Johannes Hans Daniel Jensen shared the 1963 Nobel Prize in Physics with Maria Goeppert Mayer, marking the culmination of his research into the shell structure of the nucleus. His scientific career spanned the tumultuous decades of mid-twentieth-century Germany, moving from his early education in Hamburg to his significant contributions to theoretical nuclear physics at the University of Heidelberg.
Academic Foundation
Born in Hamburg on 25 June 1907, Jensen pursued studies in physics, mathematics, physical chemistry, and philosophy. Between 1926 and 1931, he attended the University of Freiburg and the University of Hamburg. He secured his Doctor rerum naturalium in 1932 and completed his habilitation in 1936, both under the auspices of the University of Hamburg.
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In 1937, Jensen became a docent at the University of Hamburg, beginning a professional association with Paul Harteck. During World War II, he participated in the Uranverein, the German nuclear energy project. His research centered on isotope separation, specifically developing double centrifuges utilizing a rocking process. His work for the project was documented in classified reports for the Heereswaffenamt.
Post-War Career
Following the war, Jensen held a professorship at the Technische Hochschule Hannover starting in 1941, before moving to the University of Heidelberg in 1949. He maintained his position at Heidelberg until his retirement in 1969. During this period, he served as a visiting professor at various international institutions, including the University of Wisconsin–Madison, the Institute for Advanced Study, and the California Institute of Technology.
Professional Recognition
In addition to his 1963 Nobel Prize, Jensen received the Great Cross with Star and Sash of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1965. He was an active member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities. He died in Heidelberg on 11 February 1973.
Fast facts
- Born: 1907, Hamburg
- Died: 1973, Heidelberg
- Education: University of Hamburg, Kiel University
- Primary Employers: Leibniz University Hannover, Heidelberg University
- Nobel Prize in Physics: 1963
- Order of Merit: 1965
Questions readers ask
What was Jensen's primary contribution to physics?
He is recognized for his discoveries concerning nuclear shell structure, which he developed alongside Maria Goeppert Mayer.
Did he work on nuclear projects during World War II?
Yes, he was a member of the Uranverein, where he contributed to the separation of uranium isotopes.
Achievements
- Nobel Prize in Physics — 1963
- Great Cross with Star and Sash of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany — 1965
- Held posts at Heidelberg University and Leibniz University Hannover
- Educated at Kiel University and University of Hamburg
- Fields of research: physics
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