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Nobel Prize winner and theoretical physicist Yang Zhenning died of illness in Beijing on Saturday (October 18) at the age of 103.
Chen Ning Yang is regarded as one of the most influential physicists of the 20th century. In 1956, he and fellow Chinese physicist Tsung-Dao Lee jointly proposed the theory of parity nonconservation and won the Nobel Prize in Physics, becoming one of the first Chinese to win the Nobel Prize.
He also proposed the well-known “Yang-Mills gauge theory” with Robert Mills, which became the basis of the Standard Model of particle physics. The Scientist called the research “reshaping modern physics and mathematics.”
Tsinghua University, where he worked, praised him in an obituary for “his lifelong devotion to his country and his outstanding contributions to the country’s science and education.”
“Mr. Chen Ning Yang’s life is an immortal legend of exploring the unknown and an eternal echo of his family and country,” the obituary read.
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Yang Zhenning was born in Hefei, China, in 1922. His father, Yang Wuzhi, was a well-known mathematics professor.
When Yang was a teenager, he told his parents, “One day, I will win the Nobel Prize.”
After the outbreak of World War II, he followed his father to Kunming and studied at Southwest Associated University, a temporary institution established by Chinese intellectuals who took refuge during the Japanese invasion of China. Li Zhengdao was also studying at the school at that time.
After the end of World War II, Chen Ning Yang went to the United States to study for a doctorate at the University of Chicago. Later, he engaged in postdoctoral research at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, and began to cooperate with Li Zhengdao.
Yang was only 35 years old when he and Lee Tsung-dao won the Nobel Prize in 1957.
After settling in the United States for a long time, Yang Zhenning became an American citizen in 1964.
Yang Zhenning visited mainland China for the first time after the thaw of Sino-US relations in 1971. Since then, he has devoted himself to helping the Chinese physics community rebuild the research atmosphere destroyed by the Cultural Revolution. In 1986, he promoted the establishment of the Theoretical Physics Laboratory at Nankai University.
In 2015, Yang Zhenning gave up his American citizenship and became a Chinese citizen.
He once said that his father “did not forgive him until his death” for giving up his Chinese nationality.
Yang Zhenning married Du Zhili, the daughter of the famous Kuomintang general Du Yuming, in 1950, and they had two sons and one daughter. Du Zhili died of illness in 2003.
In January 2005, 82-year-old Yang Zhenning married 28-year-old graduate student Weng Fan. The age gap between the two has caused heated discussions.
What impact did Yang’s wartime experiences in China have on his pursuit of education and eventual success in physics?
Table of Contents
- 1. What impact did Yang’s wartime experiences in China have on his pursuit of education and eventual success in physics?
- 2. Chen Ning Yang: A Legacy of Physics – Remembering the Nobel Laureate
- 3. Early Life and Education – Foundations of a Brilliant Mind
- 4. The Parity Violation Breakthrough – A Revolution in Physics
- 5. Contributions Beyond Parity – Expanding the Frontiers of Physics
- 6. Academic Career and Later Life – A Lifetime dedicated to Teaching and Research
- 7. Honors and Awards – Recognizing a Scientific Giant
- 8. The Legacy of Chen Ning Yang – Inspiring Future Generations
Chen Ning Yang: A Legacy of Physics – Remembering the Nobel Laureate
Early Life and Education – Foundations of a Brilliant Mind
chen Ning Yang, a towering figure in 20th and 21st-century physics, passed away on October 18, 2025, at the age of 103. Born in Hofei, anhui Province, China, on december 1, 1922, Yang’s journey from a challenging wartime childhood to becoming a Nobel Prize winner is a testament to his dedication and intellectual prowess.
* He received his early education at the Huiwen Middle School in Kunming, China, during the Second Sino-Japanese War.
* Yang’s undergraduate studies were completed at the National Southwestern Associated University,also in Kunming,a wartime consolidation of several leading Chinese universities.
* He pursued his graduate studies in the United States, earning his Ph.D.in physics from Princeton University in 1948. His doctoral thesis focused on statistical mechanics.
The Parity Violation Breakthrough – A Revolution in Physics
Chen Ning Yang is most renowned for his collaborative work with Tsung-dao Lee on the parity violation of weak interactions. This groundbreaking research challenged a long-held assumption in physics – that nature behaves the same way when viewed in a mirror image.
* the Question of Parity: Prior to 1956, physicists believed that the laws of physics were symmetrical under parity conversion (spatial inversion).
* Theoretical Challenge: Yang and Lee meticulously analyzed existing experimental data and identified potential flaws in the assumption of parity conservation in weak interactions.
* The Wu Experiment: They proposed a crucial experiment, conducted by Chien-Shiung Wu, to test their hypothesis. The experiment, using cobalt-60, definitively demonstrated that parity is not conserved in weak interactions.
* 1957 Nobel Prize: This revolutionary finding earned Yang and Lee the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1957, making Yang the first Chinese physicist to receive the prestigious award. this achievement significantly boosted china’s scientific standing on the global stage.
Contributions Beyond Parity – Expanding the Frontiers of Physics
While the parity violation work remains his most celebrated achievement, Chen Ning Yang’s contributions to physics extended far beyond. He continued to make significant advancements in various areas, including:
* Yang-Mills Theory: Developed with Robert Mills, this theory is a cornerstone of the Standard Model of particle physics, describing the fundamental forces governing interactions between elementary particles. it’s crucial for understanding quantum field theory and gauge theory.
* Statistical Mechanics: Yang made substantial contributions to statistical mechanics, including the Yang-Baxter equation, a fundamental equation in solvable lattice models.
* Condensed Matter Physics: His research explored topics in condensed matter physics, including the behavior of polymers and liquid crystals.
* String Theory: In later years, Yang explored ideas related to string theory and it’s potential to unify all fundamental forces.
Academic Career and Later Life – A Lifetime dedicated to Teaching and Research
Chen Ning Yang held prominent academic positions throughout his career, inspiring generations of physicists.
* Princeton University: He held positions at Princeton University for many years, becoming a professor emeritus.
* State University of New York at Stony Brook: He joined the faculty at Stony Brook in 1966 and remained actively involved in research and teaching.
* Tsinghua University: In 1995, Yang returned to China and became a distinguished professor at Tsinghua University, dedicating himself to fostering scientific talent in his homeland. He established the Institute for Advanced Study at tsinghua.
* Advocacy for Science Education: Yang was a strong advocate for improving science education in China, believing it was crucial for the country’s future advancement.
Honors and Awards – Recognizing a Scientific Giant
Chen Ning Yang received numerous accolades throughout his illustrious career, recognizing his profound impact on the field of physics.
* Nobel Prize in Physics (1957)
* Wolf Prize in Physics (1980)
* National Medal of Science (1988)
* Numerous Honorary Degrees from universities around the world.
* China’s Highest Science and Technology Award (2010)
The Legacy of Chen Ning Yang – Inspiring Future Generations
Chen Ning Yang’s passing marks the end of an era in physics. his groundbreaking research, unwavering dedication to scientific inquiry, and commitment to education have left an indelible mark on the world.He will be remembered not only as a brilliant physicist but also as a role model for aspiring scientists everywhere, particularly in China, where he served as a symbol of scientific achievement and national pride.His work continues to inspire researchers pushing the boundaries of our understanding of the universe. The impact of his Yang-Mills theory continues to be felt in modern particle physics research.
