Paul Dirac
Predicted antimatter and formulated Dirac equation
Most quoted
"The underlying physical laws necessary for the mathematical theory of a large part of physics and the whole of chemistry are thus completely known, and the difficulty is only that the exact application of these laws leads to equations much too complicated to be soluble. It is the purpose of theoretical physics to show that it is possible to derive, from these equations, the properties of the actual world."
— from Proceedings of the Royal Society, 1929
"The methods of progress in theoretical physics have undergone a vast change during the present century. The classical tradition has been to consider the world to be an association of observable objects (particles, fluids, fields, etc.) moving about according to definite laws of force, so that one could form a mental picture in space and time of the whole scheme."
— from Quantised Singularities in the Electromagnetic Field, 1931
"The most powerful method of advance that can be suggested at present is to employ all the resources of pure mathematics in attempts to perfect and generalise the mathematical formalism that forms the existing basis of theoretical physics, and after each success in this direction, to try to interpret the new mathematical features in terms of physical entities."
— from Quantised Singularities in the Electromagnetic Field, 1931
All quotes by Paul Dirac (692)
The Dirac equation describes the behavior of electrons in relativistic quantum mechanics.
The spin of the electron is a relativistic effect.
The magnetic moment of the electron is also a relativistic effect.
The fine structure of atomic spectra is explained by the Dirac equation.
The Lamb shift is a quantum electrodynamic effect.
The anomalous magnetic moment of the electron is also a quantum electrodynamic effect.
The renormalization procedure is a way of dealing with infinities in quantum field theory.
The standard model of particle physics is a quantum field theory.
The Higgs boson is a fundamental particle in the standard model.
The search for a unified theory of all forces is one of the main goals of modern physics.
The theory of strings is a promising candidate for a unified theory.
The concept of extra dimensions is a feature of string theory.
The multiverse hypothesis is a speculative idea in cosmology.
The anthropic principle is a controversial idea in cosmology.
The future of physics lies in the development of new mathematical ideas.
The role of mathematics in physics is to provide a precise language for describing physical phenomena.
The beauty of a physical theory is a guide to its truth.
The simplicity of a physical theory is also a guide to its truth.
The search for fundamental laws is the ultimate goal of physics.
The universe is a mathematical structure.
Contemporaries of Paul Dirac
Other Physicss born within 50 years of Paul Dirac (1902–1984).