Fate of fate 1925: In the July edition, BILD of science reports on the exciting history of the quantum mechanics. A Heureka moment on the island of Helgoland gave Werner Heisenberg the idea for the groundbreaking theory. However, the breakthrough also had a multi-layered history and after history.
Science on the edge of human imagination: Quantum mechanics describes the often bizarre -looking behavior of matter and energy on nuclear and subatomar level. The importance of this field of research is enormous: insights into the quantum world have given fascinating insights into the basics of the micro and macrocosm and gained pioneering developments in technology. This year, quantum research is now particularly in the spotlight, because exactly 100 years ago there was a decisive breakthrough. This development is dedicated to the three -part cover story “100 years of quantum mechanics”.
In the first article, BDW editor-in-chief Andrea Stegemann initially reports how the science community celebrates the “International Year of Quantum Science and Quantum Technology”. The focus is then on: in 1925 Werner Heisenberg, Max Born and Pascual Jordan in Göttingen found quantum mechanics. Under the participation of other researchers, the theory then developed and the scientific revolution developed more and more. Stegemann explains, among other things, why Göttingen of all people became the center of quantum research. Interesting technical and personal framework played a role in this, the article “It started 100 years ago”.
Quantum mechanics thanks to pollen allergy?
BDW editor Rüdiger Vaas then targets the “history of creation” of quantum mechanics. The decisive factor was therefore a scientific enlightenment, which Werner Heisenberg learned during a recovery stay on the island of Helgoland and led to the development of theory. Free of his hay fever attacks, he developed a groundbreaking solution for previously puzzling phenomena. In fact, the development of quantum mechanics was much more complex. One thing is clear: Heisenberg’s Helgoland considerations had a complex pre- and after history. In the article “Heureka on Helgoland”, Vaas draws a correspondingly multifaceted picture of developments.
In the third part of the title theme, Vaas gives further insights into the life and work of the pioneers of quantum mechanics, but above all illuminates the scientific aspects of the breakthrough and the consequences. The focus is on the importance of chance and causality in the context of quantum physics. The author illustrates how Heisenberg’s indefinence relation led to fundamental insights. However, it is still associated with tricky questions and interpretation problems in the exciting field of research, reports Vaas in the article “Unbeard but stable”.
You can read the articles of the title theme “100 years of quantum mechanics” online as part of a BDW+ subscription, or you will find in the July edition of Image of Science, which is available in stores from June 20.
