Cartesian Approach to Developing the Foundations of Quantum Physics

Abstract

In 1900, Planck presented an equation that became fundamental to quantum physics and paved the way for interpreting the nature of radiation. However, in a 1911 article where he attempted to theoretically justify this equation, some errors might have been introduced. In this paper, Planck proposed that the central concept in quantum physics is the quantum of action, which diminished the significance of the energy quantum. Many researchers argue that this approach was flawed, as it contradicted the foundational ideas he introduced in 1900, termed the “quantum hypothesis.”