a biographical presentation by stephen cole wolfgang pauli
TRANSCRIPT
A Biographical Presentation
By Stephen Cole
Wolfgang Pauli
Some Contributions
The Exclusion PrincipleThe NeutrinoPauli EquationSpin Statistics Theorem
Pauli, Nobel Prize portrait
Image: "Wolfgang Pauli - Biography". Nobelprize.org. 5 May 2013 http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1945/pauli-bio.html
Early Life
Born in 1900 in AustriaMentored by Ernst Mach
“anti-metaphysical baptism”
University of HamburgExceptional skill in
mathematics
Young Pauli
Image: “Wolfgang Pauli young.” Fermilab. www.fnal.gov.
The Exclusion Principle (1924)Stern-Gerlach Experiment
Found an unexpected behavior of electronsParticles split into upper and lower path
Image: Knott, Theresa. “Stern-Gerlach Experiment.” Wikipedia Commons.
The Exclusion Principle (1924)All electrons have unique quantum number
sets, so they cannot all fall to ground state“Two-valuedness not describable classically”
Another quantum number, later called “spin”Electrons could now be grouped into orbitals
to explain their behaviorLed to Hund’s rule and the Aufbau principle,
essential to chemistry
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) in Zürich
Succeeded Peter Debye as professor of theoretical physics in 1928
Image: ZachT. “Main building of the Swiss Institute of Technology in Zürich (ETH).” Wikipedia Commons. 2006.
The main building of ETH, 2006
The Neutrino (1930)Then-unexplained energy loss in beta decay
threatened the rule of Conservation of EnergyNeils Bohr was ready to accept that atoms simply
do not follow classical conservation lawsPauli presented a new explanation
The Neutrino (1930)
“Desperate Remedy” for energy conservation
Later named “neutrino” (little neutral one) by Enrico Fermi
Image: Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility - Office of Science Education. “Beta Decay.” Jefferson Lab. 4 May. 2013. http://education.jlab.org/glossary/betadecay.html.
The Neutrino (1930)Reines-Cowan Experiment (1953-1956)
confirmed the existence of the neutrino
Left: Frederick Reines, Right: Clyde Cowan
Image: Kutner, Marc L; Pasachoff, Jay M. “Neutrinos for Interstellar Communication.” Cosmic Search Magazine. 1979. North American Astrophysical Laboratory. Web. 5 May 2013.
Personal LifeMother passed away in 1927Marriage in 1929 ended in divorce after a yearPauli turned to psychoanalysis for therapy
Met Carl Gustav Jung in 1930
Pauli and JungPauli turned away from prevailing positivist philosophy
in favor of Jung’s synchronicityTherapy ended in 1934 with Pauli’s second marriagePauli and Jung kept a regular correspondence
“Carl Gustav Jung.” borrasart. Web. 5 May 2013. http://www.borrasart.com/jungenglish.htm.
Spin-Statistics Theorem (1940)Result of Quantum Field TheoryFermion: half-integer-spin particle
Follows the exclusion principleProtons, neutrinos and beta particles are fermions
Boson: integer-spin particleDoes not obey the exclusion principle
Mysterious “Pauli Effect”Notoriously bad experimentalist
“This isn’t right, it’s not even wrong”Famous criticism for pseudoscience
The Late PauliPauli escaped to New Jersey to avoid
persecution by Nazi Germany, became an American citizen
1945 Nobel Prize ceremony was held away from its regular location for Pauli
Returned to ETH in 1946 where he remainedReceived Max Planck medal in 1958, passed
away shortly afterwards
Works Cited
“Max-Planck-Medaille.” German Physical Society. 2013. Web. 5 May. 2013.
“Pioneers in Magnetism and Electricity: Wolfgang Pauli.” Magnet Lab. 2013. Web. 4 May. 2013.
“Wolfgang Pauli.” Encyclopedia Britannica. 2013. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.