Werner Heisenberg (1901–1976)
Author of Physics and Philosophy: The Revolution in Modern Science
About the Author
Werner Heisenberg, a German physicist, is regarded as the founder of quantum mechanics, which describes atomic structure in mathematical terms. During the 1920s quantum theory became a controversial topic, following Niels Bohr's model proposal for the hydrogen atom. Heisenberg, dissatisfied with show more the prevalent mechanical models of the atom, conceived an abstract approach using matrix algebra. In 1925, Heisenberg, Max Born, and Pascual Jordan developed this approach into a theory they termed matrix mechanics. Unfortunately, the theory was difficult to understand, since it provided no means of visualizing the phenomena it explained. Erwin Schrodinger's wave formulation, proposed the following year, proved more successful. In 1944 Heisenberg's and Schrodinger's formulations were shown to be mathematically equivalent by John Von Neumann. In 1927 Heisenberg stated the uncertainty principle, for which he is best known. According to this principle, it is impossible to specify simultaneously both the position and the momentum of a particle, such as an electron. This is caused by interference with those quantities by the radiation that is used to make the observation. The uncertainty principle was demonstrated by means of a thought experiment rather than by a physical observation. Heisenberg also explained ferromagnetism, tracing it to an atomic structure. In 1932 he was awarded the Nobel Prize. Heisenberg was one of the few outstanding German physicists to remain in Germany during World War II. During the war he supervised atomic research in Germany, with the goal of constructing an atomic bomb, although he claimed not to be a supporter of the Nazi regime. Whether by intent or by circumstance, this effort proved to be unsuccessful, and contradictory statements by Heisenberg have not satisfactorily explained the outcome of the project. After the war, Heisenberg publicly declared that he would no longer take part in the production or testing of atomic weapons. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: From Owen Barfield Website
Works by Werner Heisenberg
Werner Heisenberg. Gesammelte Werke. Abteilung C: Allgemeinverständliche Schriften, Band II. Physik und Erkenntnis… (1984) 5 copies
Werner Heisenberg. Gesammelte Werke. Abteilung C: Allgemeinverständliche Schriften. Band III. Physik und Erkenntnis… (1985) 5 copies
Cosmic radiation 4 copies
Gesammelte Werke. Collected Works: Gesammelte Werke, 5 Bde., Bd.5, Wissenschaft und Politik (1989) 3 copies
Páginas de Reflexão e Auto-retrato 3 copies
Werner Heisenberg. Gesammelte Werke. Abteilung C: Allgemeinverständliche Schriften, Band I. Physik und Erkenntnis :… (1984) 3 copies
Discussione sulla fisica moderna 3 copies
Werner Heisenberg. Gesammelte Werke. Abteilung C: Allgemeinverständliche Schriften. Band IV. Biographisches und… (1986) 3 copies
Das Naturbild der heutigen Physik 2 copies
Válogatott tanulmányok 2 copies
Kosmische Strahlung : Vorträge gehalten im Max-Planck-Institut für Physik, Göttingen (1953) 2 copies
Pasi peste granite 1 copy
Das Naturgesetz und die Struktur der Materie. Mit 4 Radierungen von Hans ERNI. (Zweiter Druck). / Natural law and the… (1966) 1 copy
Promjene u osnovama prirodne znanosti : šest predavanja ; Slika svijeta suvremene fizike (1998) 1 copy
Correspondance : 1916-1955 1 copy
Die Schönheit der Weltformel 1 copy
Color 1 copy
Werner Heisenberg. Die Verknüpfung von Physik und Philosophie : Originaltonaufnahmen 1951 - 1967 (2006) 1 copy
Fysik og humanisme 1 copy
Zeitschrift für Physik 1 copy
Heisenberg 1 copy
Associated Works
The Born-Einstein Letters : Correspondence between Albert Einstein and Max and Hedwig Born from 1916 to 1955 with… (1969) — Introduction, some editions — 108 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Heisenberg, Werner
- Legal name
- Heisenberg, Werner Karl
- Other names
- Гейзенберг, Вернер
- Birthdate
- 1901-12-05
- Date of death
- 1976-02-01
- Burial location
- Waldfriedhof, Munich, Germany
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- Germany
- Birthplace
- Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany
- Place of death
- Munich, Germany
- Cause of death
- kidney cancer
- Places of residence
- Farm Hall, Godmanchester, UK
Munich, Bavaria, Germany
Gottingen, Germany - Education
- University of Munich (Ph.D|1923)
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen (Dr.habil.|1924) - Occupations
- physicist
professor - Relationships
- Sommerfeld, Arnold (doctoral advisor)
Bohr, Niels (academic advisor)
Born, Max (academic advisor)
Teller, Edward (student)
Heisenberg, August (father)
Heisenberg, Martin (son) (show all 9)
Peierls, Rudolf (doctoral student)
Heisenberg, Benjamin (grandson)
Heisenberg, Jochen (son) - Organizations
- Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Max-Planck-Institut für Physik und Astrophysik
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation - Awards and honors
- Nobel Prize in Physics (1932)
Max Planck Medal (1933)
Order of Merit of Bavaria
Romano Guardini Prize (1973)
Grand Cross for Federal Service with Star (1964)
Knight of the Order of Merit (Peace Class) (show all 22)
Foreign Member, Royal Society (1955)
International Member, American Philosophical Society (1937)
Netherlands Academy of Science (1939)
Prussian Academy of Sciences (1943)
International Honorary Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1958)
Niels Bohr International Gold Medal (1970)
Matteucci Medal (1929)
Barnard Medal for Meritorious Service to Science (1930)
Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina (1933)
Saxon Academy of Sciences (1930)
National Academy of Sciences (1961)
Grand Cross of the Civil Order of Alfonso X the Wise (1960)
Bavarian Academy of Sciences (1959)
Academy of Sciences in Göttingen (1937)
Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle (named in his honor)
Heisenberg group (mathematics term named in his honor)
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Statistics
- Works
- 60
- Also by
- 2
- Members
- 2,065
- Popularity
- #12,443
- Rating
- 3.8
- Reviews
- 16
- ISBNs
- 142
- Languages
- 19
- Favorited
- 5