Paul Ehrenfest (1880 to 1933) was an Austrian theoretical physicist whose work sits where statistical mechanics meets quantum theory. He studied in Vienna, where he took courses from Ludwig Boltzmann on kinetic theory, and he later became a professor at Leiden. His contributions include the theory of phase transitions, now associated with his name, and the Ehrenfest theorem. He befriended Albert Einstein during a visit to Prague in 1912, and Leiden became a place where Einstein was a frequent guest. Depression marked his last years, and in 1933 he took his own life after killing his disabled son Wassik.
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Source Paul Ehrenfest (Wikipedia)
Mentored By
Source MacTutor History of Mathematics: Paul Ehrenfest (MacTutor)
Principal Result
Source Paul Ehrenfest (Wikipedia)
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Source Ehrenfest theorem, Wikipedia
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Source Paul Ehrenfest (Wikipedia)Lead, nationalityQuote, Lead, nationality
was an Austrian theoretical physicist
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1. Paul Ehrenfest (Wikipedia)
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18 January 1880
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He befriended Albert Einstein on a visit to Prague in 1912
Lead, nationality
was an Austrian theoretical physicist
In Branch: Mathematical Physics, Lead, field
an Austrian theoretical physicist who made major contributions to statistical mechanics and its relation to quantum mechanics
Principal Result: Ehrenfest Theorem, Lead, Ehrenfest theorem
including the theory of phase transition and the Ehrenfest theorem
View the SourceMacTutor History of Mathematics: Paul Ehrenfest (MacTutor)
MacTutor History of MathematicsMentored By: Ludwig Boltzmann, Biography, doctorate in ViennaQuote, Mentored By: Ludwig Boltzmann, Biography, doctorate in Vienna
under Boltzmann 's supervision
Ehrenfest theorem, Wikipedia
Proofs Credited: Ehrenfest Theorem, Lead sentenceQuote, Proofs Credited: Ehrenfest Theorem, Lead sentence
The Ehrenfest theorem, named after Austrian theoretical physicist Paul Ehrenfest, relates the time derivative of the expectation values of the position and momentum operators x and p to the expectation value of the force F = − V ′ ( x ) {\displaystyle F=-V'(x)} on a massive particle moving in a scalar potential V ( x ) {\displaystyle V(x)} , The Ehrenfest theorem is a special case of a more general relation between the expectation of any quantum mechanical operator and the expectation of the commutator of that operator with the Hamiltonian of the system where A is some quantum mechanical operator and ⟨A⟩ is its expectation value.
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