Werner Heisenberg was a German scientist and philosopher who influenced quantum mechanics research in the mid-nineteenth century. His physics theories were published in the 1920s and 1930s, and his work intersected with the contentious political history of twentieth-century Germany. He was the leader of nuclear research during the Nazi time and made significant contributions to the construction of nuclear reactors during WWII. He was a key figure in the postwar restoration of West Germany’s scientific community. He presented a model of the atomic nucleus that included protons, which are positively charged particles, and neutrons, which are neutral particles. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery. He made substantial contributions in the domains of ferromagnetism and cosmic radiation in addition to his work on the atomic nucleus. Heisenberg spent much of his life as a teacher, holding key positions at the universities of Copenhagen, Berlin, Leipzig, and Munich. He collaborated extensively with notable German scientists of his day, such as Niels Bohr and Max Born, and he mentored doctorate students who went on to make substantial contributions to physical science fields. His strong reputation as a scholar and academic allowed him to lecture all across Germany and the world, propagating his beliefs.
Childhood and Adolescence
Heisenberg was born in Würzburg, Germany, on December 5, 1901. His father was a medieval and Greek studies professor.
Erwin, his one-year-old brother, was a continuous source of competitiveness. Erwin went on to become a chemist when he was older.
He received his doctorate in 1923 after studying physics at the ‘University of Munich’ under Max Born. Werner’s career was also influenced by the physicist Niels Bohr, who taught him the intricacies of atomic physics.
The Career of Werner
In 1925, he went to work with his hero, Niels Bohr, after finishing his doctorate. One of Heisenberg’s first notable articles came out of their collaboration at the ‘University of Copenhagen.’
In 1927, he accepted a position as a professor at the ‘University of Leipzig,’ where he began instructing Ph.D. students. His curriculum was in high demand, and he graduated a slew of notable scientists.
He was frequently able to travel and lecture outside of Germany as a result of his teaching. In 1929, he gave talks in Japan, India, and the United States.
Three important papers were published as a result of his work developing a neutron-proton model of the nucleus. In 1932, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for his discovery.
Heisenberg was chastised by the SS for helping Jewish scientists when Hitler took power in Germany in 1933. Despite his staunch devotion to Germany, he was threatened with deportation to a concentration camp.
He moved from Leipzig to Berlin in 1941 to teach at the ‘University of Berlin.’ He became the director of the prestigious ‘Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physics.’
Heisenberg engaged in numerous leading roles exploring the development of nuclear weapons during World War II. He was arrested by Allied soldiers on May 3, 1945, four days before the German surrender.
He was named director of the ‘Max Planck Institute for Physics’ after the war. From 1948 through 1970, he held that office.
In 1953, he was named president of the ‘Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.’ The fund aimed to recruit international scientists to work in Germany.
He continues to give guest lectures after being invited by numerous major universities around the world. His ‘Gifford Lectures’ at the ‘University of Saint Andrews’ in 1955-56 were collected in a book.
Werner’s Major Projects
In 1925, he published a study on quantum mechanics that was a major scientific discovery and paved the way for advances in matrix mechanics. He collaborated with Wolfgang Pauli, an Austrian scientist, and the two became good friends.
In 1927, while doing research at the ‘University of Copenhagen,’ he came up with the uncertainty principle. The inverse relationship between a particle’s precise position and its momentum was established by this theory, and it became a crucial principle in subsequent physics research.
In 1932, James Chadwick discovered the neutron, which was followed by Heisenberg’s neutron-proton model the following year. In the field of quantum physics, his three studies on the subject were significant.
Achievements & Awards
In 1932, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his neutron-proton model and quantum mechanics theory. His quantum theory was essential in the finding of allotropic hydrogen forms.
He was awarded the ‘Max Planck Medal’ by the ‘German Physical Society’ in 1933. The organization is the world’s largest physicists’ association.
Personal History and Legacy
In January 1937, he met Elisabeth Schumacher at a music recital, and they married four months later. Heisenberg was an accomplished pianist, and the couple appreciated classical music.
Over the course of thirteen years, the couple had seven children, including twins in January 1938. Jochen, their son, studied physics and taught at the ‘University of New Hampshire.’
Despite his passion for science, he lived his entire life as a Lutheran. Throughout his career, he presented numerous lectures on science and religion.
He died on April 1, 1976, after succumbing to the gall bladder and renal cancer. He was laid to rest in the ‘Munich Waldfriedhof’ cemetery.
Estimated Net worth
Werner is one of the wealthiest physicists and one of the most well-known physicists. Werner Heisenberg’s net worth is estimated to be $20 million.
Trivia
The words “He rests here, somewhere” are carved into the gravestone of this well-known figure. This is a parody of his well-known Uncertainty Principle.