Pauli effect 25018 221723682 2008-06-25T20:18:44Z 152.131.8.131 /* History */ The '''Pauli effect''' is a [[tongue-in-cheek]] reference to the apparently mysterious failure of technical equipment in the presence of certain people, particularly [[Theoretical physics|theoretical physicists]]. It is named after the [[Austria|Austrian]] theoretical physicist [[Wolfgang Pauli]]. The Pauli effect is not to be confused with the [[Pauli exclusion principle]], which is a [[good faith|bona fide]] physical phenomenon. ==History== Since the 20th century, the work of [[physics]] research has been divided between theorists and experimentalists (see [[scientific method]]). Only a few physicists, such as [[Enrico Fermi|Fermi]], have been successful in both roles. Lacking skill and experience in experimental work, many theorists have earned a reputation for accidentally breaking experimental equipment. Pauli was exceptional in this regard: it was said that he was such a good theorist that any experiments would self-destruct simply because he was in the vicinity. For fear of the Pauli effect, the German-American experimental physicist [[Otto Stern]] banned Pauli from his laboratory despite their friendship. An incident occurred in a physics laboratory at the [[University of Göttingen]]. An expensive measuring device, for no apparent reason, suddenly stopped working. Obviously, the head of the research group concluded, they had fallen victim to the Pauli effect; but, as someone countered, Pauli was on his way to [[Zürich]], so that was not possible. When this story was related to Pauli, though, Pauli recalled that at that moment he had indeed been in [[Göttingen]] — waiting for a connection at the train station just down the street. The Pauli effect, if it were real, would be classified as a "macro-[[psychokinesis|psychokinetic]]" phenomenon. Wolfgang Pauli, however, was (according to his biographer Enz) convinced that the effect named after him was real — [[Markus Fierz]], a close colleague, says "Pauli himself thoroughly believed in his effect".<ref name="Enz2002-150">Enz (2002), p. 150.</ref> As Pauli considered [[parapsychology]] as worth serious investigation, this would fit with his [[scientific method|scientific thinking]]. In February 1950, when he was at [[Princeton University]], the [[cyclotron]] burnt, and he asked himself if this mischief belonged to such a Pauli effect, named after him.<ref name="">{{cite book |title=Wissenschaftlicher Briefwechsel mit Bohr, Einstein, Heisenberg, u.a. |publisher=Springer |location=Berlin |first=Wolfgang |last=Pauli |coauthors=et al |others=ed. Karl von Meyenn |year=1996 |volume=vol. 4/I |pages=p. 37 |isbn=3540594426 |oclc=36847539}}</ref> The Pauli effect at the foundation of the C.G. Jung Institute, Zürich 1948,, caused Pauli to write his article "Background-Physics", in which he tries to find complementary relationships between physics and [[depth psychology]].<ref name="meier2001-179">{{cite book |title=Atom and Archetype: the Pauli/Jung Letters, 1932-1958 |publisher=Princeton University Press |location=[[Princeton, New Jersey|Princeton]] |author=Pauli, Wolfgang; [[Carl Jung|Jung, C G]] |others=ed. C.A. Meier |year=2001 |pages=pp. 179-196 |isbn=0691012075 |oclc=45757717}}</ref> ==In popular culture== The effect is highlighted in the ''[[Mr. Bean]]'' television series, where Mr. Bean is shown interfering with television reception merely by his presence. ==See also== * [[Street light interference]] * [[Synchronicity]] ==References== {{reflist}} ===Sources=== *{{cite book |title=No Time to be Brief: A Scientific Biography of Wolfgang Pauli |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=[[New York City|New York]] |first=Charles P |last=Enz |year=2002 |isbn=0198564791 |oclc=48753063}} ==External links== * [http://www.psychovision.ch/synw/pauli_parapsychology_p1.htm Wolfgang Pauli and Parapsychology] * [http://www.psychovision.ch/synw/pauli_fludd_flood_sync.htm#a1 The Pauli effect at the foundation of the C.G. Jung Institute, Zürich 1948] [[Category:Experimental physics]] [[Category:Psychokinesis]] [[Category:Parapsychology]] [[ca:Efecte Pauli]] [[de:Pauli-Effekt]] [[es:Efecto Pauli]] [[it:Effetto Pauli]] [[ja:パウリ効果]] [[pl:Efekt Pauliego]]