A bit of history
In 1925 Werner Heisenberg published his seminal paper "Über quantentheoretische Umdeutung kinematischer und mechanischer Beziehungen" (German original, English translation, see also this analysis of Heisenberg's paper), which is considered the birth of quantum mechanics. While Planck's action quantum and the Bohr quantization rules were already known by then (dating from 1910 and 1913, resp.), Heisenberg's paper turned these concepts into the consistent physical theory which we now know as quantum mechanics. Werner Heisenberg was then the assistant of Max Born, who is the founding director of the Institute of Theoretical Physics in Göttingen established just three years prior in 1922.
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Max Born
Werner Heisenberg
International Year of Quantum Science and Technology
In order to celebrate 100 years of quantum mechanics and its impact on fundamental physics, our understanding of nature and modern technology, various physical societies worldwide (DPG, EPS, APS and others) have designated 2025 as the International Quantum Year. 2025 has also been proclaimed the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology by the United Nations.
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Activities in Göttingen during the Quantum Year 2025
There are three central events in Göttingen in 2025 to celebrate its role as the birthplace of quantum mechanics.
Special exhibit in the Forum Wissen
Göttingen's science museum Forum Wissen hosts a special exhibit in 2025 to mark the Quantum Year. The eight months long exhibit discusses the historical development of quantum mechanics at its birthplace showcasing some unique documents from our University Archive, contains hands-on experiments for the visitors and shows applications of quantum mechanics from its discovery to modern developments like quantum computing. Different from the DPG Herbsttagung we designed this exhibit to also address the general public including school classes.
University Lecture Series (Ringvorlesung der Universität Göttingen)
The University Lecture Series (Ringvorlesung der Universität Göttingen) in the summer term 2025 celebrates the Quantum Year with 13 lectures for the general public. The topics range from historical developments to quantum computers and connections to modern mathematics. All talks (including my own on the foundations of quantum mechanics for non-experts) can be found on the Göttingen University Youtube channel.
DPG Herbsttagung 2025
(German Physical Society Fall Meeting 2025)
The meeting will run from Sep. 8 to Sep. 12, 2025 and cover the present status and perspectives of all fields of modern physics reigned by quantum mechanics (condensed matter physics, atomic and molecular physics, quantum optics, elementary particle physics, quantum information and computing, and many others), as well as the historical roots of quantum mechanics and its subsequent development, including the conceptual questions that still challenge us today. It involves all sections of the German Physical Society (DPG) and will feature prominent speakers from all these fields of modern physics.
