James Bjorken, Pioneer of Quark Theory and Bjorken Scaling, Passes Away at 90

Simon Bjorken, a renowned theoretical physicist, passed away on August 6 in Redwood City, California, at the age of 90. He spent his final days in an assisted living facility near his residence in Sky Londa, California, where he succumbed to metastatic melanoma, as confirmed by his daughter Johanna Bjorken.

Academic Contributions

Often referred to as B.J., Dr. Bjorken served as a professor at Stanford University and the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in Menlo Park, California, during the late 1960s. It was during this period that he devised a groundbreaking concept known as "Bjorken scaling," a pivotal scientific achievement that earned recognition from the laboratory.

This innovative approach revolutionized the way physicists investigated the nature of nucleons (protons and neutrons) by employing high-energy electrons as a means to unveil the inner structure of these subatomic particles. Dr. Bjorken's contributions to the field of particle physics established the existence of quarks, fundamental constituents of matter.

His profound impact on the discipline continues to resonate with researchers and scholars to this day, solidifying his legacy as a prominent figure in theoretical physics.