Difference between revisions of "Paul Dirac"
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[[Image:Dirac.gif|right|thumb|Paul Dirac]] | [[Image:Dirac.gif|right|thumb|Paul Dirac]] | ||
| − | '''Paul A.M. Dirac''' (1902-1984) was a [[United Kingdom|British]] theoretical [[physicist]] who helped develop | + | '''Paul A.M. Dirac''' (1902-1984) was a [[United Kingdom|British]] theoretical [[physicist]] who helped develop mathematical expressions of relativistic [[quantum mechanics]]. His [[science|scientific]] [[philosophy]] was this: "Physical laws should have mathematical beauty and simplicity." |
| − | Dirac developed a equation of motion for the wavefunction of the [[electron]] based on [[Theory of relativity|relativity]]. Dirac | + | Dirac developed a equation of motion for the wavefunction of the [[electron]] based on [[Theory of relativity|relativity]]. Dirac predicted the existence of the [[positron]], the electron's [[antiparticle]], which was subsequently discovered by [[Carl Anderson]] in 1932. Dirac was awarded th eNobel Prize in 1932, the youngest scientist ever to win it. Dirac was the founder of [[quantum electrodynamics]]. |
Dirac published the "[[Principles of Quantum Mechanics]]" in 1930, which introduced the widely used [[delta]] [[function]] and [[bra-ket notation]]. Inspired in part by this book, the physicist [[Richard Feynman]] later proposed a path integral formulation of quantum mechanics in 1948. | Dirac published the "[[Principles of Quantum Mechanics]]" in 1930, which introduced the widely used [[delta]] [[function]] and [[bra-ket notation]]. Inspired in part by this book, the physicist [[Richard Feynman]] later proposed a path integral formulation of quantum mechanics in 1948. | ||
| − | Dirac | + | Dirac spent most of his career at Cambridge University; he later taught at Florida State University. |
| + | ==further reading== | ||
| + | * Farmelo, Graham. '' The Strangest Man: The Hidden Life of Paul Dirac, Mystic of the Atom'' (2009) | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dirac, Paul}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Dirac, Paul}} | ||
[[Category:Physicists]] | [[Category:Physicists]] | ||
[[category:Nobel laureates in Physics]] | [[category:Nobel laureates in Physics]] | ||
Revision as of 21:08, September 8, 2009
Paul A.M. Dirac (1902-1984) was a British theoretical physicist who helped develop mathematical expressions of relativistic quantum mechanics. His scientific philosophy was this: "Physical laws should have mathematical beauty and simplicity."
Dirac developed a equation of motion for the wavefunction of the electron based on relativity. Dirac predicted the existence of the positron, the electron's antiparticle, which was subsequently discovered by Carl Anderson in 1932. Dirac was awarded th eNobel Prize in 1932, the youngest scientist ever to win it. Dirac was the founder of quantum electrodynamics.
Dirac published the "Principles of Quantum Mechanics" in 1930, which introduced the widely used delta function and bra-ket notation. Inspired in part by this book, the physicist Richard Feynman later proposed a path integral formulation of quantum mechanics in 1948.
Dirac spent most of his career at Cambridge University; he later taught at Florida State University.
further reading
- Farmelo, Graham. The Strangest Man: The Hidden Life of Paul Dirac, Mystic of the Atom (2009)