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The Matrix
In the growing community of quantum physics,a standard way to measure observable's at the atomic level was needed. Heisenberg, along with Pascual Jordan and Max Born developed the Matrix Mechanics, propelling quantum mechanics forward in the world of physics. -
Uncertainty Principle
Heisenberg's uncertainty principle tells us that we cannot measure both the location of an atom, and its velocity at the same time. You could only do one or the other, because by the time you observe one variable, the atom has moved.
Click the description for a video of the Uncertainty Principle! -
Noble Prize
For his work in quantum physics and his Uncertainty Principle, Heisenberg was awarded the Noble Prize in 1932, but was delayed until 1933. In fact, he was nominated by none other than Albert Einstein himself! -
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World at War
During the war, Heisenberg stayed in Germany and continued his work. However, the war got in the way and he was assigned with the creation of the German atomic bomb once the idea was realized. Luckily for the Allied Forces, Heisenberg's calculations of required Uran235 was wrong, and the Germans put their war efforts elsewhere. Some say Heisenberg made the decision to stall the bomb, as his personal morals were conflicted with the devastation that would result, but this hasn't been proven. -
Operation Epsilon
At the tail end of the war, an American led campaign to learn how close Germany was to achieving the nuclear bomb was organized. It was during one of these operations where Heisenberg was taken prisoner and sent to England for questioning until 1946. -
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Life After the War
Following the years after, Heisenberg continued to contribute to the world of Physics. Writing books such as, "Philosophical Problems of Quantum Physics", and "Physics and Philosophy: The Revolution of Modern Science". He retired from his academic career in Munich in 1970, and passed soon after.
