Chinese-American physicist Tsung-Dao Lee, who made substantial contributions to the field of particle physics, has passed away at the age of 97. His death on August 4, 2024, occurred at his home in San Francisco, as confirmed by multiple sources, including the Tsung-Dao Lee Institute at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the China Center for Advanced Science and Technology. Lee's legacy is monumental—his groundbreaking work not only earned him the Nobel Prize but also advanced our fundamental understandings of physics.
Born on November 24, 1926, in Shanghai, Lee was the third of six children. His father, Tsing-Kong Lee, was a merchant, and his mother, Ming-Chang Chang, was deeply religious. Lee's educational path began at local schools where his scientific capabilities shone early. He attended National Chekiang University and later the National Southwest Associated University, continually carving out his niche within the realms of mathematics and science.
Lee's academic endeavors truly took off when he was awarded a scholarship from the Chinese government, allowing him to study at the University of Chicago from 1946 to 1950. There, he had the distinct privilege of learning under Enrico Fermi, the Nobel laureate famed for his work on the Manhattan Project. Lee's time at these prestigious institutions laid the groundwork for his future innovations.
After his studies, Lee worked at several notable institutions, including the Yerkes Observatory and the University of California at Berkeley. It was during this time he honed his research skills, focusing on elementary particles, statistical mechanics, and astrophysics.
By 1953, Lee had joined Columbia University as an assistant professor. Just three years later, at the remarkably young age of 29, he became the youngest full professor in the university's history. During this period, he developed what is known as the "Lee Model," which has since become foundational for studying various quantum phenomena.
Lee's most notable achievement came when he shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with his colleague Chen-Ning Yang in 1957. Their groundbreaking research challenged the longstanding belief of parity conservation, pivotal to how physicists understood the laws governing particle interactions. At just 31 years old, this accolade solidified Lee's status as the second youngest laureate, forever marking him as one of the great minds of modern physics.
Throughout his illustrious career, Lee did not merely accumulate accolades. He was awarded numerous prestigious honors, including the Albert Einstein Award and the Galileo Galilei Medal. These recognitions were not only for his intellectual prowess but also reflected his commitment to advancing the scientific community at large.
Though he became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1962, Lee maintained strong ties to his heritage. Throughout the 1970s, as China began re-engaging with the international academic community, Lee returned home multiple times, giving lectures and inspiring the next generation of Chinese scientists. His impact on scientific education and practice is celebrated across local platforms, including Weibo, where users on social media are now reflecting on his life and contributions, commenting on both his American citizenship and his Chinese roots.
Robert Oppenheimer, famously known as the father of the atomic bomb, once remarked on Lee's brilliance. Oppenheimer appreciated Lee's unique approach to theoretical physics, praising him for the "remarkable freshness, versatility, and style" of his work. Such endorsements from distinguished scientists underscore Lee’s significance and influence within his field.
While Lee's passing marks the end of an era, his innovations and inspirations will continue to resonate across generations. From his early life in China to his significant impact in America, Tsung-Dao Lee's legacy is one of brilliance and transformative contributions to our knowledge of the universe.
