Werner Heisenberg

German theoretical physicist

Werner Heisenberg

Werner Heisenberg in 1933

Birth date	1901-12-05
Birth place	Würzburg, German Empire
Died	1 February 1976(1976-02-01) (aged 74)
Place of death	Munich, West Germany
Nationality	German
Known for	Uncertainty principle, Matrix mechanics, Heisenberg's microscope
Awards	Nobel Prize in Physics (1932) Max Planck Medal (1933) Matteucci Medal (1929)

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Haigerloch-nuclear-reactor ArM

Werner Heisenberg bust

Werner Karl Heisenberg (5 December 1901 – 1 February 1976) was a German theoretical physicist and one of the key pioneers of quantum mechanics. He is best known for the development of the uncertainty principle, which he published in 1927. Heisenberg was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1932 "for the creation of quantum mechanics".

Early life and education

Heisenberg was born in Würzburg, German Empire, to Kaspar Ernst August Heisenberg, a secondary school teacher of classical languages, and his wife, Annie Wecklein. He studied physics and mathematics at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and the University of Göttingen, where he was influenced by Arnold Sommerfeld and Max Born.

Career

Heisenberg began his academic career at the University of Göttingen as an assistant to Max Born. In 1925, he published his work on matrix mechanics, a formulation of quantum mechanics. This work laid the foundation for his later development of the uncertainty principle.

In 1927, Heisenberg was appointed professor of theoretical physics at the University of Leipzig, where he continued his research on quantum mechanics and atomic theory. During this period, he also developed the concept of Heisenberg's microscope, a thought experiment that illustrates the uncertainty principle.

World War II and later years

During World War II, Heisenberg was a leading scientist in the German nuclear weapon project. After the war, he was detained by Allied forces and later released. He continued his academic career, becoming the director of the Max Planck Institute for Physics in 1946.

Heisenberg made significant contributions to the field of particle physics and cosmology in his later years. He retired in 1970 and passed away in 1976 in Munich, West Germany.

Legacy

Heisenberg's work has had a profound impact on the field of physics. The uncertainty principle remains a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics, and his contributions to the development of quantum theory have influenced generations of physicists.

Related pages

• Quantum mechanics
• Uncertainty principle
• Matrix mechanics
• Heisenberg's microscope
• Max Born
• Arnold Sommerfeld
• German nuclear weapon project
• Max Planck Institute for Physics

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