Profile of Yang Zhenning: A Journey Through His Life and Achievements
Born in Hefei, Anhui on October 1, 1922, Yang Zhenning is a world-renowned physicist who has achieved remarkable success in various fields of physics. His personal profile and achievements are truly remarkable. Yang Zhenning is currently serving as a Professor at the Hong Kong Chinese University of Hong Kong, Tsinghua University, and the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He has also been recognized by numerous scientific institutions, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences in the United States, and the Royal Society of Taiwan. In 1957, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. His journey in science began in 1942 when he graduated from South-West Associated University. In 1944, he obtained his Master's Degree from Tsinghua University and in 1945, he received the Mu Ouchi Scholarship to pursue his studies in the United States. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1948 and went on to serve as a lecturer at the university and a researcher at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton. In 1955, he became a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, and in 1966, he joined the faculty of the State University of New York at Stony Brook as a professor and the director of the Institute of Physics. His contributions to science are numerous and include his work in particle physics, statistical mechanics, and condensed matter physics. In particular, he made milestone contributions with R.L. Mills in proposing the non-Abelian gauge field theory in the 1950s and with Li Zhengdao in proposing the law of parity violation in weak interactions in 1956. His work in particle physics and statistical physics has been groundbreaking, leading to the Yang-Baxter equation and opening up new directions in quantum integrable systems and many-body research. Beyond his scientific achievements, Yang Zhenning has also played a pivotal role in promoting cultural exchanges between China and the United States. As one of the first Chinese scientists to visit China after the easing of relations between the two countries, he has made significant contributions to promoting understanding between the two nations through cultural and scientific exchanges. His impact extends beyond the academic world. He has been instrumental in establishing research institutions at Tsinghua University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Nankai University, and Sun Yat-sen University.Additional Information:
Gao Binglin, former President of Tsinghua University, spoke highly of Yang Zhenning, stating that "Mr. Yang is a flag bearer for Chinese scientists." According to Gao, Yang played a crucial role in recruiting top-notch talents to Tsinghua by recommending renowned computer scientist Yao Qizi to join the university. "He also donated his salary at Tsinghua to talent recruitment and student training," said Gao. Ge Molin, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, spoke about Yang's personal qualities, saying "Many people are knowledgeable but have a bigger temper. With Mr. Yang, you can say anything to him." Ge Molin also described Yang as a humble and loyal person who respects others, and anyone can debate with him. Not only has Yang Zhenning benefited his colleagues in terms of knowledge but also in character and style of work. His words "宁可拙，勿求巧；宁可朴，勿求华" (宁可朴实无华，不要刻意追求华而不实) have had a significant impact. In summary, Yang Zhenning's life and achievements are truly remarkable. His contributions to science and culture have left a lasting impact on China and the world.走进历史的长河，有一位名字始终熠熠生辉，那就是杨振宁（Zhen-Ning Franklin Yang）。这位出生于1922年9月22日的华裔物理学家，在统计力学和对称原理的研究上有着杰出的贡献。1957年，年仅35岁的杨振宁和另一位科学家李政道（Tsung-Dao Lee）因他们的弱力相互作用下粒子不遵守对称原理的理论，荣获诺贝尔物理学奖。这项理论由吴健雄（Chien-Shiung Wu）实验验证。杨与李在获得诺贝尔奖后关系逐渐恶化，双方对于弱相互作用下不对称性理论的首创权一直争论至今。值得一提的是，杨振宁不仅在学术上有着卓越的成就，他与罗伯特米尔斯共同发展的杨-米尔斯理论也是现代粒子物理学标准模型的重要组成部分。这一理论被誉为“杨-米尔斯理论”，成为物理学领域的一大基石。
杨振宁出生于安徽合肥的一个普通家庭，在北京完成了小学和中学教育。他在昆明西南联大获得了学士学位，两年后获得清华大学全额奖学金前往清华大学继续攻读硕士学位。此后，他获得芝加哥大学奖学金赴美国深造。在芝加哥大学，他师从爱德华特勒（Edward Teller），于1948年获得博士学位后担任恩里科费米的助理一年。此后，他曾在普林斯顿高等研究院工作，并于晚年移居纽约州立大学石溪分校任教。杨振宁的学术生涯中荣誉无数，包括当选为美国物理学会和中央研究院院士等荣誉。普林斯顿大学授予他荣誉博士学位。
除了学术成就外，杨振宁的个人生活也颇具传奇色彩。他于1950年与教师杜致礼结婚并育有两子一女。他的岳父是将领杜聿明。他的婚姻生活并非一帆风顺。妻子去世后不久，杨振宁便与年轻的翁帆（Weng Fan）结缘并步入婚姻殿堂。这段婚姻引起了部分中国媒体的争议和批评。尽管经历了许多波折，但杨振宁依然坚持自己的信仰和追求，为科学事业做出了巨大的贡献。他的故事不仅是一段学术历程的见证，更是对生命意义的不懈追求和探寻的生动写照。让我们继续期待这位伟大的科学家在未来的岁月里继续书写更多辉煌的篇章！
