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Pascual JordanGerman physicist and mathematician.
Date of Birth: 18.10.1902
Country: ![]() |
Content:
- Pascual Jordan: A Complex Legacy in Physics and Politics
- Early Life and Education
- Involvement in Nazi Germany
- Post-War Career
- Controversy over Nuclear Armament
- Jordan Algebra
Pascual Jordan: A Complex Legacy in Physics and Politics
Pascual Jordan was a German physicist and mathematician who made significant contributions to quantum mechanics and field theory.
Early Life and Education
Born in Hanover, Germany, Jordan studied at the Technical University of Hanover and the University of Göttingen. He collaborated closely with Max Born and Werner Heisenberg on groundbreaking research in quantum mechanics, including the development of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.
Involvement in Nazi Germany
In 1933, Jordan joined the Nazi Party and became a member of its paramilitary, the Sturmabteilung (SA). During the mid-1930s, he focused on applied research related to military applications of science and worked at the rocketry center in Peenemünde.
Post-War Career
After World War II, Jordan's career was initially hindered by his Nazi affiliations. However, thanks to the intervention of Wolfgang Pauli, he was eventually able to return to academic research. He also became active in politics, serving as a member of the Bundestag (German parliament) for the Christian Democratic Union from 1957 to 1961.
Controversy over Nuclear Armament
In 1957, Jordan advocated for the armament of the West German army (Bundeswehr) with tactical nuclear weapons. His stance met with opposition from the "Göttingen 18," a group of renowned physicists including Max Born, Werner Heisenberg, and Wolfgang Pauli, who protested the decision.
Jordan Algebra
Jordan's mathematical legacy includes the development of the Jordan algebra, a non-associative algebraic structure that has found applications in physics and computer science.