The 1998 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Daniel C. Tsui, Horst L. Störmer, and Robert B. Laughlin for their identification of a new form of quantum fluid characterized by fractionally charged excitations. This research into the fractional quantum Hall effect serves as a cornerstone for modern understandings of condensed matter physics and solid-state phenomena.
Early Development and Academic Training
Born in 1939 in Baofeng County, Henan, Tsui experienced a childhood shaped by the Second World War. In 1951, he relocated to Hong Kong, attending Pui Ching Middle School and the Clementi Secondary School. He moved to the United States in 1958 to attend Augustana College on a scholarship, graduating in 1961. He subsequently earned his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Chicago in 1967, completing a dissertation on the de Haas-van Alphen effect under the supervision of Royal Stark.
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Tsui joined the research staff at Bell Laboratories in 1968, focusing his inquiry on the physics of two-dimensional electrons rather than standard semiconductor research. This redirection of effort led to the 1982 discovery of the fractional quantum Hall effect alongside Horst L. Störmer. The discovery revealed complex quantum behavior within microstructures, which required significant theoretical interpretation provided by Robert B. Laughlin the following year.
Princeton University and Professional Recognition
In February 1982, Tsui joined the department of electrical engineering at Princeton University, where he remained until his transition to emeritus status in 2010. Beyond his primary research, he maintained professional affiliations with Columbia University and Boston University. His work earned extensive institutional recognition, including the 1984 Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize, the 1998 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Physics, and membership in several bodies, including the National Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Fast facts
- Born: 1939, Baofeng County
- Ph.D.: University of Chicago, 1967
- Nobel Prize in Physics: 1998
- Major research focus: Two-dimensional electrons
- Primary employer: Princeton University
- Benjamin Franklin Medal: 1998
- Citizenship: United States
- Emeritus status attained: 2010
Questions readers ask
What is the primary contribution of Daniel C. Tsui to physics?
He discovered the fractional quantum Hall effect, which revealed a new form of quantum fluid involving fractionally charged excitations.
Where did Tsui complete his undergraduate and doctoral studies?
He graduated from Augustana College in 1961 and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1967.
Achievements
- Benjamin Franklin Medal — 1998
- Nobel Prize in Physics — 1998
- Benjamin Franklin Medal in Physics — 1998
- Held posts at Princeton University
- Educated at Augustana College, Boston University and Clementi Secondary School
- Fields of research: physics
