Prof. WANG Jianyu, expert in space optical payloads and photodetection, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Executive Deputy Chief Designer of Micius Quantum Experiments at Space Scale (QUESS) and Chief Commander for the satellite launch, delivered a speech on the extreme form of light detection and its application in space. The event was officiated at by Academican YANG Deren, President of NingboTech.
Prof. WANG Jianyu, having long been engaged in studies of the space photoelectric system and information acquisition and processing technology, currently focuses his attention on research fields including hyperspectral imaging technology, space laser detection technology and free space quantum communication technology.
Prof. WANG unraveled the mystery of the nature of light and ways to detect light and introduced cutting-edge theories and their application by sharing interesting cases in plain language. Light, also referred to as a stream of photons composed of light quanta, possesses wave-particle duality since it is both a form of particle and electromagnetic wave. Prof. WANG then likened the measurement of quantum state to probability of coin flipping and explained why quantum cryptography couldn’t be deciphered.
WANG, believing that quantum research and its application are of great significance, expounded on two space projects: Micius Quantum Experiments at Space Scale (QUESS) and Taiji Program in Space (TPS). The researchers behind QUESS, the world’s first ever quantum satellite for scientific experiments, successfully sent entangled quantum keys to ground stations separated by over 1,000 kilometers and mastered the ground-to-satellite quantum teleportation technology by overcoming technical difficulties. This feat has made China the first ever country in the world to achieve intercontinental quantum private communication. As the chief engineer of Taiji-1, WANG further elaborated on TPS. Since Einstein discovered gravitational wave, quantum cosmology has entered a new phase. Due to extremely weak signals, it’s a formidable task to detect gravitational wave in space, yet Chinese scientists, after unremitting exploration, successfully launched Taiji-1, China’s first technology experimental satellite for gravitational wave detection. He also mentioned that China would launch Taiji-2 and -3 satellites by 2033.
President YANG extended sincere gratitude to Prof. WANG who pictured a grand space future for teachers and students present. WANG’s illuminating report triggered questions like "the application of quantum keys in e-commerce", "the feasibility of in-orbit particle accelerator", "the practicability of quantum communication", etc., which were all answered by WANG with great patience.
As part of a series of events in celebration of the 20th anniversary of NingboTech, more academicians will be invited to share their views about cutting-edge technology in the near future. It’s expected that teachers and students will be motivated to engage themselves in research, which will surely promote the development of the university.
