Prof He Xiantu's Profile

Prof He Xiantu is a professor in Peking University. He obtained his Bachelor’s Degree from the Department of Physics in Zhejiang University in 1962. Soon after that, he joined the Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics in Beijing. In 1995 he was elected as a Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the highest accolade for scientists in China. He is also the Director of the Center for Applied Physics and Technology in Peking University. Prof He’s most important contribution to China is that he led a team of scientists to successfully develop China’s own Inertial Confinement Fusion technology, which allowed China to develop its nuclear and neutron weapons.

A Citation for Honorary Fellow Prof He Xiantu

Prof. HE Xiantu is the Director of the Centre for Applied Physics and Technology in Peking University and a Researcher in the Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics. He obtained his Bachelor's Degree from the Department of Physics in Zhejiang University in 1962. Soon after that, he joined the Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics in Beijing as an Assistant Researcher. He achieved the top academic rank of Research Professor in 1988 and became the Deputy Director of the Institute during 1991-1997. From 1999 to 2009, he was the Dean of the Faculty of Science at Zhejiang University. From 2001 to 2006, Professor He served as the Vice Director and as the Director of the Division of Mathematics and Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He has been selected to be a member of the Presidium of Academic Divisions and the Executive Committee of the Academy. In 2007 he assumed his current post as the Director of the Centre for Applied Physics and Technology.

Prof. He has made significant contributions to theoretical and high energy physics in a range of areas including high energy density physics, non-equilibrium statistical physics, nonlinear plasma physics, laser fusion and chaos theory. Prof. He has published over 300 articles on the diverse subjects. His scholarship has been internationally recognized. Prof. He has been invited to be a lecturer at prestigious international conferences and has on a number of occasions been appointed as the honoured Chair. He was the President of the Chinese Computational Physics Association from 2007- 2016 and further served during that period as the Chief Editor of the journal Communications in Computational Physics. From 2013 to present, he has been the Associate Editor of the journal Laser and Particle Beams.

Most notably, Prof. He has led a team of scientists to develop successfully China's own Inertial Confinement Fusion technology. The key technology has allowed China to develop its nuclear and neutron weapons, and enabled our nation to stand up to nuclear threats from hostile countries. It is an old adage that you need to prepare for war to prevent war, and even though in possession of formidable nuclear arsenals, China has declared never to be the first user of nuclear weapons in war. Due to his research and leadership, we have become safer from nuclear attacks. For his attainments in high energy physics and his contributions to China's nuclear weapon development, Prof. He has received awards, including the National Science and Technology Progress Award (1st Class, 1985), the National Natural Science Award (2nd Class, 1991), the Guanghua Foundation of Science and Technology Award (1st Class, 1992), the Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation Award of Physics Prize (2000), National 863 Project Outstanding Contribution Award (2001), and the Zhu Kezhen Prize (2010). In 1995 he was elected as a Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the highest honour for a scientist in China.

Mr Chairman, in view of Prof. He's distinguished achievements in high energy physics, and his important contributions to China's nuclear defense, it is my privilege to present him to you for the award of an Honorary Fellowship.