Markus Fierz
Encyclopedia
Markus Eduard Fierz was a Swiss physicist, particularly remembered for his formulation of Spin-statistics theorem
, and for his contributions to the development of quantum theory
, particle physics
, and statistical mechanics
. He was awarded the Max Planck Medal
in 1979 and the Albert Einstein Medal
in 1989 for all his work.
Fierz's father was a chemist with Geigy and later a professor at Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETH Zurich). Fierz studied at the Realgymnasium in Zurich. In 1931 he began his studies in Göttingen
, where he listened to the lectures of such luminaries as Hermann Weyl
. In 1933 he returned to Zurich and studied physics at ETH under Wolfgang Pauli
and Gregor Wentzel
. In 1936 he earned a doctoral degree with his thesis on the infrared catastrophe in quantum electrodynamics. Afterward he went to Werner Heisenberg in Leipzig
and in 1936 became an assistant to Wolfgang Pauli in Zurich. For his habilitation
degree in 1939 he treated in his thesis relativistic fields with arbitrary spins (with and without mass) and proved the Spin-statistics theorem for free fields. For quantum electrodynamics the work was extended . The work on relativistic fields with arbitrary spins was later important in supergravity. In 1940 he became Privatdozent
in Basel and 1943 assistant professor. From 1944 to 1959 he was a professor for theoretical physics in Basel. In 1950 he was at the Institute for Advanced Study
in Princeton
, where he met Res Jost
. In 1959 he led the theoretical physics department at CERN
in Geneva
for one year and in 1960 he became the successor of his teacher Pauli at ETH. In 1977 he retired there as an emeritus professor. Fierz also worked on gravitational theory but published only one paper on the subject.
In 1940 he married Menga Biber; they became acquainted through making music (he played the violin). Their marriage produced two sons.
Spin-statistics theorem
In quantum mechanics, the spin-statistics theorem relates the spin of a particle to the particle statistics it obeys. The spin of a particle is its intrinsic angular momentum...
, and for his contributions to the development of quantum theory
Quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and matter. It departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic...
, particle physics
Particle physics
Particle physics is a branch of physics that studies the existence and interactions of particles that are the constituents of what is usually referred to as matter or radiation. In current understanding, particles are excitations of quantum fields and interact following their dynamics...
, and statistical mechanics
Statistical mechanics
Statistical mechanics or statistical thermodynamicsThe terms statistical mechanics and statistical thermodynamics are used interchangeably...
. He was awarded the Max Planck Medal
Max Planck medal
The Max Planck medal is an award for extraordinary achievements in theoretical physics. It is awarded annually by the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft , the world's largest organization of physicists.-List of recipients:...
in 1979 and the Albert Einstein Medal
Albert Einstein Medal
The Albert Einstein Medal is an award presented by the Albert Einstein Society in Bern. First given in 1979, the award is presented to people who have "rendered outstanding services" in connection with Albert Einstein each year.- Recipients :...
in 1989 for all his work.
Fierz's father was a chemist with Geigy and later a professor at Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETH Zurich). Fierz studied at the Realgymnasium in Zurich. In 1931 he began his studies in Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
, where he listened to the lectures of such luminaries as Hermann Weyl
Hermann Weyl
Hermann Klaus Hugo Weyl was a German mathematician and theoretical physicist. Although much of his working life was spent in Zürich, Switzerland and then Princeton, he is associated with the University of Göttingen tradition of mathematics, represented by David Hilbert and Hermann Minkowski.His...
. In 1933 he returned to Zurich and studied physics at ETH under Wolfgang Pauli
Wolfgang Pauli
Wolfgang Ernst Pauli was an Austrian theoretical physicist and one of the pioneers of quantum physics. In 1945, after being nominated by Albert Einstein, he received the Nobel Prize in Physics for his "decisive contribution through his discovery of a new law of Nature, the exclusion principle or...
and Gregor Wentzel
Gregor Wentzel
Gregor Wentzel was a German physicist known for development of quantum mechanics. Wentzel, Hendrik Kramers, and Léon Brillouin developed the Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin approximation in 1926...
. In 1936 he earned a doctoral degree with his thesis on the infrared catastrophe in quantum electrodynamics. Afterward he went to Werner Heisenberg in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
and in 1936 became an assistant to Wolfgang Pauli in Zurich. For his habilitation
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
degree in 1939 he treated in his thesis relativistic fields with arbitrary spins (with and without mass) and proved the Spin-statistics theorem for free fields. For quantum electrodynamics the work was extended . The work on relativistic fields with arbitrary spins was later important in supergravity. In 1940 he became Privatdozent
Privatdozent
Privatdozent or Private lecturer is a title conferred in some European university systems, especially in German-speaking countries, for someone who pursues an academic career and holds all formal qualifications to become a tenured university professor...
in Basel and 1943 assistant professor. From 1944 to 1959 he was a professor for theoretical physics in Basel. In 1950 he was at the Institute for Advanced Study
Institute for Advanced Study
The Institute for Advanced Study, located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States, is an independent postgraduate center for theoretical research and intellectual inquiry. It was founded in 1930 by Abraham Flexner...
in Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, where he met Res Jost
Res Jost
Res Jost in Zurich) was a Swiss theoretical physicist, who worked mainly in constructive quantum field theory.-Life and work:...
. In 1959 he led the theoretical physics department at CERN
CERN
The European Organization for Nuclear Research , known as CERN , is an international organization whose purpose is to operate the world's largest particle physics laboratory, which is situated in the northwest suburbs of Geneva on the Franco–Swiss border...
in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
for one year and in 1960 he became the successor of his teacher Pauli at ETH. In 1977 he retired there as an emeritus professor. Fierz also worked on gravitational theory but published only one paper on the subject.
In 1940 he married Menga Biber; they became acquainted through making music (he played the violin). Their marriage produced two sons.
Publications
- M. Fierz, Helv. Phys. Acta 12 (1939) 3
- M. Fierz and W. Pauli, ’On relativistic wave-equations for particles of arbitrary spin in an electromagnetic field’, Proc. Roy. Soc. A 173 (1939) 221
- M. Fierz, ’Zur Theorie der Multipolstrahlung’, Helv. Phys. Acta 22 (1949) 489
- M. Fierz, Helv. Phys. Acta 29 (1956) 128 .
- M. Fierz, ’Spinors’, in Proceedings of the International Conference on Relativistic Theories of Gravitation, London, July 1965, H. Bondi ed., Kings College, University of London, 1965 .
- M. Fierz, ’Warum gibt es keine magnetischen Ladungen?’, Helv. Phys. Acta 37 (1964) 663
- M. Fierz, ’Die unit ¨aren Darstellungen der homogenen Lorentzgruppe’, in ”Preludes in theoretical physics”, in honor of V. F. Weisskopf, A. de-Shalit, H. Feshbach and L. van Hove eds., North Holland, Amsterdam, 1966
- M. Fierz, Vorlesungen zur Entwicklungsgeschichte der Mechanik. Springer 1972