Jefferson Lab in the News
Jefferson Lab Remembers Dr. Nathan Isgur
Press Release: Jefferson Lab, international nuclear physics community lose Nathan Isgur, leading theoretical physicist
On Tuesday, July 24, 2001, after a long and determined battle with cancer, Jefferson Lab lost its Chief Scientist, Dr. Nathan Isgur. He was a vital member of Jefferson Lab and a highly regarded member of the international nuclear particle physics community.
Dr. Isgur made important contributions to our understanding of quarks and gluons — of the nucleus. His major contributions were to the theory of the nuclear strong force, which results from the interaction of quarks and gluons. These contributions began with the seminal Isgur-Karl Quark Model developed in the 1970s and continued with the Isgur-Paton Flux Tube Model of quark-gluon interaction and most recently with the Isgur-Wise Heavy Quark Symmetry Model. For a quarter of a century — including his decade at Jefferson Lab — Dr. Isgur created alternative approaches, generated new ideas, and provided profound insights into these smallest bits of matter that make up the universe.
So pervasive are Dr. Isgur's scientific contributions that two of his papers appear on Stanford University's international list of "All-Time Top-Cited High-Energy Physics Articles." Each article has been credited with being cited in at least 1,000 other scientific papers.
During his time as Jefferson Lab's Chief Scientist and Head of University Relations, Dr. Isgur assembled and led a group of theoretical physicists that is now world renowned. He built the Lab's faculty programs, creating 62 Jefferson Lab-related faculty positions in the Southeast, with special emphasis at historically black and minority institutions. These programs serve as a model throughout the Department of Energy's national laboratory system.
During Dr. Isgur's long illness, he remained active as a theoretical physicist and the Laboratory's Chief Scientist, where he helped shape the scientific program and the future of Jefferson Lab. He led the formulation of the scientific case for Jefferson Lab's proposed upgrade from 6 to 12 GeV (billion electron volts) in the electron beams delivered to experimenters for probing nuclei.
Over the years, he received numerous national and international awards and recognition for his work, and published more than 100 papers on the quark structure of matter. For his most recent work, the discovery of Heavy Quark Symmetry, Dr. Isgur was awarded the J.J. Sakurai Prize in March 2001. The award, presented annually by the American Physical Society, recognizes premier contributions to particle theory.
"While we recognize Nathan's scientific brilliance," said Jefferson Lab's interim Director, Christoph Leemann, "we will miss him most in the roles he played at the Lab. He defined new directions for our experimental program. He had a unique ability to isolate a compelling physics phenomenon, then explain it for other physicists and the non-scientific community in clear physical terms or with enlightening analogies. Jefferson Lab and the international physics community are deeply saddened by this loss."
"Nathan's contributions to Jefferson Lab and the larger physics community will continue to be felt for years," Leemann said. "Here at Jefferson Lab, the direction of the physics program will continue to be shaped by his philosophy and his work. His enthusiasm in and dedication to science were contagious."
"Our thoughts and sympathy are with Nathan's family, Leemann continued. "We share their sadness and loss, and we join them in remembering a life well lived."
Dr. Isgur earned his Bachelor of Science degree in physics from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Toronto. He served as a professor of physics at Toronto from 1974 to 1990, when he joined Jefferson Lab as Head of the Theory Group and was appointed professor at the College of William and Mary and honored as a Governor's Distinguished CEBAF Professor.
Dr. Isgur, 54, leaves behind a close family and many friends and collaborators. The family is planning a private service. Memorials in his name may be made to the Walsingham Academy or Montessori School, both in Williamsburg, VA.