Born

Definition

Born refers to Max Born, a physicist who made significant contributions to the development of quantum mechanics. He is best known for his probabilistic interpretation of the wave function.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Max Born introduced the statistical interpretation of the wave function in quantum mechanics.
2. Born's work laid the foundation for understanding electron behavior in atoms and molecules.
3. He shared the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1954 for his fundamental research in quantum mechanics.
4. The Born approximation is used in scattering theory to simplify complex interactions.
5. Born's interpretation resolved many paradoxes associated with wave-particle duality.

Review Questions

• What was Max Born's main contribution to quantum mechanics?
• In which year did Max Born receive the Nobel Prize in Physics?
• What does the Born approximation simplify in scattering theory?

Related terms

Wave Function: A mathematical description of the quantum state of a system; its absolute square gives the probability density of finding a particle.

Quantum Mechanics: A fundamental theory in physics that describes nature at the smallest scales, such as atomic and subatomic levels.

Probability Density: The likelihood of finding a particle within a given space, derived from the square of the wave function.