Wu led the team that observed gluons, a key to the strong force in physics.
In mid-1979, Sau Lan Wu played a critical role in one of particle physics’ most important discoveries: the first direct observation of gluons. Working within the TASSO collaboration at the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY) in Germany, Wu led the analysis of three-jet events in electron-positron collisions that provided definitive evidence for gluons. Gluons are the elementary particles responsible for the strong force, one of the four fundamental forces in physics, which binds quarks together within protons and neutrons. This discovery was a monumental stride forward in the field of quantum chromodynamics and cemented Wu's status as a leading physicist. Her work challenged the collaborative efforts in theoretical and experimental approaches, overcoming the skepticism and biases inherent in the traditional scientific community of that era.