With 2025 marking the centenary of the formulation of matrix mechanics, public attention is drawn to the physicists involved in the development of a new paradigm of physics. At the center of the celebration of quantum mechanics stands the German physicist Werner Heisenberg (1901–1976). In the decades that followed his rise to a Nobel-laureate of physics in 1933, Heisenberg continuously engaged in the popularization of modern physics by holding public lectures, writing articles and books, or giving interviews. Addressed to a general audience, these texts discuss the consequences of quantum mechanics for various subjects including the understanding of nature and modern society. Together, these writings and their reception tell a story about the cultural imaginaire of the physics and the (West) German citizenship.
This project takes a closer look at the interaction between Heisenberg popular writings and the public perception of him in West-Germany. To do so, I focus on three aspects: first, the ideal of research Heisenberg develops in these texts through the reference to aspects of natural philosophy; second, Heisenberg’s self-fashioning as a romantic genius and its reception in West-German media; and third, Heisenberg's public engagement as a practice of citizenship through. Ultimately, the project shows how through his popular writings and public presence, Heisenberg became a reference point in the bürgerliche culture of West Germany, shaping the ideals of citizenship and what it means to be a physicist.