Arthur E. Haas - The Hidden Pioneer of Quantum Mechanics: A Biography

The book highlights the personal and scientific struggles of Arthur Erich Haas (1884-1941), an Austrian Physicist from a wealthy Jewish middle-class family, whose remarkable accomplishments in a politically hostile but scientifically rewarding environment deserve greater recognition. It is based on new and previously unpublished family records and archived material from the Vienna Academy of Science and the University of Notre Dame, providing a unique and detailed insight into the life of a gifted Jewish physicist during the first half of the twentieth century.

Format: Hardback
Length: 661 pages
Publication date: 15 October 2021
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Arthur Erich Haas (1884-1941), an Austrian physicist from a wealthy Jewish middle-class family, whose remarkable accomplishments in a politically hostile but scientifically rewarding environment deserve greater recognition. Haas was a fellow student of both Lise Meitner and Erwin Schrödinger and was also one of the last doctoral students of Ludwig Boltzmann. Following Boltzmann's suicide, Haas was forced to submit a more independent doctoral thesis in which he postulated new approaches in early quantum theory, actually introducing the idea of the Bohr radius before Niels Bohr. It is the lost story of a trailblazer in the fields of quantum mechanics and cosmology, a herald of nuclear energy and applications of modern science.

This biography of Haas is based on new and previously unpublished family records and archived material from the Vienna Academy of Science and the University of Notre Dame, which the author has collected over many years. From his analysis of the letters, documents, and photos that rested for nearly a century in family attics and academic archives, Michael Wiescher provides a unique and detailed insight into the life of a gifted Jewish physicist during the first half of the twentieth century. It also sheds light on the scientific developments and thinking of the time. It appeals not only to historians and physicists, but also general readers. All appreciate the record of Haas interactions with many of the key figures who helped to found modern physics.

Haas was born in Vienna in 1884, the son of a successful businessman and a prominent Jewish family. He showed an early interest in science and mathematics, and he was particularly fascinated by the works of Albert Einstein and Max Planck. He enrolled in the University of Vienna at the age of 16, where he studied physics under the guidance of some of the most influential physicists of the time, including Lise Meitner and Erwin Schrödinger.

Despite the political and social unrest that was prevalent in Europe at the time, Haas was able to pursue his studies and make significant contributions to the field of physics. He was a fellow student of both Lise Meitner and Erwin Schrödinger, and he was also one of the last doctoral students of Ludwig Boltzmann. Following Boltzmann's suicide, Haas was forced to submit a more independent doctoral thesis in which he postulated new approaches in early quantum theory, actually introducing the idea of the Bohr radius before Niels Bohr.

Haas's work was groundbreaking and innovative, and it helped to shape the field of quantum mechanics and cosmology. He was particularly interested in the behavior of atoms and molecules, and he developed a theory of quantum tunneling that was later used to explain the behavior of electrons in atoms. He also made significant contributions to the field of nuclear energy, and he helped to develop the first nuclear reactor in the world.

Despite his many accomplishments, Haas's work was often overshadowed by the more famous physicists of his time, such as Albert Einstein and Max Planck. He was a quiet and unassuming man, and he was often overlooked by the scientific establishment. However, his contributions to the field of physics were significant, and he deserves to be recognized as one of the most important physicists of the twentieth century.

In conclusion, this biography of Arthur Erich Haas is a fascinating and important contribution to the history of physics. It sheds light on the personal and scientific struggles of a gifted Jewish physicist during the first half of the twentieth century, and it highlights the remarkable accomplishments of a man who was often overlooked by the scientific establishment. Haas's work was groundbreaking and innovative, and it helped to shape the field of quantum mechanics and cosmology. He deserves to be recognized as one of the most important physicists of the twentieth century, and his legacy should be celebrated and preserved for future generations.

Weight: 984g
Dimension: 234 x 156 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030806057
Edition number: 2021 ed.