Yang Zhenning
Early Life and Education
Yang Zhenning was born on October 1, 1922, in Hefei, Anhui Province, China. He attended the National Southwestern Associated University and graduated in 1942. He then continued his studies at the University of Chicago, where he received his doctorate in theoretical physics in 1948.
Career and Research
After receiving his doctorate, Yang began working at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. Here, he collaborated with Robert Mills to develop the concept of non-abelian gauge fields, which are now known as Yang-Mills fields. This work was instrumental in the development of the Standard Model of particle physics.
In 1957, Yang and Tsung-Dao Lee were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work on parity laws. They discovered that the weak nuclear force, one of the four fundamental forces of nature, does not follow the law of parity. This discovery was a significant breakthrough in the field of particle physics.
In 1966, Yang returned to China and became a professor at Tsinghua University. He also served as the director of the Institute of Theoretical Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Contributions to Physics
Yang's contributions to the field of physics are numerous and significant. His work on parity laws and Yang-Mills fields has had a profound impact on our understanding of the physical world. He has also made significant contributions to statistical mechanics, condensed matter physics, and quantum field theory.
Personal Life
Yang has been married twice. His first wife, Chih-Li Tu, passed away in 2003. He is currently married to Weng Fan, a physicist and professor at Tsinghua University.
Honors and Awards
Over the course of his career, Yang has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to physics. In addition to the Nobel Prize, he has been awarded the Rumford Prize, the National Medal of Science, and the Benjamin Franklin Medal.
Legacy
Yang's work has had a profound impact on the field of physics. His discoveries have shaped our understanding of the fundamental forces of nature and have paved the way for countless advances in the field.
See Also
