Schrödinger developed wave mechanics from "summary" of To Explain the World by Steven Weinberg
In quantum mechanics, the behavior of particles such as electrons is described in terms of waves. This was a breakthrough by the physicist Erwin Schrödinger, who developed what is known as wave mechanics. Schrödinger's wave equation allows scientists to predict the probability of finding a particle in a particular place at a particular time. This was a major departure from the classical physics of Isaac Newton, where particles were thought of as having definite positions and velocities. Schrödinger's wave equation is based on the idea that particles can exhibit both wave-like and particle-like behavior. This concept, known as wave-particle duality, was first proposed by the French physicist Louis de Broglie. Schrödinger's wave equation treats particles as waves, with the wavelength of the wave determining the probability of finding the particle at a particular location. Wave mechanics has had a profound impact on our understanding of the microscopic world. It has allowed scientists to make accurate predictions about the behavior of particles at the atomic and subatomic levels. For example, wave mechanics has been used to explain the behavior of electrons in atoms, as well as the properties of light. One of the key features of wave mechanics is the concept of superposition, where particles can exist in multiple states at the same time. This idea was famously illustrated by Schrödinger in his thought experiment involving a cat in a box. In the experiment, the cat is both alive and dead until the box is opened and its state is observed.- Schrödinger's development of wave mechanics revolutionized the field of quantum physics. It provided a new way of thinking about the behavior of particles and laid the foundation for many of the advances in modern physics. Through wave mechanics, scientists have been able to unlock the mysteries of the quantum world and make sense of the strange and counterintuitive phenomena that occur at the smallest scales of the universe.
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