Ludwig Boltzmann

John Dalton's discoveries in 1808 laid the foundation for the belief in the reality of atoms and molecules, a concept that was later supported by Boltzmann and others.

Ludwig Boltzmann, the renowned physicist and mathematician, was born on February 20, 1844.

At the age of 15, Ludwig Boltzmann lost his father to tuberculosis.

Around 1860, Ludwig Boltzmann built upon James Clerk Maxwell's work on the kinetic theory of gases. He developed the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution to describe molecular speeds in a gas.

In 1863, Ludwig Boltzmann began his physics studies at the University of Vienna, where he was taught by influential figures such as Josef Loschmidt and Joseph Stefan.

In 1865, Ludwig Boltzmann published his work titled "Electricity on Curved Surfaces", which contributed to the field of mathematical physics.

In 1866, Ludwig Boltzmann obtained his doctorate while working under the supervision of Joseph Stefan at the University of Vienna.

In 1869, at the age of 25, Ludwig Boltzmann became a Full Professor in Graz, specializing in Mathematical Physics.

In 1871, Ludwig Boltzmann worked with Gustav Kirchhoff and Hermann von Helmholtz in Berlin, where he experimentally verified an important relationship between the optical and electrical properties of materials.

In 1872, Ludwig Boltzmann proposed the concept of maximum entropy, stating that in a world of mechanically colliding particles, disordered states are the most probable. He argued that systems tend towards a state of maximum disorder due to the vast number of possible disordered states compared to ordered ones.

In 1873, Ludwig Boltzmann was appointed as a Full Professor in Wien, focusing on Mathematics.

In 1875, at the age of 31, Ludwig Boltzmann declined offers of Professorship from Zurich and Freiburg.

In 1876, Ludwig Boltzmann married Henriette von Aigentler, an aspiring teacher of mathematics and physics in Graz. Their marriage was significant as it took place at a time when women were not yet admitted to Austrian universities.

In 1877, Ludwig Boltzmann expanded his theory of entropy beyond Carnot, Clausius, Maxwell, and Kelvin. He demonstrated that entropy is influenced by heat, spatial separation, and radiation.

In 1881, Ludwig Boltzmann collaborated with James Maxwell to develop the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution law, which describes the energy distribution of molecules in a classical gas at a specific temperature. This collaboration was crucial in advancing the field of physics.

In 1884, Ludwig Boltzmann and Josef Stefan published the Stefan-Boltzmann law, which relates the total radiant heat energy emitted from a surface to its absolute temperature. This law has significant implications in thermodynamics.

In 1887, Ludwig Boltzmann and his colleagues in Graz, including Nernst, Streintz, Arrhenius, Hiecke, Aulinger, Ettingshausen, Klemenčič, and Hausmanninger, made significant contributions to the field of physics.

In 1890, Ludwig Boltzmann became a Professor in München, where one of his notable students was the future First President of the University of Osaka, Hantaro.

In 1894, Ludwig Boltzmann succeeded his teacher Joseph Stefan as Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Vienna.

In 1895, at a scientific meeting in Lübeck, Wilhelm Ostwald presented a paper challenging Boltzmann's ideas, stating the existence of processes beyond mechanical equations. Sommerfeld described the intense battle between Ostwald and Boltzmann, with Boltzmann ultimately emerging victorious with his arguments.

In 1897, Ludwig Boltzmann wrote treatises on philosophy, including 'On the question of the objective existence of processes in inanimate nature'. He embraced materialism and referred to his philosophy as such in his work 'On Thesis of Schopenhauer's'.

In 1898, Boltzmann created a diagram showing atomic 'sensitive region' overlap, known as the I2 molecule diagram.

In 1899, Ludwig Boltzmann received the prestigious title of Fellow of the Royal Society.

Max Planck utilized Boltzmann's constant in his Black Body theory of radiation to describe the entropy of the system, leading to the development of his formula in 1900.

In 1901, Ludwig Boltzmann returned to the University of Vienna and resumed his position as the chair of theoretical physics. This marked a significant moment in his career after facing criticism and leaving previous university positions.

In 1902, Ludwig Boltzmann returned to Wien as a Professor, continuing his academic career.

Ludwig Boltzmann passed away in 1903, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most important physicists of the 19th century.

In 1905, Boltzmann published 'Populäre Schriften' where he defended his belief in atomic structure and explained how the physical world could be described by differential equations without representing the underlying atomic structure.

Despite defending his theories, Boltzmann felt overwhelmed by attacks on his work and committed suicide by hanging himself while on holiday with his family. The true cause of his suicide remains uncertain, possibly due to mental illness.

In 1922, Alfred J. Lotka acknowledged Boltzmann as one of the pioneers in proposing that available energy, known as exergy, is a fundamental element in the biological struggle and evolution of the organic world.

Claude Shannon introduced the information entropy definition in 1948, initially intended for communication theory but applicable in various fields. This definition, based on probability and logarithmic connection, offers immediate results without complex calculations, with roots tracing back to the works of Boltzmann and Gibbs.

A book by E. Broda that delves into Ludwig Boltzmann's life, work as a physicist, and philosophical thoughts in 1955.

In 1964, Stephen G. Brush edited and translated 'Boltzmann, Lectures on Gas Theory', a significant work on gas theory by Ludwig Boltzmann.

In 1982, Roman Sexl & John Blackmore published 'Ludwig Boltzmann – Ausgewahlte Abhandlungen', a collection of selected works by Ludwig Boltzmann.

In 1994, Walter Hoeflechner edited 'Boltzmann, Ludwig Boltzmann – Leben und Briefe', a compilation of Ludwig Boltzmann's life and correspondence.

Also in 1995, John Blackmore published 'Ludwig Boltzmann – His Later Life and Philosophy, 1900–1906, Book Two: The Philosopher', focusing on Ludwig Boltzmann's philosophical contributions during his later years.

Carlo Cercignani's book published in 1998, focusing on the life and work of Ludwig Boltzmann, a prominent figure in the field of physics.

In 1999, John Blackmore's work 'Ludwig Boltzmann – Troubled Genius as Philosopher' was featured in Synthese, delving into the complexities of Ludwig Boltzmann's philosophical ideas.

David Lindley wrote a book in 2001 called 'Boltzmann's Atom: The Great Debate' which explores the revolutionary impact of the debate surrounding Boltzmann's atomic theory in physics.

On February 20, 2014, a commemorative plaque was unveiled in honor of Ludwig Boltzmann's 170th birthday at the building where he died.

Olivier Darrigol's book from 2018 delves into Ludwig Boltzmann's work on atoms, mechanics, and probability, providing insights into his statistico-mechanical theories.