Yoichiro Nambu
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese-born American physicist
, currently a professor
at the University of Chicago
. Known for his contributions to the field of theoretical physics
, he was awarded a one-half share of the Nobel Prize in Physics
in 2008 for the discovery of the mechanism of spontaneous broken symmetry
in subatomic physics. The other half share was split equally between Makoto Kobayashi
and Toshihide Maskawa
"for the discovery of the origin of the broken symmetry which predicts the existence of at least three families of quarks in nature."
, Japan, in 1921. After graduating from the then Fukui Secondary High School
in Fukui City, he enrolled in the Tokyo Imperial University and studied physics. He received his B.S. in 1942 and D.Sc. in 1952. In 1949 he was appointed to associate professor at the Osaka City University
and promoted to professorship the next year at the age of 29.
In 1952, he was invited by the Institute for Advanced Study
in Princeton, New Jersey
, United States
, to study. He moved to the University of Chicago
in 1954 and was promoted to professor in 1958. From 1974 to 1977 he was also Chairman of the Department of Physics. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1970.
, for having done early work on spontaneous symmetry breaking
in particle physics
, and for having discovered that the dual resonance model
could be explained as a quantum mechanical theory of strings. He is accounted as one of the founders of string theory
.
After more than 50 years as a professor, he is now Henry Pratt Judson Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus at The University of Chicago's Department of Physics and Enrico Fermi Institute
.
The Nambu-Goto action
in string theory is named after Nambu and Tetsuo Goto. Also, massless boson
s arising in field theories with spontaneous symmetry breaking are sometimes referred to as Nambu-Goldstone bosons.
(1970), the J. Robert Oppenheimer Prize (1977), Japan's Order of Culture
(1978), the U.S.'s National Medal of Science
(1982), the Max Planck Medal
(1985), the Dirac Prize
(1986), the Sakurai Prize
(1994), the Wolf Prize in Physics
(1994/1995), and the Franklin Institute
's Benjamin Franklin Medal
(2005). He was awarded one-half of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Physics
"for the discovery of the mechanism of spontaneous broken symmetry in subatomic physics".
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
, currently a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
. Known for his contributions to the field of theoretical physics
Theoretical physics
Theoretical physics is a branch of physics which employs mathematical models and abstractions of physics to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena...
, he was awarded a one-half share of the Nobel Prize in Physics
Nobel Prize in Physics
The Nobel Prize in Physics is awarded once a year by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. It is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Alfred Nobel in 1895 and awarded since 1901; the others are the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Nobel Prize in Literature, Nobel Peace Prize, and...
in 2008 for the discovery of the mechanism of spontaneous broken symmetry
Spontaneous symmetry breaking
Spontaneous symmetry breaking is the process by which a system described in a theoretically symmetrical way ends up in an apparently asymmetric state....
in subatomic physics. The other half share was split equally between Makoto Kobayashi
Makoto Kobayashi (physicist)
is a Japanese physicist known for his work on CP-violation who was awarded one quarter of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Physics "for the discovery of the origin of the broken symmetry which predicts the existence of at least three families of quarks in nature."- Biography :After completing his PhD at...
and Toshihide Maskawa
Toshihide Maskawa
is a Japanese theoretical physicist known for his work on CP-violation who was awarded one quarter of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Physics "for the discovery of the origin of the broken symmetry which predicts the existence of at least three families of quarks in nature."-Biography:A native of Aichi...
"for the discovery of the origin of the broken symmetry which predicts the existence of at least three families of quarks in nature."
Early years
Nambu was born in TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan, in 1921. After graduating from the then Fukui Secondary High School
Fujishima High School
Fukui Prefectural Fujishima High School is a high school in Fukui, Japan, founded in 1855. The school is operated by the Fukui Prefectural Board of Education...
in Fukui City, he enrolled in the Tokyo Imperial University and studied physics. He received his B.S. in 1942 and D.Sc. in 1952. In 1949 he was appointed to associate professor at the Osaka City University
Osaka City University
, abbreviated to , is a public university in Japan. It is located in Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka City.- History :OCU's predecessor was founded in 1880, as the Osaka Commercial Training Institute with donations by local merchants. It developed into Osaka Commercial School in 1885, then was municipalized in...
and promoted to professorship the next year at the age of 29.
In 1952, he was invited by the Institute for Advanced Study
Institute for Advanced Study
The Institute for Advanced Study, located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States, is an independent postgraduate center for theoretical research and intellectual inquiry. It was founded in 1930 by Abraham Flexner...
in Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, to study. He moved to the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
in 1954 and was promoted to professor in 1958. From 1974 to 1977 he was also Chairman of the Department of Physics. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1970.
Career in physics
Nambu is famous for having proposed the "color charge" of quantum chromodynamicsQuantum chromodynamics
In theoretical physics, quantum chromodynamics is a theory of the strong interaction , a fundamental force describing the interactions of the quarks and gluons making up hadrons . It is the study of the SU Yang–Mills theory of color-charged fermions...
, for having done early work on spontaneous symmetry breaking
Spontaneous symmetry breaking
Spontaneous symmetry breaking is the process by which a system described in a theoretically symmetrical way ends up in an apparently asymmetric state....
in particle physics
Particle physics
Particle physics is a branch of physics that studies the existence and interactions of particles that are the constituents of what is usually referred to as matter or radiation. In current understanding, particles are excitations of quantum fields and interact following their dynamics...
, and for having discovered that the dual resonance model
Dual resonance model
In theoretical physics, a dual resonance model arose the early investigation of string theory as an S-matrix theory of the strong interaction....
could be explained as a quantum mechanical theory of strings. He is accounted as one of the founders of string theory
String theory
String theory is an active research framework in particle physics that attempts to reconcile quantum mechanics and general relativity. It is a contender for a theory of everything , a manner of describing the known fundamental forces and matter in a mathematically complete system...
.
After more than 50 years as a professor, he is now Henry Pratt Judson Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus at The University of Chicago's Department of Physics and Enrico Fermi Institute
Enrico Fermi Institute
The Institute for Nuclear Studies was founded September, 1945 as part of the University of Chicago with Samuel King Allison as director. On November 20, 1955 it was renamed The Enrico Fermi Institute for Nuclear Studies...
.
The Nambu-Goto action
Nambu-Goto action
The Nambu–Goto action is the simplest invariant action in bosonic string theory, and is also used in other theories that investigate string-like objects . It is the starting point of the analysis of zero-thickness string behavior, using the principles of Lagrangian mechanics...
in string theory is named after Nambu and Tetsuo Goto. Also, massless boson
Boson
In particle physics, bosons are subatomic particles that obey Bose–Einstein statistics. Several bosons can occupy the same quantum state. The word boson derives from the name of Satyendra Nath Bose....
s arising in field theories with spontaneous symmetry breaking are sometimes referred to as Nambu-Goldstone bosons.
Honors and awards
Nambu has won numerous honors and awards including the Dannie Heineman PrizeDannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics
Dannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics is an award given each year since 1959 jointly by the American Physical Society and American Institute of Physics. It is established by the Heineman Foundation in honour of Dannie Heineman...
(1970), the J. Robert Oppenheimer Prize (1977), Japan's Order of Culture
Order of Culture
The is a Japanese order, established on February 11, 1937. The order has one class only, and may be awarded to men and women for contributions to Japan's art, literature or culture; recipients of the order also receive an annuity for life...
(1978), the U.S.'s National Medal of Science
National Medal of Science
The National Medal of Science is an honor bestowed by the President of the United States to individuals in science and engineering who have made important contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of behavioral and social sciences, biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and...
(1982), the Max Planck Medal
Max Planck medal
The Max Planck medal is an award for extraordinary achievements in theoretical physics. It is awarded annually by the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft , the world's largest organization of physicists.-List of recipients:...
(1985), the Dirac Prize
Dirac Prize
The Dirac Prize is the name of four prominent awards in the field of theoretical physics, computational chemistry, and mathematics, awarded by different organizations, named in honour of Professor Paul Dirac, one of the great theoretical physicists of the 20th Century.- The Dirac Medal and Lecture...
(1986), the Sakurai Prize
Sakurai Prize
The J. J. Sakurai Prize for Theoretical Particle Physics, is presented by the American Physical Society at its annual "April Meeting", and honors outstanding achievement in particle physics theory...
(1994), the Wolf Prize in Physics
Wolf Prize in Physics
The Wolf Prize in Physics is awarded once a year by the Wolf Foundation in Israel. It is one of the six Wolf Prizes established by the Foundation and awarded since 1978; the others are in Agriculture, Chemistry, Mathematics, Medicine and Arts. The Prize is often considered the most prestigious...
(1994/1995), and the Franklin Institute
Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute is a museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States, dating to 1824. The Institute also houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.-History:On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughn Merrick and...
's Benjamin Franklin Medal
Benjamin Franklin Medal (Franklin Institute)
The Benjamin Franklin Medal is a science and engineering award presented by the Franklin Institute, of Philadelphia, PA, USA.-Laureates:*1998 - Emmanuel Desurvire *1998 - Robert B. Laughlin *1998 - David N. Payne...
(2005). He was awarded one-half of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Physics
Nobel Prize in Physics
The Nobel Prize in Physics is awarded once a year by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. It is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Alfred Nobel in 1895 and awarded since 1901; the others are the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Nobel Prize in Literature, Nobel Peace Prize, and...
"for the discovery of the mechanism of spontaneous broken symmetry in subatomic physics".
External links
- Yoichiro Nambu, Department of Physics faculty profile, University of Chicago
- Profile, Scientific American Magazine
- Yoichiro Nambu, Sc.D. Biographical Information
- Nambu's most-cited scientific papers
- Yoichiro Nambu's earliest book for the scientific layman
- Yoichiro Nambu's previously unpublished material, including an original article on spontaneously broken symmetry
- Interview at the AIP Oral History Transcript site (July 16, 2004)
- "A History of Nobel Physicists from Wartime Japan" Article published in the December 1998 issue of Scientific American, co-authored by Laurie Brown and Yoichiro Nambu