Who Will Be Awarded the Nobel for QCD Now that Murray Gell-Mann Has Died?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the implications of Murray Gell-Mann's passing for the Nobel Prize related to quantum chromodynamics (QCD). Participants explore the historical context of Nobel awards in relation to QCD and speculate on who might be recognized for contributions to the theory.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express that Gell-Mann's death means a Nobel for QCD cannot happen now.
  • Others note that Gell-Mann had already received a Nobel Prize for his contributions to particle classification and interactions.
  • There is a discussion about whether the Nobel Prize has effectively been awarded for QCD through the recognition of Gross and Wilczek.
  • Participants question who should be considered the "father of QCD," mentioning figures like Fritzsch, Nambu, Wilson, and Weinberg, with a significant number already having received Nobel Prizes.
  • Some participants highlight the contributions of others who developed QCD further, such as Bjorken, Soper, Ellis, Collins, and Sterman.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on whether a Nobel Prize for QCD can still be awarded or who should be recognized for their contributions, indicating multiple competing views remain.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects uncertainty regarding the criteria for Nobel recognition in the context of collaborative scientific advancements and the historical precedence of double Nobel Prizes.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in the history of physics, Nobel Prize discussions, and the development of quantum chromodynamics may find this conversation relevant.

George Jones
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According to the Twitterverse, the great physicist Murray Gell-Mann has died. I had hoped that, eventually, a Nobel would be awarded for the theory of QCD (quantum chromodynamics). Now that can't happen.
 
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Physics news on Phys.org
From the Santa Fe institute: Murray Gell-Mann passes away at 89
:(
George Jones said:
I had hoped that, eventually, a Nobel would be awarded for the theory of QCD (quantum chromodynamics). Now that can't happen.
He got a Nobel Prize "for his contributions and discoveries concerning the classification of elementary particles and their interactions."
Double Nobel Prizes are extremely rare, and apart from Curie (1903, 1911) they have only been given for outstanding work in two very different disciplines.
 
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George Jones said:
I had hoped that, eventually, a Nobel would be awarded for the theory of QCD (quantum chromodynamics). Now that can't happen.

Hasn't it sort of already happened (Gross and Wilcek)? And who is the father of QCD? Fritzsch? Nambu? Wilson? Weinberg? (75% of whom already got the Nobel) What about the people who fleshed it out as a theory? People like Bjorken, Soper, Ellis, Collins and Sterman?
 

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