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Paul A. M. Dirac, Interview by Friedrich Hund (1982) [video]

53 points by emerongi 20d ago

srean 20d ago
https://saemiller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/1A934B69-170C-4BDB-BDDB-573D8C9C116E-768x531.jpeg https://saemiller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/1A934B69-17... One of my favorite photographs. It captures their characters so well.
rramadass 20d ago
Nice; the quintessential Theoretical/Mathematical Physicist! The Strangest Man: The Hidden Life of Paul Dirac, Quantum Genius - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Strangest_Man https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Strangest_Man Paul Dirac Quotes - https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Paul_Dirac https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Paul_Dirac Read his lecture/essay; The Relation between Mathematics and Physics by Paul Dirac - https://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/events/strings02/dirac/speach.html https://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/events/strings02/dirac/speach.ht... Wikipedia also has a nice general overview; Relationship between Mathematics and Physics - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relationship_between_mathematics_and_physics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relationship_between_mathemati...
signa11 20d ago
aside: for feynman, mr. oppenheimer said "he is a second Dirac, only this time human".
- amai 19d ago
  Both were pretty neurodivergent. Dirac had Autism and Feynman probably Autism + ADHD .
  - deleted 17d ago
    [deleted]
- skew-aberration 18d ago
  It is a shame to think that people might be aware of Dirac only through reference to Feynman, whose greatest works extended Dirac's own original breakthroughs. He has been rightly likened instead to Einstein for the brilliance and creativity of his contributions. Dirac created much of the foundations, modern formalisms, and mathematical tools of (especially relativistic) QM and also wrote the best textbook on the subject.
amai 19d ago
Dirac: "Yes, that is so."
- rramadass 17d ago
  "There is no God and Dirac is his Prophet". -- Wolfgang Pauli.
meken 18d ago
I recently watched the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, where they make reference to a Dirac Sea [1]. It seemed very magical/trippy/cool. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirac_sea https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirac_sea
bigmattystyles 18d ago
Are the two middle initials necessary? Any other notable Paul Dirac's?

53 points by emerongi 20d ago

srean 20d ago

https://saemiller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/1A934B69-170C-4BDB-BDDB-573D8C9C116E-768x531.jpeg https://saemiller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/1A934B69-17... One of my favorite photographs. It captures their characters so well.

rramadass 20d ago

Nice; the quintessential Theoretical/Mathematical Physicist! The Strangest Man: The Hidden Life of Paul Dirac, Quantum Genius - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Strangest_Man https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Strangest_Man Paul Dirac Quotes - https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Paul_Dirac https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Paul_Dirac Read his lecture/essay; The Relation between Mathematics and Physics by Paul Dirac - https://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/events/strings02/dirac/speach.html https://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/events/strings02/dirac/speach.ht... Wikipedia also has a nice general overview; Relationship between Mathematics and Physics - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relationship_between_mathematics_and_physics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relationship_between_mathemati...

signa11 20d ago

aside: for feynman, mr. oppenheimer said "he is a second Dirac, only this time human".

amai 19d ago
Both were pretty neurodivergent. Dirac had Autism and Feynman probably Autism + ADHD .
- deleted 17d ago
  [deleted]
skew-aberration 18d ago
It is a shame to think that people might be aware of Dirac only through reference to Feynman, whose greatest works extended Dirac's own original breakthroughs. He has been rightly likened instead to Einstein for the brilliance and creativity of his contributions. Dirac created much of the foundations, modern formalisms, and mathematical tools of (especially relativistic) QM and also wrote the best textbook on the subject.

amai 19d ago

Dirac: "Yes, that is so."

rramadass 17d ago
"There is no God and Dirac is his Prophet". -- Wolfgang Pauli.

meken 18d ago

I recently watched the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, where they make reference to a Dirac Sea [1]. It seemed very magical/trippy/cool. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirac_sea https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirac_sea

bigmattystyles 18d ago

Are the two middle initials necessary? Any other notable Paul Dirac's?