Tsung-Dao Lee, a brilliant Chinese-American physicist who made significant contributions to the field of particle physics, passed away at the age of 97 in his San Francisco home. Lee, who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1962, was highly regarded for his work and was known as one of the great masters in the field of physics.
Born in Shanghai in 1926, Lee’s academic journey took him to various universities in China before he received a scholarship to pursue graduate studies in the United States. He studied under Enrico Fermi at the University of Chicago and went on to conduct research at prestigious institutions such as the Yerkes Observatory in Wisconsin and the Institute for Advanced Study in New Jersey.
Lee’s groundbreaking research in elementary particles, statistical mechanics, astrophysics, and field theory earned him international recognition. In 1957, at the age of 31, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics alongside Chen-Ning Yang for their work on subatomic particle symmetry and interactions.
Throughout his career, Lee received numerous accolades, including the Albert Einstein Award in Science, the Galileo Galilei Medal, and honorary doctorates from institutions worldwide. He was also known for his lectures and efforts to promote scientific development in China, especially during the country’s increased engagement with international scientific communities in the 1970s.
Robert Oppenheimer, a prominent physicist, once praised Lee for his remarkable intellect and innovative approach to theoretical physics. Lee’s “Lee model” became a foundational concept for studying quantum phenomena and further advanced the scientific understanding of subatomic particles.
Lee’s legacy as a pioneering physicist and educator continues to inspire future generations of scientists to push the boundaries of knowledge and make significant contributions to the field of physics. His passing marks the end of an era in the scientific community, but his work and impact will endure for years to come.