Nobel Prize in Physics | Fotoeins Fotografie

Vienna: physicist Erwin Schrödinger

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In 1933, the Nobel Prize Foundation awarded the physics prize jointly to Dr. Erwin Schrödinger and Dr. Paul Dirac for their development of techniques to solve problems in the burgeoning field of atomic physics. Schrödinger established the system of wave mechanics to study the motion within atoms and molecules. The mathematical forms for the wave properties of matter directly led to solutions as well as further insights in modern atomic physics.

The following images show some of the places where Schrödinger (1887–1961) spent time in his work- and home-life: traces he left behind in Vienna. He and his wife are buried in the Tirolean town of Alpbach.

University of Vienna (1.)

*Next to the Ringstraße is the University of Vienna main building by **Heinrich Ferstel** and inaugurated in 1884.*

*Erwin’s youthful gaze is part of the university’s display of its Nobel Prize laureates.*

*Memorial statue in Arkadenhof: Erwin Schrödinger’s equation in quantum mechanics is what Newton’s equation “F = ma” is to classical mechanics.*

(2nd) Institute of Physics (9.)

*Former location of the (second) Physics Institute, 1875 to 1913*.

*Memorial plaque on the exterior wall, in recognition of some of the scientists who once worked at the Physics Institute, including Stefan, Boltzmann, Meyer, Meitner, Hess, and Schrödinger.*

Schrödinger Residence (9.)

*Building address Pasteurgasse 4, where Schrödinger lived for a number of years, near the Strudlhofstiege staircase.*

*Memorial plaque at Pasteurgasse 4: “University of Vienna professor, physicist, and Nobel Prize laureate Erwin Schrödinger lived in this building from 1956 to 1961.”*

I made all photos above with an iPhone15 on 6 Jul 2024. This post composed with Jetpack for iOS appears on Fotoeins Fotografie at fotoeins DOT com as https://wp.me/p1BIdT-t9q.

24T40 University of Vienna & her physicists

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Established in 1365 as one of the oldest universities in Europe, the University of Vienna has been home to her share of remarkable people in teaching and research. A first love is physics; so I go willingly into that space, to look for a number of physicists at Uni.Wien.

*Main building of the university (Hauptgebäude), built by Heinrich Ferstel on the Ringstrasse; inaugurated 1884.*

*Erwin Schrödinger, atomic & nuclear physics; awarded 1933 Nobel Prize in physics.*

*Viktor Franz Hess, for his work on atmospheric cosmic rays, awarded 1936 Nobel Prize in physics.*

*Arkadenhof (arcade courtyard), where prominent university staff and faculty are highlighted as plaques and busts.*

*Left: Christian Doppler, physics professor 1860-1863. Right: Erwin Schrödinger, and his famous equation for quantum mechanics*.

*Johannes and Karl Littrow: Littrow, as in Littrow configuration in optics.*

*Franz Exner, physics professor (1891-1920) and whose PhD students included: Stefan Meyer, Lise Meitner, Felix Ehrenhaft.*

*Josef Stefan, of the Stefan-Boltzmann Law; physics professor from 1863 to 1893.*

*Ludwig Boltzmann, of the Stefan-Boltzmann Law; physics and maths professor.*

*Lise Meitner, atomic & nuclear physics, who should have had a share in the 1944 Nobel Prize in Chemistry*.

*Berta Karlik, atomic & nuclear physics; in 1956 Karlik the first woman to receive full professor from the University of Vienna.*

I made all images above with an iPhone15 on 16 Jun 2024. I received neither sponsor nor support from any organization. This post composed with Jetpack for iOS appears on Fotoeins Fotografie at fotoeins DOT com.

Würzburg: Röntgen, X-rays, & 1st Nobel Prize in Physics

On my list and map, I placed the museum’s location as a “possible” to visit in the city. If I had time, I’d swing by and have a look, appealing to my fondness for science and the history of science.

Many arrive in Würzburg to visit the Residenz UNESCO world heritage site. On a daytrip from Frankfurt am Main, I duly visited the Residenz, and easily completed my initial visit requirements, as I knew I would. That’s when my inner voice (a.k.a., the spirit of B.Sc. ’90) reminded me insistently the museum was “simply and conveniently” on the return walk to the city’s central train station to fully complete my visit requirements.

I walked north from the Residenz, and followed the signs into the building for the Röntgen-Gedächtnisstätte (Röntgen Memorial) where X-rays were discovered. Standing inside the former laboratory space, I’m surrounded by artifacts, books, papers, tubes, equipment, and photographs.

I also feel a part of my undergraduate physics education has come full circle.

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