Wolfgang Ernst Pauli (born on April 25, 1900 in Vienna, Austria, to a family of intellectuals) was a distinguished physicist known for his contributions to quantum mechanics, quantum field theory, and elementary particle theory. His scientific career was full of brilliant achievements, notably the famous Pauli incompatibility principle, which had a profound impact on the development of modern physics.
Pauli's father was a professor of physical chemistry at the University of Vienna, and his mother was a pianist. From an early age, Pauli showed a keen interest in science, especially in physics. He began to study physics on his own in secondary school, and after graduating from secondary school in 1918, he entered the University of Munich as a graduate student of the famous physicist Arnold Sommerfeld. Pauli was only 18 years old that year, and his talent was quickly recognized by publishing his first scientific article on the question of the energy component in the gravitational field.
Pauli received his Ph.D. from the University of Munich in 1921 at the age of 21 with a paper on molecular models of hydrogen. Subsequently, he worked as a teaching assistant at Max Born at the University of Göttingen and co-published with Born a book on the application of the theory of celestial perturbation to atomic physics. At the Institute of Theoretical Physics at the University of Copenhagen, Pauli developed a long-term relationship with Niels Bohr, an experience that had an important impact on his scientific career.
From 1923 to 1928, Pauli worked as a lecturer at the University of Hamburg. In 1925, he proposed the Pauli incompatibility principle, one of the four fundamental principles of quantum mechanics, which dictates the arrangement of electrons in atoms and explains the periodicity of chemical elements. The proposal of this principle not only solves many problems in atomic structure, but also lays the foundation for the development of quantum chemistry and solid state physics.
In 1930, Pauli proposed the neutrino hypothesis, which was later proven correct and played a key role in the refinement of the decay theory. In 1935, Pauli fled the Nazi regime, emigrating to the United States and serving as a visiting professor of theoretical physics at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. In 1940, he was hired head of the Department of Theoretical Physics at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.
In 1945, Pauli was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his 1925 proposal of Pauli's principle of incompatibility. This achievement marks international recognition for his place in the physics community. In 1946, Pauli became an American citizen and returned to ETH Zurich in the same year as head of the Department of Theoretical Physics. In 1949, he was granted Swiss citizenship.
In addition, there is an interesting phenomenon in the scientific community called the Pauli effect: Pauli is known for his sharp intuition and fastidious experiments, and it is said that he has a "Pauli effect", that is, when he appears in the laboratory, the equipment tends to malfunction. Once, Pauli attended a celebration when a porcelain vase fell to the ground and shattered as soon as he entered the door. On another occasion, Princeton's cyclotron malfunctioned during his visit. Although these stories may have an element of exaggeration, they reflect Pauli's prestige and influence among his peers.
Pauli had a complicated relationship with Einstein. They are both friends and rivals. Once, while listening to Einstein's speech, Pauli asked some pointed questions that made Einstein feel a little embarrassed. Despite this, Einstein spoke highly of Pauli's talent, calling him the "conscience of physics", and Pauli's godfather was the famous physicist and philosopher Ernst Mach, who had a profound influence on Pauli's conception of science. Mach's positivist philosophy, which emphasized that physical theories must be based on observable phenomena, left a mark on Pauli's scientific career.
Pauli's scientific career was not only marked by great achievements in theoretical research, he was also an outstanding educator. He trained many excellent physicists and had a positive impact on the growth of young scientists. Pauli was respected by his peers for his rigorous scientific attitude, keen insight, and pursuit of truth. His scientific spirit and contributions to physics made him an important figure in the history of physics in the 20th century.
However, Pauli's personal life was not as smooth as his scientific career. He has a complex personality and sometimes appears acerbic and critical, which makes him encounter some challenges in relationships. Nevertheless, his scientific achievements and contributions to physics cannot be denied. Pauli died in Zurich on December 15, 1958, at the age of 58. His death is a great loss to the scientific community, but his theories and discoveries will continue to influence future scientific research.