Quanta and quantum mechanics 1911 to 1926
This lecture traces the tortuous route to the discovery of quantum mechanics from the gradual acceptance of the concept of quanta at the first Solvay conference of 1911 to the formulation of the theory in its reasonably final form by 1926. The complex mixture of brilliant experiments and early quantum theoretical ideas is traced, the emphasis being upon the timeline of experimental discoveries and theoretical insights. The story culminates in the remarkable efforts of Heisenberg, Born, Schrodinger and Dirac in creating the new quantum mechanics. Heisenberg’s great but ‘poor’ paper (his own words) will be reviewed, highlighting just how much he got right. The full story is contained in my book Quantum Concepts in Physics.
About the speaker
Malcolm Longair is Jacksonian Professor Emeritus of Natural Philosophy and Director of Development Emeritus, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge. He was appointed the ninth Astronomer Royal of Scotland in 1980, as well as Regius Professor of Astronomy, University of Edinburgh and the director of the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh. He was head of the Cavendish Laboratory from 1997 to 2005. He began the plans to rebuild the Cavendish Laboratory in 2002 – the major new state-of-the-art building, the Ray Dolby Centre, was opened in June 2025, completing the move of the Laboratory to its new premises. He has served on and chaired many international committees, boards and panels, working with both NASA and ESA. His main research interests are in high-energy astrophysics, astrophysical cosmology, and the history of physics and astrophysics. The third editions of his books, Theoretical concepts in physics was published in 2020 and Galaxy formation in 2003. His book on the discovery of Quantum Mechanics, Quantum Concepts in Physics was published in 2013.
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