Ludwig Boltzmann

On atoms and molecules

“Expose what is true; write it clearly. And defend it to the bitter end.” This was the motto of the surprisingly down-to-earth mathematician, physicist and philosopher Ludwig Boltzmann. The multifaceted scholar was the founder of statistical mechanics and paved the way for quantum physics.

Boltzmann was born in Linz in 1844, where he took piano lessons from Anton Bruckner whilst at grammar school. After studying physics and mathematics at the University of Vienna, Boltzmann worked as an assistant to his esteemed professor Josef Stefan. In the years that followed he transferred university several times, lecturing in Graz, Munich and Leipzig and eventually took over his former professor’s chair in Vienna.

Boltzmann’s life’s work was the rethinking of thermodynamics, describing heat as energy spread randomly among atoms and molecules. In doing so he later discovered the Boltzmann constant which refers to the relation of energy and temperature. From 1870 on he was concerned with the problems of aviation trials and advocated and developed the Darwin theory of evolution.

The existence of atoms and molecules was not proven for a long time, although Boltzmann demanded people accept their existence. Many colleagues rejected this atomistic concept. The hostile denunciation of his work led to periods of depression. In September 1906, Boltzmann committed suicide.

Ultimately Boltzmann’s atomism prevailed and significantly influenced 20th century physics and chemistry.