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Micius, developed by Pan’s team, is the world’s first quantum science CROSSING satellite.

PHYSICS USTC has one of the most comprehensive individual proteins in living cells in real the understanding of glass transition from a physical science portfolios in China. Its School time. solid-state perspective. They discovered two- ©USTC PHYSICAL of Physical Sciences studies small particles The USTC team, led by CAS member Guo dimensional melting and were the first to and atoms, as well as astronomical bodies Guangcan, has focused on technologies for observe octagonal soft quasicrystals in high- and the universe, covering everything from quantum cryptography, quantum chips and density systems of soft-core particles. Using theoretical physics to photonics engineering, simulators. They simultaneously observed both novel biophysics tools, researchers have and from microelectronics to biophysics. the particle and wave natures of photons in measured the switching dynamics of flagellar Many of its programmes were established experiments, challenging the complementarity motors, which propel many bacteria. Their as USTC was founded, in 1958, by renowned principle proposed by Bohr. Their achievements results are published in high-profile journals, scientists of the time, such as Yan Jici and also include developing China’s first fibre such as Physical Review Letters and Nature BOUNDARIES n Qian Sanqiang. Today, USTC has integrated quantum key system; entangling eight photons Physics. The University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) has forged an excellent its physical science strengths and established using ultra-bright photon sources; and creating reputation for basic research in physical sciences. Now it is integrating those strengths to advanced research platforms, including Hefei the solid-state quantum memory with the develop exciting cross-disciplinary innovations. National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the world’s best performance. Computational Microscale (HFNL), the National Synchrotron Particle and nuclear physics explores geometry High-temperature studies by USTC Radiation Laboratory (NSRL), and key composition and interactions at the sub- mathematicians laboratories of the state, the Chinese Academy atomic scale. The State Key Laboratory of superconductivity have applications of Sciences(CAS) and the province. With these Particle Detection and Electronics at USTC in 3D printing. MATHEMATICS platforms, the school has achieved remarkable provides leading technologies in support of the Mathematics, as the foundation of many physical science subjects, is the bedrock of research results, particularly in quantum development of the field. Its researchers have USTC’s development. The university reorganized its maths department into the School communication and computation, super- contributed to some major breakthroughs of Superconductors, able to transmit electricity of Mathematical Sciences (SMS) in 2011, which is now a leader in China’s mathematical conductivity, and single-molecular physics. the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy with no energy loss, are sought-after materials research and education. A research group led by Pan Jianwei, a Ion Collider (RHIC) in the Brookhaven National in many fields, ranging from information The school’s outstanding mathematicians are exploring new possibilities CAS member, seeks to apply basic theories Laboratory, including developing the time-of- technology to biomedicine. However, the in algebra and algebraic geometry, differential geometry, graph theory, in quantum mechanics into quantum flight spectrometer that increases the particle low transition temperature has limited their dynamic systems, mathematical physics, partial differential equations, and communication, computation and precision identification reach, discovering the anti- applications. Breakthroughs by a joint team probability and statistics. Their research results have important implications measurement. Notably, Pan’s research on the helium-4, the heaviest antimatter nucleus, from USTC and the Institute of Physics (IOP) to many physical science and engineering fields. Based on theories such entanglement of photons has provided a possible and measuring antiproton interactions. Other at CAS have raised the transition temperature as spline functions, geometric modelling and sparsity optimization, solution to secure long-distance communication, projects include work on the Higgs boson considerably, shedding light on more efficient the computational geometry group has developed a series of novel promoting its real-world application. To achieve particle discovery, and constructing the Beijing power transmission. algorithms and methods for cost-effective 3D printing, light-weight and inter-continental quantum communication, Pan Spectrometer III detector. USTC researchers, led by CAS member interlocking structure designs, shape decomposition, and customized led the development and launch of Micius, the In plasma physics, a 20-plus member Chen Xianhui, with their IOP colleagues, have mechanical structure design. These works, published in top journals, world’s first quantum science satellite, a success USTC group has established the Keda Torus identified a new family of high-temperature have also led to patented technologies, making an impact in both in all planned experiments. By manipulating eXperiment (KTX), China’s only reversed field superconductors in iron-based materials, the academic community and the fabrication industry. multi-photon entanglement, the core of pinch (RFP) device that magnetically confines which are normally considered poor Other breakthroughs by SMS mathematicians include: quantum computation, Pan’s group has also plasma. Designed and built entirely in China, conductors. They achieved superconductivity introducing Higgs de-Rham flow, a fundamental notion in tested all the major quantum algorithms, and KTX has high Ohmic power, high beta ratio, and at a transition temperature of 55K, raising arithmetic and algebraic geometry, which supports use of the developed the first photon-quantum computer automatically maintains magnet-heat balance. the critical temperature well above 40K at Hodge theory; establishing the connection between dynamic prototype which outperforms early-generation The device facilitates cutting-edge fusion ambient pressure for the first time. The team systems and combinatorial number theory by finding relations classical computers. research and theoretical and experimental also synthesized a series of novel iron-based among the set of common differences of arithmetic progressions USTC work has improved computing power by research on three-dimensional toroidal physics. superconducting materials, including an air- in a ‘big’ subset of integers and higher-order, almost automorphic considerably lengthening the state of quantum Its size and function also make KTX an ideal stable iron selenide superconductor. systems; proving the Bando-Siu conjecture in differential superposition, or the coherence time, of electron platform for training researchers on nuclear These achievements won Chen the first geometry; and deriving Gaussian curvature estimates for the spin in a noisy environment. The team, led fusion. prize of the National Natural Science Award in convex level sets of p-harmonic functions. by CAS member, Du Jiangfeng, realised the The USTC foray into soft matter and 2013 and the 2015 Bernd T. Matthias Prize for Works by SMS scholars have led to around 150 papers prolonged quantum states through pioneering biophysics covers everything from non-crystal Superconducting Materials. published each year in journals listed in the Science Citation decoupling technology, which they also applied solids, quasi-crystal and crystallization to Index (SCI), including top journals of the field, such as Annals for quantum precision measurement. Using the dynamics of bacterial behaviour and flagellar of Mathematics and Inventiones Mathematicae, and numerous diamond nitrogen-vacancy centre as a probe, motors. This area uses physics to solve national awards. Several USTC mathematicians have been invited in a world first, they obtained the paramagnetic biological questions and is integral to USTC’s to address the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM). resonance spectra of single protein molecules in interdisciplinary efforts. SMS also regularly hosts mathematicians from around the world, room-temperature environment and disclosed Using simulation and theoretical analysis, and organizes national and international conferences to promote the underling kinetic properties. This was hailed USTC researchers have studied the structure

global exchange. n ©USTC LIBRARY/GETTY IMAGES ©KTSDESIGN/SCIENCE PHOTO as an important milestone toward imaging of non-crystal solids, or glass, allowing for

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GEOSCIENCE Hefei National Earth and space sciences are a traditional strength at USTC. Original departments of applied geophysics, Laboratory for geochemistry and rare elements, established at the Physical Sciences at founding of the university, were integrated into the School Single- of Earth and Space Sciences (SESS) in 2001. The school molecule the Microscale exploits the brilliance of USTC resources in physics, Raman imaging chemistry and other fields for further development. produces Major research areas include space physics, solid detailed geophysics, atmospheric science, geochemistry and chemical The Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at environmental science. With advanced research pictures. the Microscale (HFNL) was established at USTC as a pillar platforms, including CAS key laboratories on the near in support of building Hefei into a national science centre. Earth space environment and on crust-mantle materials This interdisciplinary platform focuses on emerging fields and environment, a provincial key laboratory on polar of national strategic importance, such as information environment and global change, and a wilderness science science, new energy and health, and leverages USTC’s

observation station, the school has made breakthrough ©USTC resources in nanotechnology, biotechnology, cognitive results in basic research and applicable technologies. science and information technology to support basic and It stands out for research on subduction zones, deep- applied research. Earth, the space environment, the polar environment and CHEMISTRY & With 10 research divisions, HFNL seeks to make original atmospheric remote sensing. These works have supported MATERIAL SCIENCE breakthroughs in optical and cold atom physics, single developing advanced instruments, such as quantum laser molecular and low-dimensional physics and chemistry, radar and space payload. Chemistry and material sciences are coupling. Their research provides new nanomaterials, catalysis and energy conversion, as well As China grows into a research powerhouse, the central priorities at USTC. Cutting-edge tools for chemical imaging, opening up as molecular and cell biophysics, neural circuits and brain exploration of deep sea, deep Earth and deep space is on science and interdisciplinary areas were a new avenue for studying molecular cognition, molecular medicine and computation science. the national strategic agenda. Seizing this priority, SESS is set as focus from the very beginning. interactions and energy transfer. Its innovative researchers have undertaken numerous maintaining its leading position by enhancing its strengths, One feature is the integration of Inspired by biomaterials, the national major research projects, ranging from quantum and initiating new programmes in emerging fields. chemistry and physics in the chemical biomimetic material group, led by USTC control and quantum information to nanotechnology and One such area is comparative planetology, which physics department and polymer professor Yu Shuhong, has developed protein machines. World-leading results include achieving integrates almost all areas of geoscience. The exploration chemistry and physics department fabrication techniques for making bulk entanglement swapping with storage and retrieval of of planets also has important implications to the future established in 1958. The former was artificial mother-of-pearl, very similar light, which clears the way for long-distance quantum of society. Committed to developing this frontier field, set to meet the demands for talent at to the natural material, with enhanced communication, and developing novel, iron-based SESS is deeply involved in China’s major space research the interface between chemistry and strength. Biomimetic materials they superconducting materials, promoting condensed matter projects, including the missions to explore Mars and physics; while the latter, China’s first fabricated also include super elastic physics research. the Moon. It has also undertaken the job of building polymer science department, played a and anti-fatigue carbon-based aerogel, With an efficient, novel management system and carrying capacity for space shuttles and other exploration key role in the speedy growth of China’s and a resin-based porous material world-class public technology platforms, equipped with

©USTC infrastructure. n polymer industry of plastic, rubber and that mimics wood and is light-weight, advanced instruments, HFNL is poised to become a fibre. resilient, fire-proof and corrosion first-class centre for basic research, talent training and Now, the USTC School of Chemistry resistant. With the team’s mass innovative technologies. and Materials Science houses three CAS production technologies, Yu hopes to key laboratories, on energy conversion soon use these biomimetic materials in materials, soft matter chemistry, and bone transplantation and biomedicine, urban pollutant conversion, as well body shielding, as well as aerospace. ASTRONOMY USTC took as two provincial key laboratories of Aiming to control pollution using The USTC astronomy programme started in 1972 and part in the biomass clean energy and functional chemical tools, a team led by USTC has grown into a research institution and training base develop- materials, and two platforms for professor, Yu Hanqing, focuses on ment of Advances in with global impact. In collaboration with the CAS Purple Wukong technology application. The school novel techniques for wastewater Mountain Observatory, China’s cradle of modern astronomy, satellite, spearheads the development of treatment. Their quantitative in-situ nanomaterials assist USTC established a school of astronomy and space science China’s single-molecular chemical physics, infrared spectroscopy method can in carbon recycle in 2016, cementing the integration of astronomical research first dark nanomaterials, as well as organic and test for multiple pollutants by a high- matter and education. explorer. soft matter functional materials, with throughput method for microbiome Housing five CAS key laboratories, the USTC astronomy a series of internationally recognized screening. It biologically treats programme worked on the Wukong satellite, the dark breakthroughs. wastewater based on extracellular A USTC research team has established techniques for matter explorer, and the Ali CMB Polarization Telescope A team on single molecular electron transfer. They have also fabricating ultra-thin two-dimensional (2D) materials that (AliCPT), the first ground-based cosmic microwave optoelectronics, led by USTC professors, developed new catalyst materials for may be used in novel energy materials to curb carbon background (CMB) project in the northern hemisphere. Hou Jianguo, a CAS member, and Dong degradation of organic pollutants. emission. Its researchers are currently developing a 2.5m wide field Zhenchao, developed high spatial In the field of asymmetric Based on revealing the unique electronic state and the survey telescope (WFST). Based on an advanced primary- resolution optical characterization homogeneous catalysis, USTC precise structural characterization of these materials, the focus system, the novel optical design will enable the technology, incorporating a scanning chemist, Gong Liuzhu, and his team team, led by CAS member, Xie Yi, constructed highly active telescope to precisely survey a wide swathe of sky at probe technique. It enables single- have been studying organo- and and stable hybrid systems for 2D ultrathin materials. They wide wave bands. The focal plane is equipped with a 0.9 USTC geo- molecule Raman imaging, producing metal combined asymmetric catalysis also showed how the oxides on the pristine metal surface gigapixel mosaic CCD camera, allowing the entire northern scientists detailed chemical images with spatial since it was first reported in 2001. influence its electroreduction of CO2, shedding light on hemisphere to be surveyed every three nights. joined China’s resolution below one nanometre. Integrating cooperative and relay 2D nanomaterials as promising catalysts for converting When completed in 2021, the WFST will be the most Antarctic and They also developed super-resolution catalysis of organic molecules and CO into useful fuels. Their work, published in Nature, Arctic 2 advanced of its type in the northern hemisphere, gathering voyages for electroluminescent imaging technology, metal complexes, they have achieved contributed to the development of sustainable carbon valuable observatory data to monitor astronomical events polar which allows observing intermolecular chemical reactions unattainable by economy and was selected as one of the top 10 major

efficiently.n research. PHOTO ©XINHUA / ALAMY STOCK dynamics, such as dipole-dipole using a single catalyst alone. n scientific advances of the year in China.

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