Part 1 Schrödinger in Vienna and Zurich 1887–1925

Comments by distinguished physicists on "The Historical Development of Quantum Theory":||"...the most definitive work undertaken by anyone on this vast and most important development in the history of physics. Jagdish Mehra, trained in theoretical physics under Pauli, Heisenberg, and Dirac, pursued the vision of his youth to write about the historical and conceptual development of quantum theory in the 20th century...This series of books on the HDQT has thus become the most authentic and permanent source of our knowledge of how quantum theory, its extensions and applications developed. My heartfelt congratulations."|-Hans A. Bethe, Nobel Laureate||"A thrilling and magnificent achievement!"|-Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, FRS, Nobel Laureate||"...capture(s) precisely, accurately, and thoroughly the very essence and all the fundamental details of the theory, and that is a remarkable achievement...I have greatly enjoyed reading these books and learned so many new things from them. This series of books will remain a permanent source of knowledge about the creation and development of quantum theory. Congratulations!"|-Paul A. Dirac, FRS, Nobel Laureate||"The wealth and accuracy of detail in 'The Historical Development of Quantum Theory' are breathtaking."|-Richard P. Feynman, Nobel Laureate

• Contents—Part 1.- General Introduction.- From the Bohr-Sommerfeld Theory to Quantum Mechanics.- The Göttingen Matrix Mechanics and Its Extensions.- Status of Quantum Mechanics in Early 1926.- Schrödinger’s Work in Physics Prior to 1926.- Schrödinger’s Personality and Method of Work.- Schrödinger and Wave Mechanics.- of this Volume.- I Schrödinger in Vienna (1887–1920).- 1.1 The Viennese Background.- 1.2 The Young Erwin Schrödinger, His Youth and Study at the University of Vienna.- 1.3 The Early Scientific Work of Erwin Schrödinger.- 1.4 From Brilliant Pre-War to Dark War Days.- 1.5 Schrödinger’s Scientific Work in World War I.- II Waves and Quanta: Preludes to Wave Mechanics.- II.1 The Dual Nature of Light.- II.2 The Side-Stages of the Development in Quantum Theory.- II.3 A Newcomer to Zurich: Erwin Schrödinger.- II.4 Atomic Structure and Physiological Optics: General Research.- II.5 Problems and Extensions of Statistical Mechanics.