Day: August 21, 2024

Ernst Ruska and Max Knoll (1931): The invention of the electron microscope allowed scientists to observe objects at a much higher resolution than with light microscopes. This technological advancement has had a profound impact on fields such as biology, materials science, and nanotechnology.

Richard Feynman, Julian Schwinger, and Sin-Itiro Tomonaga: These physicists developed Quantum Electrodynamics (QED), a theory describing the interaction of photons and electrons. QED is a cornerstone of quantum field theory and has been successful in making highly precise predictions about particle interactions.

Paul Dirac (1928): Dirac formulated an equation that combined quantum mechanics with special relativity, predicting the existence of antimatter. His equation described the behavior of electrons with remarkable accuracy and led to the discovery of the positron, the electron’s antiparticle.

Werner Heisenberg (1925): Heisenberg introduced matrix mechanics and the Uncertainty Principle, which stated that the exact position and momentum of an electron cannot be simultaneously measured with arbitrary precision. This principle challenged classical physics and laid the foundation for quantum mechanics. Erwin Schrödinger (1926): Schrödinger developed the wave equation, describing how the quantum state of […]

Niels Bohr (1913): Bohr proposed a new model that incorporated quantum theory. He suggested that electrons orbit the nucleus in fixed energy levels or shells and that they could only gain or lose energy by jumping between these levels. Bohr’s model explained the discrete spectral lines observed in atomic spectra and was crucial in advancing […]

Ernest Rutherford (1911): Rutherford’s gold foil experiment showed that atoms consist of a small, dense nucleus surrounded by orbiting electrons. This model replaced Thomson’s plum pudding model and introduced the concept of a central nucleus. Rutherford’s work established the basic structure of the atom, with electrons orbiting a dense, positively charged nucleus.

J.J. Thomson (1897): Thomson discovered the electron through his experiments with cathode rays. He demonstrated that cathode rays were composed of negatively charged particles, which he initially called “corpuscles.” Thomson’s work provided the first evidence of subatomic particles and led to the development of the “plum pudding” model of the atom, where electrons were thought […]

John Dalton (1803): Dalton proposed the first modern atomic theory, which described atoms as indivisible particles that combine to form compounds. Dalton’s model did not include electrons but laid the groundwork for understanding atomic structure.