XUE Qikun, academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and president of Southern University of Science and Technology, delivered a keynote lecture at the 8th Shanghai Master Forum on Science on September 8.
Recognized as a prominent figure in the field of condensed matter physics in China, Xue has garnered extensive acclaim for his pioneering work on quantum anomalous Hall effect and high-temperature superconductivity. His contributions have earned him prestigious awards such as the First Prize of the State Natural Science Award, State Preeminent Science and Technology Award, Fritz London Memorial Prize, and Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Physics Prize.
Xue described the field of superconductivity research as a rich mine of scientific discoveries, noting that over the past 113 years, five Nobel Prizes in Physics have been awarded for research in superconductivity. He emphasized the importance of choosing research directions that build upon the discoveries of scientific giants, suggesting that such directions hold the potential for new scientific breakthroughs.
To explain the phenomenon of superconductivity, Xue used an analogy comparing atomic vibrations to people doing radio exercise, illustrating how reduced atomic motion at lower temperatures facilitates the flow of electrons and thus superconductivity. He also discussed the significance of the Hall effect and its quantum version, which led to the discovery of the quantum anomalous Hall effect—a state in which materials exhibit quantized Hall resistance without the need for an external magnetic field.
Xue's team, in collaboration with others, embarked on a quest to realize the quantum Hall effect without a magnetic field, a challenge that requires a material with topological properties, long-range ferromagnetic order, and an insulating interior. After more than four years of hard work and the preparation of over a thousand samples, Xue's team observed the quantum anomalous Hall effect in a magnetic topological insulator, marking a significant milestone in the field.
In March 2013, their groundbreaking work was published in the journal Science, drawing global attention and praise from Professor Yang Chen-Ning, a Nobel laureate in Physics, who lauded it as a Nobel Prize-level physics paper from a Chinese laboratory for the first time.
Xue highlighted ongoing research into the quantum anomalous Hall effect and the potential for new materials to reveal even more about this phenomenon. He also addressed the promise of nickel-based superconductors, encouraging young researchers to pursue their scientific inquiries without being constrained by existing theories or past results.
After reviewing the development of superconductivity research, how should scientific research be defined? Xue Qikun shared his understanding of scientific research, dividing it into three levels - 0 to 1 discoveries, 1 to 10 expansions, and 10 to 100 breakthroughs.
Choosing the direction of research is crucial, he advised young researchers, If you are in such a frontier direction, you may have the opportunity to make new scientific discoveries based on the works of previous great scientists.
When discussing the internal motivation that has supported his many years of scientific research, Xue always refers to his life experiences in the Yimeng Mountain area. The hard life he experienced has enabled him to withstand the challenges of high-intensity scientific research: he works more than 12 hours a day, more than 26 days a month, and more than 330 days a year on academic work. After persisting for thirty years, this extraordinary endurance has brought him generous rewards.
Xue, drawing from his own experiences growing up in the Yimeng mountain area, stressed the importance of cultivating excellent academic taste from an early age. He advised young scholars to read widely, seek advice, and attend academic conferences to continuously learn and innovate. As the president of Southern University of Science and Technology, Xue is committed to nurturing the next generation of scientific climbers, emphasizing the responsibility to contribute to the nation's scientific advancement.
Wu Xinbao, vice chairman of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, presented Xue with the forum's speaker certificate. The event was chaired by Jin Li, president of Fudan University and academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
(END)
Presented by Fudan University Media Center
Writer: WANG Mengqi
Editor: LI Yijie
Designer: CHEN Shuyang
