| 1927: Uprising of workers in Vienna | Le
Corbusier as architect of the new functionalism | Charles Lindbergh: first
nonstop solo transatlantic flight | Slowfox dance |
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The International Conferences on Physics |
1927 was notable for an intense discussion between Werner
Heisenberg, Niels Bohr and Wolfgang Pauli on the "Lösung des
Quantenrätsels", as Pauli called it in a letter to Bohr. At the
International Conferences on Physics in Como and Brussels, the new results were
presented for the first time in public. Pauli was very keen to participate
actively in both conferences.
From 11th to 20th September 1927 in Como, an International
Conference on Physics was held to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the
death of Alessandro Volta. Niels Bohr presented his idea of complementarity to
an illustrious gathering. In the discussion, Max Born, Hendrik Kramers, Werner Heisenberg,
Enrico Fermi and Wolfgang Pauli gave their comments on
his paper. |
"The comic conference"
Photograph of Wolfgang Pauli, Werner Heisenberg and Enrico Fermi taken in September 1927 on the lake of Como.
© CERN, Geneva |
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Albert Einstein and Wolfgang Pauli in Leiden.
Photograph taken by Paul Ehrenfest in 1926.
© CERN, Geneva |
Shortly afterwards, from 24th to 29th October 1927
in Brussels, the fifth Solvay Conference took place, to which Pauli was invited
for the first time. This conference was notable for arguments between Bohr and
Einstein over the "Kopenhagener Deutung" of the quantum theory. The numerous
contributions to the discussion by the young Pauli demonstrate his
self-confidence and the influence he had gained meanwhile in the scientific
community. Werner Heisenberg said on the matter:
"The discussions
between Bohr and Einstein dominated the conference and although Einstein could
not be convinced that the new interpretation of the quantum theory was
satisfactory in all respects, Einstein finally had to admit that it was
self-consistent and free from contradictions. Pauli also contributed decisively
to the results of this conference, in which he frequently rose to speak".
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The Solvay Conferences |
| These conferences were initiated by the Belgian industrialist
Ernest Solvay (1838-1922), who created in Brussels a forum for the discussion
of current physical problems. The first "scientific synode" to which selected
prominent researchers were invited, took place in 1911 and was dedicated to
current questions of molecular and kinetic theory. The successful concept of
gathering together a limited number of high-ranking physicists to discuss a
certain topic was resumed after World War One. From 1921 to 1933, conferences
were held regularly every three years, at first at the Institute of Physiology
and from 1930 at the Université Libre in Brussels. Pauli participated in
all the conferences from 1927 up to his death in 1958. |
Participants of the 5th Congress of Solvay in Bruxelles, 1927.
© Instituts Internationaux de Physique et de Chimie, Bruxelles |
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