an invitation and succeeded Max Planck, the inventor of quantum hypothesis in the ‘University of Berlin’, where he met the famous theoretical physicist Albert Einstein.
  • // 1933
    He was part of the distinguished faculty till the year 1933, but could not comply with Hitler’s anti-Semitic policies which led to his seven-year relocation to Austria, Great Britain, Belgium, Rome and finally to Berlin.
  • // 1933
    In the year 1933, Erwin Schrodinger was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics which he shared with British physicist Paul A.M. Dirac. The prize was awarded for his ‘discovery of new productive forms of atomic theory’.
  • // 1934
    Schrodinger had a liking for several women in his life, including the wife of his colleague Hilde March. His daughter Ruth Georgia Erica was born out of his wedlock with Hilde in Oxford, in 1934. In his years in Dublin he had two other daughters from two different Irish women.
  • // 1955
    In Dublin, Erwin became the Director of the School for Theoretical Physics in the Advanced Studies in Dublin where he remained till his retirement in 1955.
  • // 1961
    After his retirement, he published his last book ‘Meine Weltansicht’, in 1961, in Vienna, which expressed his metaphysical outlook.
  • // 4th Jan 1961
    The eminent scientist breathed his last on January 4, 1961 after suffering from a long bout of tuberculosis. He was interred at a Catholic cemetery in Alpbach town of Austria.

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Erwin Schrödinger's FAQ

  • What is Erwin Schrödinger birthday?

    Erwin Schrödinger was born at 1887-08-12

  • When was Erwin Schrödinger died?

    Erwin Schrödinger was died at 1961-01-04

  • Where was Erwin Schrödinger died?

    Erwin Schrödinger was died in Vienna

  • Which age was Erwin Schrödinger died?

    Erwin Schrödinger was died at age 73

  • Where is Erwin Schrödinger's birth place?

    Erwin Schrödinger was born in Vienna

  • What is Erwin Schrödinger nationalities?

    Erwin Schrödinger's nationalities is Austrian

  • Who is Erwin Schrödinger spouses?

    Erwin Schrödinger's spouses is Annemarie Bertel

  • What was Erwin Schrödinger universities?

    Erwin Schrödinger studied at 1910 - University of Vienna, 1906 - Akademisches Gymnasium

  • What is Erwin Schrödinger's religion?

    Erwin Schrödinger's religion is Atheism

  • Who is Erwin Schrödinger's father?

    Erwin Schrödinger's father is Rudolf Schrödinger

  • Who is Erwin Schrödinger's mother?

    Erwin Schrödinger's mother is Georgine Emilia Brenda

  • What is Erwin Schrödinger's sun sign?

    Erwin Schrödinger is Leo

  • How famous is Erwin Schrödinger?

    Erwin Schrödinger is famouse as Physicist