The discovery of parity non-conservation solved this debate and puzzle: Li Zhengdao answers reporter Yang Xujie of Science Times about relevant materials

Author: Ji Cheng, Liu Huaizu, Teng Li
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: In 2002, Jiang Caijian's biography of Yang Zhenning was published in Taiwan. In this biography, the authors devote significant to narrating the story of the collaboration and split between Lee Tsung-dao and Yang Zhenning. Lee Tsung-dao and Yang Zhenning, two elite and brilliant minds of the Chinese nation, created revolutionary achievements in science that shook the world, especially the heart of the Chinese nation. The Chinese nation has always been proud and honored to have them. Unfortunately, a rift emerged between them. Their once-admired collaboration in the global scientific community broke down. The separation or conflict between Lee and Yang, or the Lee-Yang dispute, was a tragedy that drew worldwide attention and would inevitably be criticized and debated by the public. No matter how one looks at it, it was indeed a regrettable and unfortunate event. However, the Lee-Yang dispute is a historical fact and a reality that cannot be avoided. The last scientific collaboration between Lee and Yang occurred over forty years ago in 1962. After their collaboration ended, Lee Tsung-dao remained silent about the truth of the matter. Twenty years later, in 1982, Yang Zhenning first publicly described the Lee-Yang(2); in 1986, Lee Tsung-dao published his only written statement on the issue(3). Lee Tsung-dao's account of the events differs greatly from Yang Zhenning's narrative. After that, Lee Tsung-dao returned to his silence. But today, seventeen years later, the publication of Jiang Caijian's biography of Yang Zhenning once again broke Lee Tsung-dao's silence, bringing this issue back into the spotlight. What caused the successful collaboration between Lee and Yang to turn into a conflict? What turned what should have been a pleasant collaboration into a tragedy? Who is responsible for this tragedy? What is the truth of the matter? What lessons can we draw from this tragedy? Many questions are before us. To answer these questions, we need authentic materials and a clear understanding of the truth. Since 1982, Yang Zhenning has formally published his personal views on this unfortunate event in the form of an annotated collection of English essays. Later, in 1998, he published a collection of essays in Chinese, along with additional Chinese articles(4). He believes that the responsibility for this unfortunate event lies entirely with Lee Tsung-dao. In 1986, Lee Tsung-dao published an article in English on the issue. He originally planned to keep silent forever, leaving history to judge. However, Yang Zhenning's determination to "eventually reveal the truth to the world"(5) led to the recent publication of the biography of Yang Zhenning, sparking a new round of debate. What exactly is this "truth"? Can Lee Tsung-dao remain silent? The Lee-Yang dispute is a tragedy with unique circumstances, fundamentally different from other similar debates in the history of science, making it worth exploring. As one party in the debate, Yang Zhenning has fully expressed his views. Therefore, it is necessary to publish a collection of interviews with Lee Tsung-dao on this issue, along with the materials he provided, to present both sides of the story. We have strived to include all the facts and details of this matter in this collection. A key issue in the Lee-Yang collaboration and separation is whether the idea behind the 1956 paper, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1957, and the breakthrough in parity non-conservation in weak interactions, was proposed by Lee or Yang. The accounts published by Yang Zhenning in 1982 and Lee Tsung-dao in 1986 are consistent in describing the breakthrough in parity non-conservation in 1956; however, their recollections of how the breakthrough came about differ completely. The two versions differ significantly in terms of time, place, and circumstances. In 1956, this breakthrough immediately attracted the attention of several important experimental physicists, who conducted experiments and analyses and published their findings in papers. Later, the experimental physicists published articles, providing detailed and objective records of the events. Therefore, it is easy to prove which of Yang Zhenning's and Lee Tsung-dao's accounts is false. This situation is quite remarkable and may be rare in the history of science. To facilitate verification, we have translated all the important English materials into Chinese, allowing these objective facts to be compiled in this Chinese collection as background articles for the Lee and Yang narratives, enabling readers to fully understand the truth behind the 47-year-old breakthrough in parity non-conservation and its significant meaning in the history of physical science. This can also help further understand the true course of the Lee-Yang separation and allow the final truth to be revealed through factual proof. We are deeply grateful to Ms. Yang Xujie, a reporter from 《Science Times》, for her sharp questions. We are also very grateful to Academician Ye Minghan for helping to review and proofread the translations of the English historical materials compiled in this book.