Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-02
Wide Mind Outlet
Believed Open in
Uncertainty Theory
Principle of Young Ger.
man Samson of Science
Brings Coveted Award.

By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO. May From the brain
of a courtly German professor, still
under 80, there has come the principle
of uncertainty ranking in scientific
importance with Einstein's theory OF
relatively, and changing the general
ideas of physical laws.
DR.. Werner HeiSenberg on May 10
in New York will receive the medal OF
the Research Corporation of New York
for outstanding scientific achievement
during the year; 1t is his principle OF
uncertainty" that has won for him
this prize and the accompanying award
of $500.
Dr. Heisenberg is professor of theo-
retical physics at the University of
Leipzig, Germany, and visiting profess
sor during the current and Summer
terms at the University of Chicago.
Cannot Calculate Future.
Briefly, his theory knocks down the
notion that the future. in atomic
physics, can be calculated with &C
curacy
And the reason, still in brief, is be-
cause the present cannot be accurately
described.
He says:
1t is possible to measure the position
Of electrons with accuracy. 1t is also
possible TO measure their velocity with
as much accuracy as would be wanted
But, to measure both the position and
velocity at the same time with per-
fpFt ic MT YlnccikNio
That means, DR.. Heisenberg goes on
to explain, that if one element is meas
ured with certainty the other must re-
main uncertain. Thus is shattered the
old boast of the physicist that, given
all the details of present system, he
can predict the future state of the
system.
All this has nothing to do with the
present state of experimental physics.
says the youthful professor, who adds
that for all practical purposes it prob
ably never will be possible to improve
on the accuracy with which one can
define nature.
Boundary of Human knowledge.
DR.. Heisenberg shows by his theory
that in measuring the electron a final
boundary to human knowledge is met.
and he asserts, paradoxical as it may
seem, that without this boundary-i.e..
the uncertain factor of either velocity
or pcsition-science would be faced with
an unfathomable mystery in the atom.
The mystery, he explains, would be
the contradiction in nature OF light
showing itself as proiectiles of matter
in one case and as waves in another
and the further contradiction of the
same sort with electrons.
His theory is described by him as an
attempt to explain this phenomenon.
1T Is not negative principle" he
says. 1T allows us to understand the
appearance Of the contradictory wave
and projectile motions. II we could
measure both velocity and position with
perfect accuracy. We would be at loss
to understand the apparent contradic-
ton"
Employing a microscope to measure
the position and velocity of an electron.
the light used alters the velocity and
causes the electron to recoil This re-
coil Is great in a very good microscope
and small In poor microscope. DR..
Heisenberg says. The poorer the micro
scope and the slighter the recoil the
smaller the degree of uncertainty-but
then. the degree of uncertainty as to
position becomes greater.
Inc PAIN OF an electr0n under a
microscope is traced by the steam it
generates.
DR., Heisenberg's matrix mechanics is
a mathematical explanation of his
theory. 1t also is called atomic me-
chanics.
DR.. HeiSenberg'S study of atomic
physics was begun in 1921, when he be-
came interested in the Quantum theory,
which established light as matter
P. w. Bridgeman. Hollis professor of
mathematics and natural philosophy.
Harvard University, said in recent ar
ticle: The new theory of Quantum
mechanics has received implicit formu-
lation in the principle of uncertainty of
Heisenberg--a principle which, I be-
lieve is fraught with the possibility of
greater change in mental outlets than
was ever packed into an equal number
Of words