Werner Heisenberg, 1901-1976

Werner Heisenberg Experiment

1925

He conducted a thought experiment where he considered measuring the position of an electron with a gamma ray scope. But the high-energy photon used to illuminate the electro would give it a kick, therefore changing it's momentum and location in an uncertain way. Work Cited: https://www.aps.org/publications/apsnews/200802/physicshistory.cfm#:~:text=Heisenberg%20conducted%20a%20thought%20experiment,momentum%20in%20an%20uncertain%20way.

Uncertainty Principle

1927

The Uncertainty Principle gave scientists a new proposition on atoms. It tells us that "We cannot measure both the position (x) and the momentum (p) of a particle with absolute precision." The more precisely we measure an atom's location the farther we get to knowing what it's momentum is like and vice versa. Work Cited https://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/nov/10/what-is-heisenbergs-uncertainty-principle

Quantum Heisenberg Model

1927

The study of critical points and phase transitions of magnetic systems. The spins of the magnetic system are treated quantum mechanically. This is what contributed in the discovery of the uncertainty principle. Work Cited: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_Heisenberg_model

World War II

1942

Heisenberg was drafted to work for the Army Weapons Bureau on the problem of nuclear energy in 1939, and took on a leading role in 1942, as director at the latter. Heisenberg's research group was unsuccessful in producing a reactor or atomic bomb. They said he was incompetent, but others have suggested that he delayed of sabotaged the effort. Work Cited: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Werner-Heisenberg/Heisenberg-and-the-Nazi-Party