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

By Nadnet
  • Birth

    Werner Heisenberg was born on December 5th, 1901. Werner's younger life was quite basic, but he had always expressed his interest in Physics with his peers and teachers.
  • Period: to

    The Father of Quantum Mechanics

    Werner Heisenberg was a German scientist that had multiple breakthrough papers written in his lifetime on Quantum Mechanics. With his life works he created Quantum Physics earning him the Nobel Prize in 1932. Werner was also a huge consultant during the Manhattan project in 1946. Heisenberg's works lead to the creation of undoubtable the most destructive weapon to ever be created by human hands. The video below is an overview.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQKELOE9eY4&ab_channel=TED-Ed
  • First Major paper published

    First Major paper published
    Werner Heisenberg was approved to teach during the time he was writing his first paper between 1921 and 1925. This paper was the world's first major introduction into the field of Quantum Physics.
    Heisenberg Society. “3. The Development of Quantum Mechanics (1925 – 1927).” Heisenberg, Heisenberg Society, 2012, https://www.heisenberg-gesellschaft.de/3-the-development-of-quantum-mechanics-1925-ndash-1927.html.
  • Deepening Quantum Mechanics

    1925 to 1928 Werner Heisenberg had a major focus on formulating matrix mechanics of quantum mechanics. After years of working on his formulas he performed a lecture at University of Leipzig then he wrote the "Zur Theorie des Ferromagnetismus", that introduce the "Theory of Uncertainty." Ulmer, Simone. “Outwitting Heisenberg.” Outwitting Heisenberg, ETH Life, 26 July 2010, https://www.ethlife.ethz.ch/archive_articles/100726_Heisenberg_su/index_EN.html
  • The Overture

    After years of working on Quantum Theory, Werner was ready to display his work. Werner then published two of his works listed below, which became known worldwide. After Werner then toured the world lecturing these works. Heisenberg, W., Pauli, W. Zur Quantentheorie der Wellenfelder. II. Z. Physik 59, 168–190 (1930). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01341423 Heisenberg, W., Pauli, W. Zur Quantendynamik der Wellenfelder. Z. Physik 56, 1–61 (1929). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01340129
  • Philosophy of Quantum Physics

    From This moment on Werner Heisenberg was completely dedicated to his work on Quantum Physics. This is where his works began to truly take form as a paradigm shift and brought the physics world into topics such as splitting molecules or nuclear fissure. For the worse or betterment of humankind Werner divulged into his research and changed the molecule nature of Physics with his work.
  • Nazi Turmoil

    Nazi Turmoil
    After completing his lecture tours, Heisenberg continued writing three papers. Heisenberg, however, hit a roadblock. Heisenberg had struggled when he came back to his home. The Nazi's were coming to power and started to publish new paper columns threatening him and disregarding his work. American Institute of Physics. “Physics History Network.” Heisenberg, Werner, 1901-1976, American Institute of Physics, 2022, https://history.aip.org/phn/11710010.html.
  • The Storm is Over, but the War Is Beginning

    Due to some circumstances Heisenberg mother had visited his critics mother to settle this situation, which it had become after a letter telling Heisenberg to discern Science and his political beliefs. Despite all this Heisenberg Continued his work based on cosmic rays in a paper called "Über die 'Schauer' in der Kosmischen Strahlung". After this Heisenberg wrote 4 more papers.
  • Strife, worry, and Uranium

    Werner Heisenberg once World War II had begun, was placed on a team of physicist to weaponize critical resources, specifically Uranium, for the Nazi party. After Heisenberg worked on the team for 3 years in 1942, he gave a lecture on "The theoretical basis for energy generation from uranium fission". Afterwards Heisenberg continued his work and theories on the use of Nuclear Fissure and being able to weaponize it, he did this by experimenting multiple ways to isolate Isotope 235U.
  • Post War Dread

    Once the war had ended Werner joined the rest of his team in Black Forest where he continued to work on the structure of the nuclear reactor. After Werner finished his works on nuclear fissure he remained at CERN as the president of the physics department.
  • Legacy

    Right before his death in 1973, Werner Heisenberg visited American and performs his last lecture. This lecture went on to inspire many physicist, American and Non-Americans, to continue his legacy and work he made in his lifetime with nuclear fissure. Heisenberg’s works today still inspire every physicist after. When it came to recent paradigm shifts, Heisenberg should be one of the major scientists that comes to mind as what he did is still in effect today unchanged.