The Road to Heisenberg Quantum Mechanics

Alberto G. Rojo, Anthony M. Bloch

L. Crivellari

Abstract This paper reviews Ladenburg’s development of the phenomenological theory of radiative transitions between the stationary states of an atom put forward by Einstein in 1917. The historical background as well as the far reaching outcomes of his work are considered and discussed; among them the Kramers–Heisenberg quantum dispersion theory that paved the way to Heisenberg’s formulation of matrix mechanics and the quantum-mechanical calculation of the spectral line profiles.

Mohsen Razavy

Daniel R. Bes

Luis de la Peña, Ana Marı́a Cetto, Andrea Valdés Hernández

Preface.- Quantum Mechanics: questions.- The phenomenological stochastic approach: a short route to quantum mechanics.- The Planck distribution, a necessary consequence of the fluctuating zero-point field.- The long journey to the Schrodinger equation.- The road to Heisenberg quantum mechanics.- Beyond the Schrodinger equation.- Disentangling quantum entanglement.- Causality, locality and entanglement in quantum mechanics.- The zero-point field waves (and) matter.- Quantum mechanics: some answers.- References.- Suggested literature.- Index.

Enrico Giannetto

Compiling a history of quantum mechanics is a very complex undertaking. Many roads have led to quantum theory: Heisenberg with Born and Jordan, Schrodinger, Dirac gave us the most important formulations of quantum mechanics. Another, neglected, historical rise of quantum physics is here considered by outlining the historical context in which different conceptions of Nature (mechanistic, thermodynamic and electromagnetic) were in competition to give a foundation to physics. In particular, the roots of quantum physics within the electromagnetic conception of Nature and Poincare’s quantum electromagnetic mechanics are discussed. This analysis can give a completely new understanding of quantum physics.