Gerhart Lüders
Encyclopedia
Gerhart Lüders was a German theoretical physicist who worked mainly in quantum field theory
and was well known for the discovery and a general proof of the CPT theorem
. This theorem is also called the Pauli-Lüders theorem and is one of the most fundamental rules of particle physics
.
Lüders received his physics doctorate in 1950 at the University of Hamburg
and his habilitation
degree in 1954 at the University of Göttingen. In the same year, he proved the CPT theorem
in the particular form that for a relativistic quantum field theory the validity of parity invariance necessarily implies the validity of CT invariance. (Wolfgang Pauli
, who like John Bell
formulated this theorem independently of Lüders, gave a little later a more general proof.) With Bruno Zumino
, Lüders in 1958 gave a rigorous proof of the so-called Spin Statistics Theorem and once again a proof of the CPT theorem, this time from general field theoretical axioms of the relativistic quantum field theory. He was from 1957 to 1960 group leader at the Max Planck Institut for physics in Munich (he remained an affiliated member of the institute from 1961) and from 1960 to his retirement in 1982 professor in Göttingen.
Lüders also mathematically investigated the quantum mechanical measurement process and worked on superconductivity
.
He received in 1959 the physics prize of the Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen and in 1966 the Max Planck Medal
. Since 1962 he was a member of the Akademie der Wissenschaften in Göttingen.
Quantum field theory
Quantum field theory provides a theoretical framework for constructing quantum mechanical models of systems classically parametrized by an infinite number of dynamical degrees of freedom, that is, fields and many-body systems. It is the natural and quantitative language of particle physics and...
and was well known for the discovery and a general proof of the CPT theorem
CPT symmetry
CPT symmetry is a fundamental symmetry of physical laws under transformations that involve the inversions of charge, parity, and time simultaneously.-History:...
. This theorem is also called the Pauli-Lüders theorem and is one of the most fundamental rules of 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...
.
Lüders received his physics doctorate in 1950 at the University of Hamburg
University of Hamburg
The University of Hamburg is a university in Hamburg, Germany. It was founded on 28 March 1919 by Wilhelm Stern and others. It grew out of the previous Allgemeines Vorlesungswesen and the Kolonialinstitut as well as the Akademisches Gymnasium. There are around 38,000 students as of the start of...
and 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 1954 at the University of Göttingen. In the same year, he proved the CPT theorem
CPT theorem
In quantum field theory the CPT theorem states that any canonical quantum field theory is invariant under the CPT operation, which is a combination of three discrete transformations: charge conjugation C, parity transformation P, and time reversal T...
in the particular form that for a relativistic quantum field theory the validity of parity invariance necessarily implies the validity of CT invariance. (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...
, who like John Bell
John Stewart Bell
John Stewart Bell FRS was a British physicist from Northern Ireland , and the originator of Bell's theorem, a significant theorem in quantum physics regarding hidden variable theories.- Early life and work :...
formulated this theorem independently of Lüders, gave a little later a more general proof.) With Bruno Zumino
Bruno Zumino
Bruno Zumino is an Italian theoretical physicist and emeritus faculty at the University of California, Berkeley. He got his bachelor degree from the University of Rome in 1945...
, Lüders in 1958 gave a rigorous proof of the so-called Spin Statistics Theorem and once again a proof of the CPT theorem, this time from general field theoretical axioms of the relativistic quantum field theory. He was from 1957 to 1960 group leader at the Max Planck Institut for physics in Munich (he remained an affiliated member of the institute from 1961) and from 1960 to his retirement in 1982 professor in Göttingen.
Lüders also mathematically investigated the quantum mechanical measurement process and worked on superconductivity
Superconductivity
Superconductivity is a phenomenon of exactly zero electrical resistance occurring in certain materials below a characteristic temperature. It was discovered by Heike Kamerlingh Onnes on April 8, 1911 in Leiden. Like ferromagnetism and atomic spectral lines, superconductivity is a quantum...
.
He received in 1959 the physics prize of the Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen and in 1966 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:...
. Since 1962 he was a member of the Akademie der Wissenschaften in Göttingen.