The 1973 research paper titled CP Violation in the Renormalizable Theory of Weak Interaction stands as the fourth most cited high-energy physics article in history. Co-authored by Toshihide Maskawa, this work proposed the existence of at least three quark families to explain broken symmetry, a prediction subsequently validated by the experimental discovery of the bottom quark.
Academic Foundation
Born in Nagoya in 1940, Maskawa attended Nagoya University, where he completed his undergraduate studies in 1962. He earned his Doctor of Science degree in particle physics from the same institution in 1967 under the supervision of physicist Shoichi Sakata. Following his graduation, he served as a research associate at Nagoya University before transitioning to Kyoto University in 1970.
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During his tenure at Kyoto University, Maskawa collaborated with Makoto Kobayashi to address challenges within the Standard Model of particle physics. Their theory introduced the Cabibbo–Kobayashi–Maskawa matrix, a mathematical framework defining quark mixing parameters. This research earned them a share of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Physics, which they shared with Yoichiro Nambu. During the award ceremony at Stockholm University, Maskawa delivered his lecture, titled What Did CP Violation Tell Us?, in Japanese.
Institutional Leadership
Maskawa held significant administrative roles throughout his career, including director of the Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics from 1997 to 2003. He later served as the director general of the Kobayashi-Maskawa Institute for the Origin of Particles and the Universe at Nagoya University. His professional affiliations also included positions at the University of Tokyo and Kyoto Sangyo University, alongside membership in the Japan Academy.
Public Engagement and Final Years
Beyond his laboratory research, Maskawa was an active voice in Japanese public life, consistently advocating for the preservation of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution and opposing the state secrecy law. He also maintained critical views regarding official visits to the Yasukuni Shrine. Maskawa died of oral cancer in Kyoto on 23 July 2021 at the age of 81.
Fast facts
- Born: 7 February 1940, Nagoya, Japan
- Died: 23 July 2021, Kyoto, Japan
- Field: Theoretical particle physics
- Nobel Prize in Physics: 2008
- Doctoral advisor: Shoichi Sakata
- Education: Nagoya University
- Languages: Japanese
Questions readers ask
What specific discovery led to the Nobel Prize?
Maskawa and Makoto Kobayashi were recognized for identifying the origin of broken symmetry, which necessitated the existence of at least three families of quarks.
Did Maskawa speak English during his Nobel lecture?
No, he delivered his 2008 Nobel lecture in Japanese, with the audience relying on subtitles.
Achievements
- Nobel Prize in Physics — 2008
- Held posts at Kobayashi-Maskawa Institute for the Origin of Particles and the Universe, Kyoto Sangyo University and Kyoto University
- Educated at Nagoya University
- Fields of research: particle physics
