Werner Heisenberg lecturing in front of a blackboard with mathmatical equations.

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Family Matters 1901-1910

High School Student 1911-1920

Youth Movement 1911-1920

University Student 1920-1927

Heisenberg's Doctorate 1920-1927

The Quantum Mechanic 1925-1927

The Uncertainty Principle 1925-1927

The Copenhagen Interpretation 1925-1927

Professor in Leipzig 1927-1942

Fission Research 1939-1945

Reviving German Science 1946-1976

Physics and Philosophy 1955-1956

A Brief Chronology 1901-1976

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Family Matters

1901-1910

High School Student

1911-1920

Youth Movement

1911-1920

University Student

1920-1927

Heisenberg's Doctorate

1920-1927

The Quantum Mechanic

1925-1927

The Uncertainty Principle

1925-1927

The Copenhagen Interpretation

1925-1927

Professor in Leipzig

1927-1942

Fission Research

1939-1945

Reviving German Science

1946-1976

Physics and Philosophy

1955-1956

A Brief Chronology

1901-1976

About Image

Credit line: AIP Emilio Segrè Visual Archives

Description: Werner Heisenberg lecturing in front of a blackboard with mathmatical equations.

Photo date: 1936

Person(s): Heisenberg, Werner, 1901-1976

WERNER HEISENBERG (1901 - 1976)

"The more precisely the position is determined, the less precisely the momentum is known."

Werner Heisenberg was one of the greatest physicists of the twentieth century. He is best known as a founder of quantum mechanics, the new physics of the atomic world, and especially for the uncertainty principle in quantum theory. He is also known for his controversial role as a leader of Germany's nuclear fission research during World War II. After the war he was active in elementary particle physics and West German science policy.

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