粒子物理学发展的历史考察

A historical investigation of the particle physics development

粒子物理是现代物理学的重要分支,也是人类文明的标志性成就之一。1955—1995年,约1/3的诺贝尔物理学奖授予了粒子物理相关理论或实验研究。为分析其发展历程,按照时间顺序,将粒子物理的发展分为初步探索期、理论成熟期、实验验证期和继续完善期4个阶段。其中,初步探索期(1930—1951年)是粒子物理的起步与独立阶段;理论成熟期(1952—1967年)是粒子物理的理论体系构建阶段;实验验证期(1968—1985年)是粒子物理理论体系得到实验验证阶段;继续完善期(1986年至今)是粒子物理的接续发展阶段。现在人类比以往任何时期都更加接近于超越标准模型的新物理。

Particle physics is an important branch of modern physics,as well as one of the landmark achievements of human civilization.From 1955 to 1995,about one-third of the Nobel Prizes in Physics were awarded to the theoretical or experimental research related to particle physics;studying its history can help to truly understand the discipline.Chronologically,the development of particle physics can be roughly divided into four stages:the preliminary exploration period,theoretical maturity period,experimental verification period and continuous improvement period.The initial exploration period(1930—1951) was the initial stage of particle physics,the discipline gradually moving from nuclear physics to independence.The theoretical maturity stage(1952—1967) was the construction stage of the theoretical system of particle physics,paving the way for further experimental verification.The experimental verification period(1968—1985) was the preliminary completion stage of particle physics,and the theoretical system represented by the Standard Model was fully verified.The continued perfection period(1986—present) is the stage of continued development of particle physics,mankind being closer than ever to a new physics beyond the standard model.