Albert Einstein
Professor of Physics
About
Albert Einstein was a theoretical physicist who developed the theory of relativity, one of the two pillars of modern physics. His work is also known for its influence on the philosophy of science. He is best known to the general public for his mass–energy equivalence formula E = mc², which has been dubbed “the world’s most famous equation”. He received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics for his services to theoretical physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect.
Education
- Ph.D. in Physics | University of Zurich, 1905
- Diploma in Mathematics and Physics | ETH Zurich, 1900
Research Interests
- Theory of Relativity
- Quantum Mechanics
- Statistical Mechanics
- Unified Field Theory
Albert Einstein’s Publications
Investigations on the Theory of the Brownian Movement
This collection of Einstein's papers on Brownian motion provided experimental proof of the existence of atoms and molecules. Einstein's theoretical framework explained the random motion of particles suspended in a fluid as resulting from collisions with fast-moving atoms or molecules in the gas or liquid. His mathematical treatment allowed Jean Perrin to confirm these predictions experimentally, providing strong evidence for the atomic theory of matter and earning Perrin the Nobel Prize in 1926.
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This collection of Einstein's papers on Brownian motion provided experimental proof of the existence of atoms and molecules. Einstein's theoretical framework explained the random motion of particles suspended in a fluid as resulting from collisions with fast-moving atoms or molecules in the gas or liquid. His mathematical treatment allowed Jean Perrin to confirm these predictions experimentally, providing strong evidence for the atomic theory of matter and earning Perrin the Nobel Prize in 1926.
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Can Quantum-Mechanical Description of Physical Reality Be Considered Complete?
In a complete theory there is an element corresponding to each element of reality. A sufficient condition for the reality of a physical quantity is the possibility of predicting it with certainty, without disturbing the system. In quantum mechanics in the case of two physical quantities described by non-commuting operators, the knowledge of one precludes the knowledge of the other. Then either (1) the description of reality given by the wave function in quantum mechanics is not complete or (2) these two quantities cannot have simultaneous reality. Consideration of the problem of making predictions concerning a system on the basis of measurements made on another system that had previously interacted with it leads to the result that if (1) is false then (2) is also false. One is thus led to conclude that the description of reality as given by a wave function is not complete.
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In a complete theory there is an element corresponding to each element of reality. A sufficient condition for the reality of a physical quantity is the possibility of predicting it with certainty, without disturbing the system. In quantum mechanics in the case of two physical quantities described by non-commuting operators, the knowledge of one precludes the knowledge of the other. Then either (1) the description of reality given by the wave function in quantum mechanics is not complete or (2) these two quantities cannot have simultaneous reality. Consideration of the problem of making predictions concerning a system on the basis of measurements made on another system that had previously interacted with it leads to the result that if (1) is false then (2) is also false. One is thus led to conclude that the description of reality as given by a wave function is not complete.
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