Schrödinger equation (wave mechanics)
Ecuación de Schrödinger (mecánica ondulatoria)
- Date
- 1926 · confidence high
- Place
- University of Zurich, Switzerland (conceived in Arosa)
- Credited to
- Erwin Schrödinger
- People
- 👤 Erwin Schrödinger1887–1961
- Field
- Cosmos & Earth
What was discovered
A wave equation for the wave function whose solution gives the energy levels of hydrogen as an eigenvalue problem. It is the central tool of atomic, molecular and solid-state physics.
Conceived during the Christmas holidays of 1925 in Arosa; Schrödinger demonstrated its equivalence with matrix mechanics in 1926.
What it led to
- Quantum chemistry and chemical bonding
- Solid-state physics and semiconductors
- Born's probabilistic interpretation
- Quantum field theory
Built on
- Matrix mechanics1925
- De Broglie's matter waves
- Hamilton's optical-mechanical analogy
Made possible
- Born rule: probabilistic interpretation of the wave function1926
- Dirac equation and the prediction of antimatter1928
- Quantum tunnelling1928
- Ab initio computational chemistry (Pople, Gaussian)1970
- Transistor and semiconductor design
- Laser and magnetic resonance