Inventing the Wave Equation (1926)

Alan A. Grometstein

Chapter Chapter 14 in The Roots of Things, 1999, pp 347-383 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract In a more fanciful age, legends would have been generated to explain how Schrödinger’s equation came into existence: The good-physics fairy appeared and said, “Erwin, you have been true to the quest and have penetrated the mysteries; as a reward, you may have some golden equations.” And Schrödinger, awestruck but shrewd, replied, “How many equations, shining one?” The apparition answered, “If you want polynomial equations, you may have three. If transcendental equations, two. While if you yearn for a differential equation, you may have only one. But trust me, Erwin, it would be a dilly.” Then Schrödinger, much emboldened, exclaimed, “Let’s shoot the moon, fairy-person: I want a second-order linear partial differential equation that I can call my own.” And so it was.

Keywords: Kinetic Energy; Wave Function; Wave Equation; Wave Packet; Hide Variable (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1999
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DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4615-4877-5_14

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