Source：China News, 2017-01-19
A frontier physics forum on “Quantum Hall Effect, Topo Matter and High Temperature Superconductors” was held recently in Tsinghua University. The forum was organized by Tsinghua University’s Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, with support from the Tsinghua University–Jinzhong Longyue Research Center for Topo Quantum Information Technologies. This was a special academic summit forum organized the day before the award ceremony in which Tsinghua Vice President Xue Qikun received the first Future Science Prize – Material Science Award.
Nine world-renowned physicists were also invited to participate in the forum. These included Prof. Klaus von Klitzing from Germany, a 1985 physics Nobel Laureate, awarded for his discovery of the quantum Hall effect, which greatly widened human knowledge on quantum phenomenon at the macro-material scale, and Prof. George Bednorz, who was awarded the 1987 Nobel Prize in physics as one of the discoverers of cuprate-based high temperature superconductors. In addition, Prof. Zhang Shousheng from Stanford University, Prof. Nai Phuan Ong from Princeton University, Prof. Jainendra Jain from Pennsylvania State University, Prof. Yoshinori Tokura from the University of Tokyo, Prof. Shen Zhixun from Stanford University, Prof. Zhang Fuchun from the Cavelli Institute and Prof. Weng Zhengyu from Tsinghua University all introduced their cutting-edge research on topics covering the quantum Hall effect, topological matter and high temperature superconductors.
Research on the quantum Hall effect and high temperature superconductors has been a hot issue for over thirty years. The former issue has directly enlightened our knowledge and exploration of the topological states of matter (the subject of the 2016 Nobel Prize in physics), while study of the mechanism underlying high temperature superconductors is still a core problem in physics.
Prof. Von Klitzing reviewed the discovery of the quantum Hall effect. As one of the most basic and most important quantum effects in condensed matter physics, this effect is a perfect embodiment of the quantum behavior of electrons on the macroscopic scale. The discovery of quantum Hall effect also allowed the establishment of an extremely exact standard for resistance, a widely-used physical quantity. Its direct consequence also includes other quantized members in the Hall effect family: the quantum spin Hall effect and the quantum anomalous Hall effect. Prof. von Klitzing mentioned the break-through achieved by Prof. Xue Qikun’s team on quantification of the anomalous Hall effect, calling the identification of this third member of the quantum Hall trio the “inlaying of the last plate” for the quantum Hall effect family, hailing this as a great advance in the basic physics framework, and of great significance for the design of quantum devices that may break Moore’s Law. During the speech, Prof. von Klitzing presented Prof. Xue Qikun with a special gift – the Nobel memorial tea set that he had kept for years – to congratulate Prof. Xue on winning the first Future Science Prize.
Prof. Bednorz shared with the audience the story of his research on the development of high temperature superconductors. Prior to this work oxides were widely regarded as irrelevant for studies of superconductivity, let alone as potential high temperature superconducting materials. However, after thorough analysis and discussion, Prof. Bednorz and Prof. Muller took an opposing view, searching for new superconducting material in oxides, and ultimately achieving great success. This action, against the current of conventional wisdom, was not only based on rational thought and analysis, but also on the courage and confidence to challenge scientific authority. His story inspired the young students in the audience, stressing that great science research requires the courage to think independently, to stick to one’s own chosen path and to do something that people may otherwise consider impossible, and pointing out that new developments in science are often achieved by exactly this kind of exploration. Prof. Bednorz also introduced the application of high temperature superconductors in various industries. The presentation gave a clear overview of how science and technology can affect our lives, and was a great motivation for young scientific researchers and students to be more firm in their resolution to work hard and make a contribution to society.
Other speakers also gave detailed reports on topics including the quantum Hall effect, topological states of matter and high temperature superconductors. The enthralling presentations, which allowed the audience to see the boundless charm of scientific research and the elegant demeanor of scientists, caused quite a sensation among the attendees that attended the academic feast. Apart from students and staff from Tsinghua University, the forum also attracted numerous audience members from Peking University, and the Institute of Physics (Chinese Academy of Sciences), as well as other colleges and research institutes, who together filled the conference hall in Tsinghua’s main building, which can hold 400 people. Graduate students took an active part in the discussions and raised many questions. The interactive nature of the meeting helped them to understand physics problems more profoundly, and this was exactly one of the goals of this forum.
Prof. Gu Binglin from Tsinghua University chaired the opening ceremony. As a physicist specialized in condensed matter physics, Prof. Gu pointed out that the quantum Hall effect, topological matter and high temperature superconductivity are the areas of most intense focus in modern condensed matter physics research. He added that even though scientists have made many breakthroughs during the past thirty years, some serious puzzles still remain to be solved, and new problems lie ahead waiting for a new generation of talented scholars in physics to explore, noting that the attendees of this forum were just such people.
Chen Xu, Secretary of Tsinghua University’s Party Committee, also attended the forum and warmly welcomed the visiting scholars. She pointed out that on the occasion of Prof. Xue Qikun winning the first Future Science Prize the forum was a very significant event. Condensed matter physics is one of the hottest research areas in physics and an important part of physics research in China, with over half of the academic staff in Chinese colleges and universities carrying out related research. During the past ten years, Tsinghua University has made great contribution to the discipline of condensed matter physics, especially with regard to areas such as topological insulators, the quantum anomalous Hall effect and high temperature superconductivity, among which was the breakthrough made by Prof. Xue Qikun and his team on novel quantum phenomena using molecular beam epitaxy. In addition, Secretary Chen Xu also introduced Tsinghua University’s deep-seated culture on opening-up and communication, expressing her wish that scholars could often come to visit and cooperate with faculty and students at Tsinghua University.
The forum organizers also commented that a further goal of the forum was one of scientific education and communication, to enhance public knowledge on relevant frontier scientific research and international cooperation in areas such as the quantum Hall effect and high temperature superconductors. The organizers also added that this was an excellent opportunity for students to learn and be inspired by the chance to meet and discuss with famous physicist, and hoped that some of them may even be able to initiate a collaboration with the visiting scholars.
[update: 2017-01]
