Remembering a Titan: Nobel Laureate C.N. Yang, Architect of Modern Physics, Passes at 102

The world of theoretical physics mourns the loss of one of its most brilliant minds, Professor Chen-Ning Yang, affectionately known as C.N. Yang, who passed away on October 10, 2024, at the venerable age of 102. A towering figure whose groundbreaking work reshaped our understanding of the fundamental forces of the universe, Yang leaves behind an unparalleled legacy of intellectual achievement and discovery.

Professor Yang was a recipient of the 1957 Nobel Prize in Physics, an honor he shared with his colleague Tsung-Dao Lee.

Their revolutionary work challenged a long-held axiom in physics: the conservation of parity. They theorized that the weak nuclear force, responsible for radioactive decay, might violate this fundamental symmetry, meaning that the universe could distinguish between left and right in certain interactions.

This audacious hypothesis was soon confirmed experimentally, fundamentally altering the landscape of particle physics and paving the way for the Standard Model.

Born on September 22, 1922, in Hefei, Anhui province, China, C.N. Yang's intellectual journey was marked by early brilliance. He pursued his undergraduate and master's degrees at Southwest Associated University during a tumultuous period in Chinese history, before moving to the United States.

He earned his Ph.D. under the legendary Enrico Fermi at the University of Chicago, a testament to his burgeoning talent and formidable intellect.

His career flourished at institutions that defined 20th-century physics. After his postdoctoral work, he joined the prestigious Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, where he spent many formative years.

Later, he became the inaugural director of the Institute for Theoretical Physics at Stony Brook University, transforming it into a world-renowned center for research and innovation.

While the Nobel Prize celebrated his work on parity non-conservation, perhaps his most enduring and far-reaching contribution was the development of the Yang-Mills theory in 1954, in collaboration with Robert Mills.

This sophisticated mathematical framework, based on the concept of gauge invariance, provided the theoretical foundation for describing the strong and weak nuclear forces. It is now a cornerstone of the Standard Model of particle physics, underpinning almost all our modern understanding of how fundamental particles interact.

Beyond his profound scientific contributions, Professor Yang played a significant role in fostering scientific exchange between China and the United States.

Following President Richard Nixon's historic visit to China in the early 1970s, Yang was among the first prominent Chinese-American scholars to return to his homeland, bridging divides and encouraging scientific collaboration. His dedication to science and education extended globally, inspiring countless physicists across generations.

His personal life saw him married to Du Zhili until her passing in 2003, and later to Weng Fan in 2004.

Throughout his long and illustrious life, C.N. Yang remained an active and influential voice in the scientific community, continually engaging with new ideas and mentoring young talent.

C.N. Yang was not merely a physicist; he was a visionary whose insights continue to guide the exploration of the cosmos's deepest secrets.

His theories unlocked mysteries and posed new questions, cementing his place as an eternal beacon in the pantheon of scientific giants. As we reflect on his monumental achievements, we celebrate a life dedicated to unraveling the fundamental truths of our universe, a legacy that will undoubtedly inspire generations to come.