Paul Dirac
jbuehler3
Born in August 1902, Paul Adrien Maurice Dirac was an influential theoretical physicist. Throughout his life he worked on quantum mechanics and even invented a new subfield of quantum electrodynamics. He won a Nobel Prize in 1933. He had a family with a wife, two of his own children, and two adopted children. He died in 1984.
The Main Idea
Dirac's work in theoretical physics was monumental in the creation and modernization of quantum physics. He derived equations that are critical in in applying the relativistic model of space time into quantum mechanics. While working alongside many famous and influential physicists of his time including Einstien, Shrodinger, and Feynman, he helped to tie many other equations and natural phenomenon together into mathmatics. He was once quoted saying that the laws of nature should be described by beautiful equations.
A Mathematical Model
The Dirac equation is a combination many discoveries and innovations that were occurring at the beginning of the 20th century. The equation helps to relate the wave function of an electron to the curvature of spacetime. In order to do this, both the Planck constant(h) and the Shrodinger equation are referenced.
The second form of the equation helps to make the math fit with Pauli matrices. This added dimension allows the algebra to work for a pseudo orthoganal 4D space, which is necessary to consider the application of momentum on a curved spacetime.
In order to continue simplification, the equation becomes
which replaced the Planck constant and the speed of light with 1 which is often called natural units. This form of the equation still creates the same model of space.
Connectedness
- How is this topic connected to something that you are interested in?
- How is it connected to your major?
- Is there an interesting industrial application?
History
Put this idea in historical context. Give the reader the Who, What, When, Where, and Why.
See also
Are there related topics or categories in this wiki resource for the curious reader to explore? How does this topic fit into that context?
Further reading
Books, Articles or other print media on this topic
External links
References
This section contains the the references you used while writing this page