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Werner Heisenberg was born on December 5th, 1901, in Wurzburg, Germany. He studied physics and mathematics at the University of Munich. In 1922, Heisenberg attended a lecture given by Niels Bohr about quantum atomic physics which Heisenberg took great interest in. (Cassidy 11,76,99) -
Heisenberg develops the uncertainty principle, "...asserting a fundamental limit to the accuracy with which the values for certain pairs of physical quantities of a particle, such as position, x, and momentum, p, can be predicted from initial conditions." (Uncertainty principle) Simply put, Heisenberg showed that you cannot know the position and momentum of a particle simultaneously. -
In 1929, Heisenberg and Wolfgang Pauli publish a paper laying the foundation for quantum field theory. (Cassidy, 195) -
Heisenberg receives the Nobel Prize in Physics "for the creation of quantum mechanics, the application of which has, inter alia, led to the discovery of the allotropic forms of hydrogen" (The Nobel Prize in Physics 1932)
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Heisenberg worked on nuclear fission for Hitler and was possibly targeted for assassination by the United States Office of Strategic Services. (Cassidy 361) -
Heisenberg went back to Germany after World War II. He settled down in Göttingen where he became the director of the Max Planck Institute for Physics. (Cassidy 394) Although he did continue working in physics, he did not make any contributions as significant as his early work.
