Matrix Mechanics Mis-Prized: Max Born’s Belated Nobelization

Matrix Mechanics Mis-Prized: Max Born’s Belated Nobelization

John L. Heilbron, Carlo Rovelli
The Centre de Physique Théorique – UMR 7332 – CNRS and Aix-Marseille Université and Université de Toulon & The University of Western Ontario and Rotman Institute for Philosophy & Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics

Preprint

ABSTRACT

We examine evaluations of the contributions of Matrix Mechanics and Max Born to the formulation of quantum mechanics from Heisenberg's Helgoland paper of 1925 to Born's Nobel Prize of 1954. We point out that the process of evaluation is continuing in the light of recent interpretations of the theory that deemphasize the importance of the wave function.