TY - JOUR
T1 - From canonical transformations to transformation theory, 1926-1927
T2 - The road to Jordan's Neue Begründung
AU - Duncan, Anthony
AU - Janssen, Michel
PY - 2009/12
Y1 - 2009/12
N2 - We sketch the development from matrix mechanics as formulated in the Dreimännerarbeit of Born, Heisenberg, and Jordan, completed in late 1925, to transformation theory developed independently by Jordan and Dirac in late 1926. Focusing on Jordan, we distinguish three strands in this development: the implementation of canonical transformations in matrix mechanics (the main focus of our paper), the clarification of the relation between the different forms of the new quantum theory (matrix mechanics, wave mechanics, q-numbers, and operator calculus), and the generalization of Born's probability interpretation of the Schrödinger wave function. These three strands come together in a two-part paper by Jordan published in 1927, "On a new foundation [neue Begründung] of quantum mechanics.".
AB - We sketch the development from matrix mechanics as formulated in the Dreimännerarbeit of Born, Heisenberg, and Jordan, completed in late 1925, to transformation theory developed independently by Jordan and Dirac in late 1926. Focusing on Jordan, we distinguish three strands in this development: the implementation of canonical transformations in matrix mechanics (the main focus of our paper), the clarification of the relation between the different forms of the new quantum theory (matrix mechanics, wave mechanics, q-numbers, and operator calculus), and the generalization of Born's probability interpretation of the Schrödinger wave function. These three strands come together in a two-part paper by Jordan published in 1927, "On a new foundation [neue Begründung] of quantum mechanics.".
KW - Canonical transformations
KW - Fritz London
KW - Pascual Jordan
KW - Transformation theory
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=71849099663&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1016/j.shpsb.2009.07.001
DO - 10.1016/j.shpsb.2009.07.001
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:71849099663
SN - 1355-2198
VL - 40
SP - 352
EP - 362
JO - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B - Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics
JF - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B - Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics
IS - 4
ER -