Timeline of quantum mechanics

The timeline of quantum mechanics is a list of key events in the history of quantum mechanics, quantum field theories and quantum chemistry.

The initiation of quantum science occurred in 1900,^[1]^[2]^[3] originating from the problem of the oscillator beginning during the mid-19th century.^[4]

^ Arvind, Arvind; Dorai, Kavita; Chaturvedi, Subhash (October 2018). "The Development of Quantum Mechanics: A Story of People, Places and Philosophies". Resonance. 23 (10). doi:10.1007/s12045-018-0715-y. It is generally agreed that the major advances in physics during the 20th century are special relativity in 1905, general relativity in 1915, and the quantum theory and quantum mechanics over the years 1900
^ Eren Volkan Küçük (2025). "The Birth of Quantum Mechanics: A Historical Study Through the Canonical Papers". arXiv:2503.13630 [physics.hist-ph]. This paper explores the historical development of the theory of quantum mechanics between 1900 and 1927 by chronological examination of the foundational papers and ideas. Beginning with Planck
^ Gearhart, Clayton (25 July 2009). "Quantum Theory, Early Period (1900–1913)". In Greenberger, Daniel; Hentschel, Klaus; Weinert, Friedel (eds.). Compendium of Quantum Physics (1 ed.). Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer (published 2009). arXiv:0811.2516. Bibcode:2009cqp..book.....G. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-70626-7. ISBN 978-3-540-70626-7. Retrieved 29 May 2025 – via Qwant. The quantum made its first tentative appearance in physics in 1900, in Max Planck's (1858–1947) work
^ Omnès, Roland (28 March 1999). "1 The Discovery of Plank's Constant". Understanding Quantum Mechanics (1 ed.). 41 William Street, Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press (published 1999). p. 4. ISBN 0691004358. Retrieved 29 May 2025 – via Google Scholar. The first period in the history of quantum mechanics concerns the problem of the oscillator, which began in the middle of the nineteenth century, reached an apex in 1900, and was practically solved by 1911.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)

[1] Arvind, Arvind; Dorai, Kavita; Chaturvedi, Subhash (October 2018). "The Development of Quantum Mechanics: A Story of People, Places and Philosophies". Resonance. 23 (10). doi:10.1007/s12045-018-0715-y. It is generally agreed that the major advances in physics during the 20th century are special relativity in 1905, general relativity in 1915, and the quantum theory and quantum mechanics over the years 1900

[2] Eren Volkan Küçük (2025). "The Birth of Quantum Mechanics: A Historical Study Through the Canonical Papers". arXiv:2503.13630 [physics.hist-ph]. This paper explores the historical development of the theory of quantum mechanics between 1900 and 1927 by chronological examination of the foundational papers and ideas. Beginning with Planck

[3] Gearhart, Clayton (25 July 2009). "Quantum Theory, Early Period (1900–1913)". In Greenberger, Daniel; Hentschel, Klaus; Weinert, Friedel (eds.). Compendium of Quantum Physics (1 ed.). Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer (published 2009). arXiv:0811.2516. Bibcode:2009cqp..book.....G. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-70626-7. ISBN 978-3-540-70626-7. Retrieved 29 May 2025 – via Qwant. The quantum made its first tentative appearance in physics in 1900, in Max Planck's (1858–1947) work

[4] Omnès, Roland (28 March 1999). "1 The Discovery of Plank's Constant". Understanding Quantum Mechanics (1 ed.). 41 William Street, Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press (published 1999). p. 4. ISBN 0691004358. Retrieved 29 May 2025 – via Google Scholar. The first period in the history of quantum mechanics concerns the problem of the oscillator, which began in the middle of the nineteenth century, reached an apex in 1900, and was practically solved by 1911.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)

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