BEIJING, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- A recently-launched Chinese satellite has conducted in-orbit experiments on the key technologies related to space-based gravitational wave detection, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) announced on Friday.The satellite, sent into orbit on Aug. 31, is China's first such kind of satellite, and has completed its first stage tests in orbit, laying a solid foundation for future gravitational wave observation in space, said Xiangli Bin, vice president of CAS."This is the first step of China's space-based gravitational wave detection. But there is still a long way to go to realize detecting gravitational waves in space. Chinese scientists will continue to contribute Chinese wisdom to the exploration and human progress," Xiangli said.The satellite has been named Taiji-1. As a Chinese term for the "supreme ultimate," Taiji is well-known as the black and white circular symbol representing yin and yang. The pattern of Taiji also resembles a binary star system composed by objects like neutron stars or black holes.Gravitational waves are "ripples" in space-time caused by some of the most violent and energetic processes in the universe. Albert Einstein predicted the existence of gravitational waves in 1916 in his general theory of relativity.The strongest gravitational waves are produced by catastrophic events such as colliding black holes, supernovae, coalescing neutron stars or white dwarf stars and possibly even the remnants of gravitational radiation created by the birth of the universe itself.The first discovery of gravitational waves by the LIGO Collaboration in 2015 has opened a new window to observe the universe and encouraged scientists worldwide to accelerate their research.CAS has announced the research program "Taiji" that will study gravitational waves from the merging of binary black holes and other celestial bodies.Unlike the LIGO research conducted from a ground-based observatory, Taiji will conduct space-based detection on the gravitational waves with lower frequencies to observe celestial bodies with greater mass or located farther away in the universe, said Wu Yueliang, chief scientist of the Taiji program and an academician of CAS.However, the gravitational wave signals from those celestial bodies are extremely weak, posing great challenges for detection. Scientists need to break through the limit of current precise measurement and control technology, Wu said.Taiji-1 aims to test the key technologies such as high-precision and ultra-stable laser interferometer, gravitational reference sensor, ultra-high precision drag-free control and ultra-stable and ultra-static satellite platform, according to Wu.Taiji-1 has realized China's most accurate space laser interference measurement and the first in-orbit drag-free control technology test. It also carried out electric propulsion technology experiments, Xiangli said.The first-stage in-orbit test showed that the accuracy of displacement measurement of the laser interferometer on Taiji-1 could reach a 100-picometer order of magnitude, equivalent to the size of an atom."The accuracy of the gravitational reference sensor on the satellite reached ten billionths of the magnitude of the earth's gravitational acceleration, equivalent to the acceleration produced by an ant pushing the Taiji-1 satellite," Wu explained.The thrust resolution of the micro-thruster on the satellite reached a scale equivalent to one-ten thousandth of the weight of a sesame grain, Wu said.However, the technological requirements for detecting gravitational waves in space are much higher, scientists say.CAS set a three-step strategy to implement the Taiji program. It took the research team about one year to develop Taiji-1, the first satellite of the program. It is expected to launch another two satellites in the second step after 2023, and three more satellites in the third step around 2033, according to Wu.Over the past few years, China has sent a series of space science satellites into space, including the DAMPE to search for dark matter, the world's first quantum satellite and the HXMT, China's first X-ray space telescope.In the coming three to four years, China plans to launch new space science satellites including the Gravitational Wave Electromagnetic Counterpart All-sky Monitor (GECAM), the Advanced Space-borne Solar Observatory (ASO-S), the Einstein-Probe (EP) and the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) to study gravitational waves, black holes, the relationship between the solar system and humanity and the origin and evolution of the universe.
2019年8月31日,中国科学院空间科学(二期)战略性先导科技专项首发星——微重力技术实验卫星在酒泉卫星发射中心成功发射。卫星在轨测试正在按计划有序开展,截至目前,卫星状态正常,各项测试结果正常,第一阶段在轨测试任务顺利完成。作为我国首颗空间引力波探测技术实验卫星,该卫星被正式命名为“太极一号”。引力波是物质和能量的剧烈运动和变化所产生的一种物质波,它提供了有别于电磁波的一个全新的观测宇宙的重要窗口,成为人类探索和认识宇宙的新的途径和手段。爱因斯坦一个世纪前基于广义相对论预言了引力波的存在。双黑洞并合产生的引力波已在2015年首次在地面被直接观测到。不同频率引力波反映了宇宙的不同时期和不同的天体物理过程。有别于地基探测,在空间能够探测到中低频段的引力波信号,能够发现天体质量更大、距离更遥远的引力波波源,揭示更为丰富的天体物理过程。然而,由于引力波信号极其微弱,实施空间引力波探测挑战巨大,需要突破目前人类精密测量和控制技术的极限。所涉及的核心技术包括高精度超稳激光干涉仪、引力参考传感器、超高精度无拖曳控制、微牛级推进器、超稳超静卫星平台等。“‘太极一号’正是瞄准这一重大科技前沿,对这些核心技术的可行性和实现途径进行在轨验证。” 中国科学院院士、工程首席科学家吴岳良说,“目前,“太极一号”实现了我国迄今为止最高精度的空间激光干涉测量,成功进行了我国首次在轨无拖曳控制技术试验,并在国际上首次实现了微牛级射频离子和双模霍尔电推进技术的在轨验证。” 据介绍,中科院从2008年开始前瞻论证我国空间引力波探测的可行性,经过多年科学前沿研究,提出了我国空间引力波探测“太极计划”,确定了“单星、双星、三星”“三步走”的发展战略和路线图,并于2018年8月在空间科学(二期)战略性先导科技专项中立项实施 “太极计划”单星工程任务,启动了三步走中的第一步。中国科学院副院长、党组成员相里斌说:“太极一号”的成功发射和第一阶段在轨测试任务的顺利完成,迈出了我国空间引力波探测的第一步,为我国在空间引力波探测领域率先取得突破奠定了基础。”来源:吴月辉 人民日报
Taiji-1 satellite [Photo/Xinhua]BEIJING - A recently-launched Chinese satellite has conducted in-orbit experiments on the key technologies related to space-based gravitational wave detection, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) announced on Friday.The satellite, sent into orbit on Aug 31, is China's first such kind of satellite, and has completed its first stage tests in orbit, laying a solid foundation for future gravitational wave observation in space, said Xiangli Bin, vice president of CAS."This is the first step of China's space-based gravitational wave detection. But there is still a long way to go to realize detecting gravitational waves in space. Chinese scientists will continue to contribute Chinese wisdom to the exploration and human progress," Xiangli said.The satellite has been named Taiji-1. As a Chinese term for the "supreme ultimate," Taiji is well-known as the black and white circular symbol representing yin and yang. The pattern of Taiji also resembles a binary star system composed by objects like neutron stars or black holes.Gravitational waves are "ripples" in space-time caused by some of the most violent and energetic processes in the universe. Albert Einstein predicted the existence of gravitational waves in 1916 in his general theory of relativity.The strongest gravitational waves are produced by catastrophic events such as colliding black holes, supernovae, coalescing neutron stars or white dwarf stars and possibly even the remnants of gravitational radiation created by the birth of the universe itself.The first discovery of gravitational waves by the LIGO Collaboration in 2015 has opened a new window to observe the universe and encouraged scientists worldwide to accelerate their research.CAS has announced the research program "Taiji" that will study gravitational waves from the merging of binary black holes and other celestial bodies.Unlike the LIGO research conducted from a ground-based observatory, Taiji will conduct space-based detection on the gravitational waves with lower frequencies to observe celestial bodies with greater mass or located farther away in the universe, said Wu Yueliang, chief scientist of the Taiji program and an academician of CAS.However, the gravitational wave signals from those celestial bodies are extremely weak, posing great challenges for detection. Scientists need to break through the limit of current precise measurement and control technology, Wu said.Taiji-1 aims to test the key technologies such as high-precision and ultra-stable laser interferometer, gravitational reference sensor, ultra-high precision drag-free control and ultra-stable and ultra-static satellite platform, according to Wu.Taiji-1 has realized China's most accurate space laser interference measurement and the first in-orbit drag-free control technology test. It also carried out electric propulsion technology experiments, Xiangli said.The first-stage in-orbit test showed that the accuracy of displacement measurement of the laser interferometer on Taiji-1 could reach a 100-picometer order of magnitude, equivalent to the size of an atom."The accuracy of the gravitational reference sensor on the satellite reached ten billionths of the magnitude of the earth's gravitational acceleration, equivalent to the acceleration produced by an ant pushing the Taiji-1 satellite," Wu explained.The thrust resolution of the micro-thruster on the satellite reached a scale equivalent to one-ten thousandth of the weight of a sesame grain, Wu said.However, the technological requirements for detecting gravitational waves in space are much higher, scientists say.CAS set a three-step strategy to implement the Taiji program. It took the research team about one year to develop Taiji-1, the first satellite of the program. It is expected to launch another two satellites in the second step after 2023, and three more satellites in the third step around 2033, according to Wu.Over the past few years, China has sent a series of space science satellites into space, including the DAMPE to search for dark matter, the world's first quantum satellite and the HXMT, China's first X-ray space telescope.In the coming three to four years, China plans to launch new space science satellites including the Gravitational Wave Electromagnetic Counterpart All-sky Monitor (GECAM), the Advanced Space-borne Solar Observatory (ASO-S), the Einstein-Probe (EP) and the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) to study gravitational waves, black holes, the relationship between the solar system and humanity and the origin and evolution of the universe.
From July 8-12, 2019, the first UCAS gravitational wave summer school held successfully at Yanqihu Campus. UNESCO International Centre for Theoretical Physics Asia-Pacific (ICTP-AP) and Consortium of Gravitational Wave Detection Taiji Program in Space jointly sponsored this summer school.Secretary-General of Taiji Consortium, prof. Congfeng Qiao (College of Physics, UCAS) and member of KAGRA, prof. Hongbo Jin (National Astronomical Observatory), organized this summer school. The summer school invited seven experienced lecturers from domestic and aboard, they are: Antoine Klein (University of Birmingham, Member of LISA)Peng Xu (Lanzhou University, Member of ‘Taiji’)Wenbiao Han (Shanghai Astronomical Observator, Member of ‘Taiji’)Yueliang Wu (UCAS, Chief Scientist of ‘Taiji’ Project)Yunyong Wang (Institute of High Energy Physics, Member of LSC)Zhihui Du (Tsinghua University, Member of LSC)Zhoujian Cao (Beijing Normal University, Member of ‘Taiji’)A series of lectures of gravitational wave related studies were conducted in the next five days. Outstanding students from 14 universities and research institutes participated in this short-term training.Group photo of 2019 UCAS Gravitational Wave Summer SchoolTopics of the lectures were mainly focus on gravitational wave detection technology, gravitational wave source and data analysis and processing. Lecturers were introducing knowledge about gravitational waveAll the lecturers had working experience in gravitational wave research projects in different countries. At the beginning of the summer school, the chief scientist of ‘Taiji’ project, director of ICTP-AP, prof. Yueliang Wu shared the development, scientific objectives and research road of ‘Taiji’ project. In the next five days, experienced experts from ‘Taiji’ project introduced part of their mission in this project and shared their achievements in gravitational wave studies. Looking back to 2015, America, LIGO first directly detected the existence of gravitational waves in human history. The summer school invited two lecturers who worked in the LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC) team. They kindly passed on their rich experience and advanced thinking to the students. Moreover, LISA is the gravitational wave detection project from the European Space Agency. Specialist from LISA mainly focused on improving students’ understanding of waveform modeling for comparable-mass systems during the summer school. Prof. Klein performed guitar playing at the salon eventAn academic salon carried out during the summer school. In a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, students shared their research directions, discussed and exchanged their opinions of frontier and hot academic topics. On July 12, teachers issued certificates of completion for students.The ‘2019 gravitational wave summer school’ will help young talents in relevant research fields to have a better understanding of the frontiers of international disciplines. Furthermore, it plays a positive role in promoting the training of reserve talents. In the future, they may become members of the ‘Taiji’ project to contribute to the exploration of gravitational waves in space. Further Reading – ‘Taiji’ Program in SpaceThe Taiji program is proposed to detect GWs with frequencies covering the range of 0.1 mHz to 1.0 Hz with higher sensitivity around 0.01–1 Hz than eLISA (see Table 1). The Taiji program proposes to use a triangle of three spacecraft in orbit around the Sun (see Fig. 1). Laser beams are sent both ways between each pair of spacecraft, and the differences in the phase changes between the transmitted and received laser beams at each spacecraft are measured. The preliminary design for the Taiji mission is based on 3-million-kilometre separations between the spacecraft, and the expected launch date is about 2033. The purpose of the Taiji program is to study the most challenging issues concerning massive black holes, such as how the intermediate mass seed black holes were formed in the early universe, whether the dark matter could form a black hole, how seed black hole grows into a large or extremely large black holes and what is the nature of gravity.‘Taiji’ spacecraft in orbit around the sunAuthor: Fanzi Meng Min ZhangPhoto: Zhiping Shang Xinyue Zhang
Sitting at front are Chen-Ning Yang (third from left), a Nobel laureate and member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Wu Yueliang (fourth from left), deputy principal of the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with others in attendance at the opening ceremony for the International Center for Theoretical Physics – Asia Pacific in Beijing on May 13. [Photo by Ye Zizhen/chinadaily.com.cn]The International Center for Theoretical Physics – Asia Pacific has opened in Beijing, giving a fillip to scientific research and collaboration in the Asia-Pacific region.“Setting up this institute is a worthy idea,” said Professor Chen-Ning Yang, a joint winner of the Nobel Prize in physics in 1957 and a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, at the inauguration ceremony on May 13 for the International Center for Theoretical Physics – Asia Pacific.The centre, a nonprofit organization located on the campus of the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, aims to promote scientific research in the region and is recruiting researchers from home and abroad.The International Center for Theoretical Physics, a research institute that runs under the auspices of UNESCO, was founded in Trieste, Italy, in 1964, after a proposal by Abdus Salam, a Pakistani theoretical physicist who was a joint winner of the Nobel Prize in physics in 1979.Established six months ago, the new regional organization operates jointly with the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It was set up with the support of UNESCO in conjunction with the academy, the National Science Foundation China and the Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics in Trieste.Professor Quevedo Fernando of the University of Cambridge, director of the International Center for Theoretical Physics, said the centre’s mission is to promote the development of science and benefit more people. The new regional offshoot will contribute to fulfilling this mission, he said.Professor Xie Xincheng, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and deputy head of the National Science Foundation China, said the International Center for Theoretical Physics – Asia Pacific will function as a platform for young scientists to learn from each other, broaden their networks, enhance their research ability and disseminate the results of their research.Those in attendance at the opening ceremony included scholars and professors of physics from Hong Kong and Beijing, students from the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and staff of the International Center for Theoretical Physics – Asia Pacific.
On May 13, 2019, International Centre for Theoretical Physics Asia-Pacific (ICTP-AP) officially announced its launch. In the following two days, the Frontiers of Fundamental Physics Conference successfully took place in Beijing. More than 130 experts from 9 countries participated in the two-day Conference, and 27 excellent academic reports were organized.On 13 May morning, Chen-Ning Yang (Nobel Laureate of Physics and Academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences), Fernando Quevedo (Director of Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP)), Poul H. Damgaard (Director of Niels Bohr International Academy), Xin-Cheng Xie (Deputy Director of the National Natural Science Foundation of China) and Yue-Liang Wu (Vice-President of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences) attended the opening ceremony of the conference and addressed speech.Chen-Ning Yang Addressed the Opening Ceremony Chen-Ning Yang recalled that, when Abdus Salam (Physicist from Pakistan, Nobel Laureate) proposed the idea of building ICTP, he was strongly opposed by some physicists in developed countries. However, Yang said, “over the years, ICTP made a great contribution to developments of science and technology in developing countries. To extend this contribution to cover the Asia-Pacific region now is a great wise ‘noble idea’”. After that, Yang showed a video, which he took and dubbed at ICTP headquarters for Dirac’s 70 birthday in Italy. Group Photo After the Opening Ceremony Before the symposium, on 12 May, the 1st Session of International Science Council (ISC) and the 2nd Session of International Governing Board (IGB) was successfully held. During the Science Council Meeting, delegates provided professional guidance to the ICTP-AP's medium and long-term scientific plan. Moreover, delegates shared their opinions on the employment strategy of scientists and visiting scientists. After that, the Governing Board Meeting discussed and approved the working report of the Centre.Group Photo of IGB & ISC Member The round table meeting was held as one of the ICTP-AP Kick-off activities on May 12. Leaders of well-known scientific research institutions from national and abroad attended this meeting. Delegates introduced the history, mission and vision, organization, latest research directions and achievements of their institutions. They suggested to build long-term mechanism and strengthen diversified cooperation in the future. Besides, institutions should provide excellent learning and research environment, more academic exchange activities to young talents, and make scientific research becoming the choice of more teenagers. Round Table MeetingICTP-AP proposal was put forward by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and was considered and adopted by the 38th UNESCO Conference. On 13 May 2017, Chun-Li Bai, President of the CAS, and Irina Bokova, Director-General of the UNESCO, signed the agreement regarding the establishment of ICTP-AP in Beijing, on behalf of Chinese Government and UNESCO respectively. On 4 Nov. 2018, the unveiling ceremony of the Centre took place in Beijing. ICTP-AP is a category 2 Centre under the auspices of UNESCO in cooperation with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the National Science Foundation China (NSFC) and the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP, Trieste). It is the first UNESCO category 2 basic science center in China. ICTP-AP will develop outreach activities in cooperation with national and international institutions, providing an international platform and enhancing collaborative networks among scientists from different countries in and out of the region.
科技日报北京5月13日电(记者李大庆)联合国教科文组织“国际理论物理中心亚太地区”(ICTP-AP)13日在北京正式启动。未来国际理论物理的知名专家及年轻学者将在此进行合作研究与交流。诺贝尔奖获得者杨振宁院士、国际理论物理中心主任Quevedo Fernando教授、丹麦尼尔斯·玻尔研究所国际研究员主任Poul H. Damgaard教授、国家自然科学基金委副主任谢心澄院士、国科大副校长吴岳良院士等莅临启动仪式现场并致辞。杨振宁先生称ICTP-AP的建立为“Noble Idea”。他说,ICTP-AP的建立将为亚太地区基础研究作出贡献,促进亚太地区科学水平的发展。Quevedo说,科学的进步将惠及每一个人。现在,中国和世界都发生着巨大的变化,ICTP-AP的建立将进一步推动亚太地区的科学发展。Poul在发言中强调了科研环境的重要性。在这个快速发展的时代,新的想法源源不断地出现,学者们需要成熟的科研环境来支持他们努力探索未来。谢心澄在致辞中提到,ICTP-AP为学生提供了到国外交流学习的机会和资金,这将使更多的年轻人有机会在国际化的平台上开展科学研究。ICTP-AP将发展成为具有全球视野的人才培训基地和国际学术交流中心。吴岳良作为大会主持人最后发言。他说,ICTP-AP将拓展合作机构,搭建合作网络,支持青年学者提高研究能力,开展区域合作研究,协同攻关,推动建设国际合作和人才培训基地,储备培养国际合作青年人才。ICTP-AP是由中科院、国家自然科学基金委和国际理论物理中心合作共建的联合国教科文组织的二类中心,是联合国教科文组织在我国设立的第一个基础科学领域的中心。两年前的今天,中科院院长白春礼与联合国教科文组织总干事博科娃在京签署了建立ICTP-AP的协议。去年11月召开的中心理事会批准了科学委员会成员名单,所有委员均为目前国际上该领域知名科学家。在ICTP-AP启动的前一天,5月12日,ICTP-AP第一届科学委员会及第二届理事会会议首先举行。会议对ICTP-AP的中长期科学计划提出了专业的指导意见,并就科学家聘用计划提出了建议,完善了用人原则及聘用标准。国际科学委员会成员希望ICTP-AP能够协调和联合本地区各国的理论物理中心和研究所,发挥理论物理和相关交叉学科的作用,共同推进基础科学的发展,服务于亚太地区的人才培养、能力建设和基础研究。在5月12日下午举行的ICTP-AP围桌会议上,各位代表分别介绍了所在机构的发展历史、组织结构、最新科学研究方向及研究成果。代表们建议应建立合作机制,加强机构间多元化合作,共同促进基础物理领域科学研究的发展。代表们特别强调了培养青年人才的重要性,希望各个科研机构要为年轻学者提供优良的学习研究环境及更丰富多彩的学术交流活动。ICTP-AP启动仪式结束后,举行了基础物理前沿国际研讨会,来自国际理论物理领域的知名学者分别做了大会报告。责任编辑: 陈磊
On Nov. 4 2018, The First General Assembly of the Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO) in the Belt and Road Region, and the second International Science Forum of Scientific Organizations in the Belt and Road Initiative, was held in Beijing.That afternoon, the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) hosted the fourth branch with the theme of “Science and Education”.Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) President Chun-Li Bai, Assistant Director-General of UNESCO Flavia Schlegel, deputy director of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Rui-Ping Gao, director of International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) Fernando Quevedo attended the meeting. The meeting was host by director of CAS’s international bureau Jing-Hua Cao.The conference held the signing ceremony of the agreement between the Chinese Academy of Sciences and UNESCO. Meanwhile, the unveiling ceremony of International Centre for Theoretical Physics Asian-Pacific (ICTP-AP) was hold as well.The International Centre for Theoretical Physics Asia-Pacific (ICTP-AP) is a category 2 Centre under the auspices of UNESCO in cooperation with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the National Science Foundation China (NSFC) and the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP, Trieste). It is the first UNESCO category 2 basic science center in China in the area of basic science of UNESCO. ICTP-AP will operate as a branch center of ICTP in the Asia-Pacific region. ICTP-AP will develop outreach activities in cooperation with national and international institutions, providing an international forum and enhancing collaborative networks among scientists from different countries in and out of the region. Moreover, ICTP-AP will provide opportunities for advanced education, training and research in the area of basic physics.
The Signing Ceremony of International Centre for Theoretical Physics Asia-Pacific (ICTP-AP) was held in Beijing Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on May 13, 2017.Prof. Chun-Li Bai, President of the CAS, and Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), signed the Agreement regarding the Establishment of ICTP-AP as a Category 2 Centre under the auspices of UNESCO in Beijing, on behalf of the Chinese Government and the UNESCO respectively.Ms Irina Bokova was invited by the Chinese government to take part in the “Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation“. Chun-Li Bai thank her to take time to attend the signing ceremony in a very tight schedule. Chun-Li Bai briefly introduced the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) and CAS achievements in scientific and technological support for “the Belt and Road initiative”. Chun-Li Bai mentioned, more than 400 young students from developing countries came to UCAS to study for a degree by CAS-TWAS scholarship. Chun-Li Bai said CAS would fully support the establishment and development of ICTP-AP.Ms Irina Bokova said, she just finished some activities organized by the Chinese government and discussed the big cooperative plan with China after she arrived in Beijing. She believes, the establishment of ICTP-AP will be an important project and it will be a good opportunity to promote scientific development and South-South cooperation because basic science is one of the inalienable parts for the United Nations 2030 development plan and sustainable development goals.Prof. Yue-Liang Wu, Vice President of the UCAS, Prof. Fernando Quevedo, Director of ICTP, Mr Dian-Wen Cao, Vice Director of Bureau of International Cooperation, CAS, together with Representative of UNESCO China National Committee and Beijing Office, witnessed the signing process.ICTP-AP proposal was submitted by CAS, and adopted by 38th General Conference of UNESCO. ICTP-AP will be planed to co-construct by CAS, NSFC and ICTP (UNESCO Category 1, Italy). It will be the first centre (UNESCO Category 2) in basic science in China, and also the second centre co-constructed by CAS and UNESCO. ICTP-AP will be set up in UCAS campus. Under the auspices of UNESCO, ICTP-AP will provide opportunities for advanced education, training and research in basic science such as frontiers of theoretical physics and the relevant interdisciplinary areas for scientists from Asia-Pacific region and other countries. ICTP-AP will develop outreach activities in cooperation with national and international institutions, providing an international forum and enhancing collaborative networks among scientists from different countries in and out of the region. ICTP-AP will develop and coordinate research-education-oriented advanced studies in theoretical physics and related interdisciplinary areas; ICTP-AP will aim to be a world-class research centre, training base for talents with global eye sights and international academic exchange centre.