Professor He Xiantu receives the 2019 Edward Teller Award
Oct 14, 2019
Peking University, Oct. 11, 2019: On September 26, Professor He Xiantu, also member of Chinese Academy of Sciences, theoretical physicist and honorary director at the Centre for Applied Physics and Technology of Peking University, was awarded the Edward Teller Award by the American Nuclear Society in Japan. He won the award for his outstanding leadership in the development of inertial confinement fusion (ICF) study and his significant contribution to target physics and high energy density physics.
"I am very honoured to have received the Teller Award, which not only recognises the collective efforts by the team, but also reflects China's advancements in inertial confinement fusion science and high-energy density physics research."
He Xiantu stressed that scientists working on large scientific projects must pay fine attention to basic scientific research. Only by attaching great importance to basic research can we improve our understanding in more complicated scientific fields and achieve breakthroughs in order to be in line with international standards.
He Xiantu receiving the 2019 Edward Teller Award
He Xiantu has made outstanding contributions to China’s nuclear research and development projects. He engages himself in various scientific fields including nuclear fusion, plasma physics, high energy density physics, and theoretical physics. He Xiantu led his team into developing China’s inertial confinement fusion technology, enabling China to develop its own nuclear weapons for protection against war. He also established an independent research system for China. He has won several national awards such as the National Science and Technology Progress Award (1st Class) , the National Natural Science( 2nd Class) , the Guanghua Foundation of Science and Technology Award(2nd class). In 1995, he was elected as a Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
He Xiantu was formerly the deputy director of the Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics in Beijing, the Secretary-General and Chief Scientist of the National 863 Program Hi-Tech ICF Project , the Presidium of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Director of the Department of Mathematical Sciences, and the Dean of the School of Science of Zhejiang University. Asteroid 079286 was named in his honour.
He Xiantu is currently the Director of the Centre for Applied Physics and Technology in Peking University. In the past ten years, He Xiantu led the teachers and students of the Centre in developing basic research applications in order to meet major national needs (such as national defense, laser inertial confinement fusion, etc). He has been cultivating a large number of outstanding young talents.
Extended reading:
In December 2007, Peking University established the virtual research institute “Centre for Applied Physics and Technology” with the support of the School of Engineering, the School of Mathematics, the School of Physics and other relevant research institutes, with He Xiantu employed as the director. In December 2010, a key laboratory for High Energy Density Physical Numerical Simulation of the Ministry of Education (Class B) was established on the basis of the Centre. In September 2017, in accordance with the model of the new research institute of science and engineering in Peking University, the Centre collaborated with China Academy of Engineering Physics to establish Peking University Engineering Physics Research Centre for Applied Physics and Technology. The new institutional centre is led by the famous physicist Zhang Weiyan, and He Xiantu holds the position of director.
Written by: June Tan Rui Min
Edited by: Wang Xi
Source: PKU News (Chinese)
