Pascual Jordan

Ernst Pascual Jordan (18 October 1902 – 31 July 1980) was a theoretical and mathematical physicist who made significant contributions to quantum mechanics and quantum field theory. He contributed much to the mathematical form of matrix mechanics, and developed canonical anticommutation relations for fermions. While the Jordan algebra is employed for and is still used in studying the mathematical and conceptual foundations of quantum theory, it has found other mathematical applications.

Family history

An ancestor of Pascual Jordan named Pascual Jorda was a Spanish nobleman and cavalry officer who served with the British during and after the Napoleonic Wars. Jorda eventually settled in Hanover, which in those days was a possession of the British royal family. The family name was eventually changed to Jordan (pronounced in the German manner, [ˈjɔʁdan]). A family tradition dictated that the first-born son in each generation be named Pascual.

Jordan enrolled in the Hanover Technical University in 1921 where he studied an eclectic mix of zoology, mathematics, and physics. As was typical for a German university student of the time, he shifted his studies to another university before obtaining a degree. Göttingen University, his destination in 1923, was then at the very zenith of its prowess and fame in mathematics and the physical sciences. At Göttingen Jordan became an assistant first to mathematician Richard Courant and then to physicist Max Born.

Jordan River

The Jordan River (in traditional English River Jordan) (Hebrew: נְהַר הַיַּרְדֵּן‎ nehar hayarden; Arabic: نَهْر الْأُرْدُنّ‎ nahr al-urdun) is a 251-kilometre (156 mi)-long river in West Asia flowing to the Dead Sea. Israel and the West Bank border the river to the west, while the Golan Heights and Jordan lie to its east. Both Jordan and the West Bank take their names from the river.

The river has a major significance in Judaism and Christianity and, to a more moderate degree, Islam, as the site where the Israelites crossed into the Promised Land and where Jesus of Nazareth was baptised by John the Baptist.

Physical characteristics

Tributaries

The streams coming together to create the River Jordan in its upper basin are, west to east:

Jordan Village, Connecticut

Jordan is a village in the town of Waterford, Connecticut, and the historic center of the town. It was named from the Jordan River. The village was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Jordan Village Historic District in 1990. The district includes 58 contributing buildings and one other contributing site over an area of 57 acres (23 ha). It includes examples of Greek Revival and Queen Anne architectural styles.

Location

Jordan Village is located on land known historically as Jordan Plain, a flat land area at the head of Jordan Cove, an estuary off Long Island Sound. The historic district surrounds the intersection of Rope Ferry Road and North Road.

See also

References

Jordan (Bishop of Poland)

Jordan (died in 982 or 984) was the first Bishop of Poland from 968 with his seat, most probably, in Poznań. He was an Italian or German.

Most evidence shows that he was missionary bishop subordinate directly to the Pope. He arrived in Poland, probably from Italy or the Rhineland, in 966 with Doubravka of Bohemia to baptise Mieszko I of Poland. After the death of Jordan until 992 the throne of the Bishop of Poland was vacant, or there was a bishop of unknown name (the first theory is more probable). His successor, from 992, was Unger.

References