The Quantum Revolution
Delve into Einstein's revolutionary but contentious work on quantum theory—from the photoelectric effect to his philosophical objections to the Copenhagen interpretation.
One of Einstein's most influential moments was his explanation of the photoelectric effect in 1905. He proposed that light consisted of discrete bundles of energy called "quanta," which directly challenged the prevailing wave theory of light. This concept earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 and laid the foundation for quantum mechanics.
However, Einstein grew increasingly uncomfortable with the implications of quantum theory, particularly the Copenhagen interpretation, and famously declared: "God does not play dice with the universe." This led to heated debates with contemporaries like Niels Bohr, Erwin Schrödinger, and Werner Heisenberg.
Einstein's letters (available in this collection) reveal his philosophical disagreements with quantum theory and his attempts to develop a unified theory that would reconcile relativity with quantum principles—a quest he pursued for the rest of his life.
Key Moments in Einstein's Quantum Journey
Photoelectric Effect
In one of his four "Annus Mirabilis" papers, Einstein proposed the idea of light quanta, a concept that fundamentally changed our understanding of light and led to the development of quantum physics.
Explore the exhibitSolvay Conference
Einstein famously challenged the Copenhagen interpretation at the Fifth Solvay Conference. His deep concerns about the randomness inherent in quantum mechanics and the lack of deterministic laws fueled one of the most significant scientific debates of the 20th century.
Recreate the debateEPR Paradox
In the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) paradox, Einstein, Boris Podolsky, and Nathan Rosen argued that quantum mechanics is incomplete and must be supplemented by hidden variables to produce a full theory.
Explore the letter