Dr. Daniel Chee Tsui stands as a preeminent figure in modern physics whose career bridges experimental innovation and academic leadership. Born in Henan province, China during the Sino-Japanese War on February 28, 1939, he completed his secondary education in Hong Kong before immigrating to the United States. He earned his bachelor's degree from Augustana College, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1961 as the only Chinese student in his cohort, and subsequently pursued graduate studies at the University of Chicago, where he received his Ph.D. in physics in 1967 under the supervision of Royal Stark. After establishing himself at AT&T Bell Laboratories, he transitioned to Princeton University in 1982, where he served as the Arthur LeGrand Doty Professor of Electrical Engineering for 28 years before assuming emeritus status in 2010.
Dr. Tsui's most significant contribution to physics came in 1982 when he and Horst L. Störmer discovered the fractional quantum Hall effect while working at Bell Laboratories, a finding that fundamentally reshaped our understanding of quantum phenomena in condensed matter systems. Their groundbreaking experiments revealed that electrons in powerful magnetic fields at extremely low temperatures could form a quantum fluid with particles exhibiting fractional electric charges, contradicting existing theoretical models that assumed only integer charge divisions. This unexpected discovery challenged fundamental assumptions about electron behavior and quantum mechanics, opening entirely new avenues for exploring macroscopic quantum phenomena. The theoretical interpretation provided by Robert B. Laughlin in 1983 completed the picture, demonstrating how electron interactions in two-dimensional systems could produce these fractional charges through the formation of a novel quantum fluid.
The profound implications of Tsui's work were recognized with the 1998 Nobel Prize in Physics, which he shared with Störmer and Laughlin, cementing the fractional quantum Hall effect as one of the most important discoveries in 20th century physics. His research laid crucial groundwork for advancements in quantum computing and topological quantum states, influencing generations of physicists exploring the quantum properties of matter. Despite retiring from active teaching, Dr. Tsui remains engaged with the scientific community as Professor Emeritus at Princeton University, where his legacy continues through the ongoing exploration of quantum phenomena in two-dimensional electron systems. The experimental techniques and conceptual frameworks he developed remain foundational to contemporary research in condensed matter physics, solidifying his position as a transformative figure in the understanding of quantum behavior in materials.
