While it is relatively rare for self-taught or amateur physicists to receive Nobel Prizes in theoretical physics, there have been notable individuals who have made significant contributions to the field. Here are a few examples:
Michael Faraday: Faraday was an English scientist who made key contributions to the fields of electromagnetism and electrochemistry. He was largely self-taught and had limited formal education. Faraday's work laid the foundation for the development of Maxwell's equations, which describe electromagnetism and played a crucial role in the development of modern physics.
Thomas Young: Young was an English physician and polymath who made significant contributions to various scientific disciplines, including optics, mechanics, and linguistics. He conducted groundbreaking experiments on light and interference, formulated the concept of wave-particle duality, and contributed to the understanding of energy and momentum. His work laid the groundwork for the later development of quantum mechanics.
Percy Bridgman: Bridgman was an American physicist who received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1946 for his work on high-pressure physics. Although he had formal training in physics, he is often considered a self-taught experimentalist due to his unconventional approach and emphasis on hands-on experimentation. Bridgman's research on the behavior of materials under high pressures led to important discoveries and advancements in condensed matter physics.
Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar: Chandrasekhar was an Indian astrophysicist who made significant contributions to the study of stellar structure and evolution. Although he had formal education in physics, his early work on the theoretical limit for the mass of a white dwarf star, known as the Chandrasekhar limit, was done during his time as a student. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1983 for his pioneering work in astrophysics.
While these individuals may not fit the typical definition of "amateur" physicists, they exemplify the potential for individuals with non-traditional backgrounds to make important contributions to theoretical physics. It's worth noting that the majority of groundbreaking work in theoretical physics is carried out by professionals with extensive training and academic backgrounds in the field.