Scientific Achievements of Prof. Chien Shiung Wu

Abstract

Five years ago, we wrote two papers in memory of Prof. Chien Shiung Wu [1-2]. And now in memory of her 100th birthday, I am very happy to write this paper again. Indeed, she is a world top-class female experimental nuclear physicist. She is also known as the Chinese Madame Curie. As is well known, Madame (Marie) Curie was the first in discovering the radioactive substances, while C. S. Wu was the first in thoroughly studying β-decay, the most mysterious one among radioactivities. C. S. Wu did various experiments in proving the Fermi's theory of β-decay carefully and precisely, and even also improving it precisely and perfectly, and leading to the correct V-A form of the β-interaction and even leading to the electro-weak unification finally. Indeed, C. S. Wu known as Chinese Madame Curie is reasonable and admirable. As compared with Madame Curie, E. Segrè (1980) even said that C. S. Wu is more worldly, elegant, and witty [3].