Biography:Walter Heitler: Difference between revisions

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Latest revision as of 23:03, 24 May 2026


Walter Heitler
Walter Heitler
Walter Heitler
Born 2 January 1904
Karlsruhe, German Empire
Died 15 November 1981
Zurich, Switzerland


Known for Heitler-London theory; valence bond theory; quantum electrodynamics

Walter Heinrich Heitler (2 January 1904 - 15 November 1981) was a German-Irish theoretical physicist. With Fritz London, he developed one of the first quantum-mechanical treatments of the chemical bond, now known as the Heitler-London theory.

Quantum chemistry

The Heitler-London treatment of the hydrogen molecule showed how electron exchange and wave-function symmetry could explain covalent bonding. It became a foundation for valence bond theory and helped bring chemistry into the framework of quantum mechanics.

Heitler is linked in the Quantum Collection with:

Quantum field theory

Heitler also worked in quantum electrodynamics and wrote influential texts on radiation theory. His work helped connect atomic, molecular, and field-theoretic approaches to quantum physics.

See also

References



Author: Harold Foppele