Werner Heisenberg (December 5th, 1901 - February 1st, 1976)

Born in Wurzburg, Germany

Dec 5, 1901

Werner Heisenberg is born in Wurzburg, Germany to parents Kaspar Ernst August Heisenberg and Annie Wecklein.

Receives doctorate from University of Munich

1923

Heisenberg receives doctorate in physics while under the study of Arnold Sommerfeld and Wilhelm Wien.

Matrix Mechanics

1925

Heisenberg introduces matrix mechanics after returning to Gottingen in the summer of 1925. Max Born and Pascual Jordan recognized Heisenberg's work as matrix algebra or matrix mechanics. This is the first version of the new quantum mechanics that Heisenberg would work towards. Together, the three would author a further explanation of matrix mechanics for publishment in 1926.

Uncertainty Principle

1927

Heisenberg's most famous piece of work is discovered and published in 1927. Heisenberg discovered that position and momentum or velocity of a particle cannot be identified together at any given moment of time. This discovery becomes the first major difference between old and new quantum mechanics. A 2014 TED-Ed by Chad Orzel breaks down Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQKELOE9eY4

The Physical Principles of Quantum Theory

1930

In 1930, Heisenberg published The Physical Principles of Quantum Theory. The book is a collection of 1929 lectures that Heisenberg presented while touring the world.

Nobel Prize

1932

Heisenberg was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1932 for the creation of quantum mechanics.

German Nuclear Program

1939

Heisenberg receives an invite to a meeting in regards to the German program focused on the development of a nuclear bomb. Working with Otto Hahn, the program failed.

Loss to Kidney Cancer

Feb 1, 1976

Werner Heisenberg died on February 1st, 1976 after battling kidney cancer. He was 74 at the time of his death. His remains were buried in Munich, Germany.