College Physics ›› 2025, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (11): 91-.doi: 10.16854/j.cnki.1000-0712.250099

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Einstein in the history of quantum physics in the 20th Century (1) Different creation mode from Dirac—a question worth thinking  and commenting on

ZHAO Song-nian1,YU Yun-xian2,WANG Chuan3   

  1. 1. Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029; 
    2. Disaster Reduction Center, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing 100029; 
    3. School of Artificial Intelligence, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
  • Received:2025-02-27 Revised:2025-03-28 Online:2026-01-19 Published:2026-01-21

Abstract: In the early 20th century, Einstein and Pauli, Heisenberg, Schrodinger, de Broglie, Bonn, Jordan and other quantum elites together, made outstanding contributions to the establishment of quantum theory, he believes that these elites are the founders of quantum mechanics, affirmed its achievements, nominated them for the Nobel Prize in physics candidates many times; Although Dirac made significant contributions to the combination of quantum mechanics and relativity, and the physics community has been recognized as a great scientist on a par with Newton, Maxwell and Einstein, his prediction of the existence of antimatter, especially positrons, caused skepticism and fierce opposition from many theoretical and experimental physicists, including Einstein. Einstein also did not regard Dirac as the founder of quantum mechanics, Dirac and Einstein were in this period, but the two people had no intersection in scientific activities and academic exchanges, in addition to Dirac’s personality of silence, poor communication, and precious words, Einstein did not recognize Dirac’s major research results. He was never nominated for the Nobel Prize in Physics. From the perspective of the history of quantum physics, the author thinks that Einstein and Dirac have made significant achievements, but their research process shows significant and different creative modes, including growth environment, knowledge background and scientific research experience. Even if they are similar in advocating the beauty of science, there are deep differences. In fact, this is the main reason, therefore, this paper intends to focus on the two scientists’ different creation modes, think and discuss, analyze why Einstein opposed and delayed the development of quantum mechanics, especially analyze and compare the differences and advantages and disadvantages of these two different creation modes in mathematical reasoning. It is hoped that some novel results will be derived from this, which will be beneficial to the readers.

Key words: Nobel Prize, Nomination, Quantum elite, Intersection, Creative mode