The early morning of August 31st witnessed the successful launching of a satellite for experiments under microgravity from Jiuquan Satellite Launching Center in northwestern China. Later named “Taiji-1”, this satellite marks the first under the Phase-II of the Strategic Priority Program on Space Science (SPPSS-II) sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). As confirmed by the National Space Science Center (NSSC), CAS in late September, the experiments aboard are so far in smooth operation, and the satellite in proper status with all test results reported normal. Model of Taiji-1, the first experiment satellite for space detection of gravitational waves. This announces the successful completion of the first stage of in-orbit tests and starts a journey to detect gravitational waves (GW) from space.Taiji-1, the first experiment satellite for space detection of gravitational waves (GW), got its name from Taiji Program, a space mission proposed by CAS to detect GWs when orbiting the Sun accompanying the Earth. Comprising of three satellites, it is designed to form an equilateral triangle flying 18 to 22 degrees ahead of the Earth, with each side spanning a distance of 3.0 million km. Scheduled to fly in around 2033, the conception of the mission can be traced back to 2008, when the Academy took the lead in China to explore the feasibility to detect gravitational waves from space. The following years saw it develop into a three-stage layout and roadmap, with its first stage featuring one satellite as a pathfinder, followed by a double-star and a trio-star stage. In August 2018, the single-star project for Taiji Program was officially adopted by SPPSS-II, taking the first step toward implementing the program. It took the satellite development team, consisting of experts from the CAS Innovation Academy for Microsatellites, only one year to develop and build the satellite. As indicated by the first results from the in-orbit tests and data analysis of Taiji-1, the interferometer aboard has achieved a measuring precision of hundred picometer level, making it able to discern a distance as small as the diameter of an atom. Besides, the gravitational reference sensor aboard is now able to detect fluctuations in Earth gravity as trivial as trillionths of the gravitational acceleration; and the resolution of its micro-thruster can tune its impulses less than one µN a time. The success lays a firm foundation for future detection of GWs in space.The GW is a type of matter wave originated from radical motion and change in mass and energy. As early as about 100 years ago, Albert Einstein predicted its existence based on his theory of general gravity. Not until 2015, however, did humankind first directly detect this space-time oscillation from Earth ground – LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory) eventually succeeded in picking up the weak, vague signals from the merger of binary black holes, after decades of efforts. Since then, human beings not only can “see” the cosmos via electromagnetic waves, but also “hear” its voices by virtue of GWs – this revolutionary experiment has invited one more “messenger” to tell the story of the cosmos.GWs of different frequencies give clues about various astrophysical processes occurring in different stages of cosmic evolution. The GWs detected from space fall in the mid- and low-frequency bands of the spectrum. Such space-time ripples are set off by more massive celestials compared to those of higher frequencies as detectable from the Earth ground. Free from the complexity of noise on the ground, space-based GW detectors might be able to capture weaker signals and find out more distant sources of them. This will help us reveal much enriched astrophysical phenomena and better understand how our universe works.Signals of GWs are extremely weak, however. This poses a great challenge on space detection of them and pushes it to the limits of existing human technologies for precise measurement and control. Taiji-1 has meant to test the feasibility of existing key technologies and verify their in-orbit implementation.Under the framework of SPPSS-II, CAS plans to fly a series of missions for various science goals, 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 detect electromagnetic signals from GW sources, black holes, fluctuations in solar activities, aimed at understanding the mechanisms underlying solar activities and the origin and evolution of the universe. All the above missions are to be launched by 2023.
HELSINKI — China launched a new meteorological satellite from Jiuquan late Sept. 24, adding to a series of recent government and commercial missions.The Yunhai-1 (02) satellite launched from Jiuquan in the Gobi Desert atop a Long March 2D hypergolic rocket at 8:54 p.m. Eastern Tuesday, making it Chinese five launches in under a month.The new Yunhai-1 series of satellites will be used mainly used for “detecting the atmospheric and marine environment and space environment, as well as disaster control and other scientific experiments”, according to state media.The satellites were developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST), a subsidiary of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CASC). CASC, the state-owned main contractor for Chinese space programs, stated in January that it aimed to carry out over 30 launches during 2019. The second half of the calendar year typically sees the majority of Chinese launch activity.The Tuesday mission took the Chinese orbital launch tally for the year to 20, including a failed Long March 4C launch. That number also includes one failed private launch and the first Chinese private launch to reach orbit.Liftoff despite prior earthquakeA Long March 3B lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, southwestern China, Sept. 22, despite a nearby 3.5 magnitude earthquake just over a day prior.The launch used a Yuanzheng-1 upper stage to insert two Beidou navigation and positioning satellites into medium Earth orbits (MEO). A piece of a rocket engine, apparently resulting from the launch, was found downrange and posted on Chinese social media.This was the tenth launch of pairs of Beidou satellites to MEO, as China pushes to complete its own answer to the U.S. GPS. Further Beidou launches, to MEO and inclined geosynchronous orbits, are expected before the end of 2019. China aims to complete the 35-satellite Beidou constellation—which is named after the Big Dipper asterism—in the first half of 2020.The Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, located on Hainan island, also participated in the launch activities, according to reports.Wenchang hosts launches of China’s new, large cryogenic launch vehicles. The exercises may indicate ongoing ground preparations for the return-to-flight of the Long March 5, which could launch before the end of 2019. The Long March 5 is required for major projects, including the Chinese Space Station and upcoming lunar and Mars missions. It has been grounded since a launch failure in July 2017.Remote sensing, experimental polar, deorbit missionsEarlier this month a solid propellant Long March 11 carried five Zhuhai-1 remote sensing satellites into roughly 500-kilometer-altitude Sun synchronous orbits.The four hyperspectral and one video satellites are part of the development of the Zhuhai-1 commercial remote sensing constellation planned by Zhuhai Orbita Aerospace Science and Technology Co. Ltd. The launch took place at 02:42 a.m. Eastern Sept. 19 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and saw stage wreckage fall to Earth in Myanmar.Sept. 11 saw the return to action of the Long March 4 series following a May failure. Carrying the Ziyuan-1 (02) remote sensing satellite, the launch left wreckage downrange.Also aboard was the BNU-1 (Jingshi-1) small, experimental polar observation satellite from Beijing Normal University, and Taurus-1 (Jinniuzuo-1) a 3U CubeSat developed by Shanghai Aerospace Science and Technology Co., Ltd., also known as ASES Space. The latter carries a 2.5-square-meter deployable sail for deorbit tests for debris mitigation.Gravitational wave detectionA commercial Kuaizhou-1A launch Aug. 31 carried two payloads into orbit. The Chinese Academy of Sciences has now revealed that the satellite initially designated KX-09 is named Taiji-1. Furthermore the small has completed first-stage on-orbit experiments for space-based gravitational wave detection. Taiji-1 carried out on-orbit space laser interference measurements and will be joined in the coming years by two further satellites. The trio will aim to detect gravitational waves, described as “ripples” in space-time, caused by extremely violent events. These include merging black holes, colliding binary stars and supernovae.
On 20 September, the Chinese Academy of Sciences held a regular press conference, announcing that the first phase of the on-orbit test of the launched satellite of Taiji Program in Space has been successfully completed. At the conference, Xianglibin, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), officially named the satellite "Taiji-01".Prof. Bin Xiang-LiWith the efforts of all the members of Taiji-01, it only took one year for the development and launch of the satellite. The satellite successfully launched into orbit on 31 August 2019. This means that the first step of the ‘three-step development’ strategy of ‘Taiji Program’ was initiated.Taiji-01 Launched SuccessfullyIn Taiji-01 project, the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) is responsible for overall management of the science mission system and development of the micro hall-effect thruster system.Prof. Yue-Liang WuDuring the press conference, the chief scientist of ‘Taiji’ program, vice president of UCAS, director of International Centre of Theoretical Physics-Asia Pacific (ICTP-AP), Yue-Liang Wu interpreted the on-orbit test and data analysis results of the first phase of Taiji-01. The results show that: The measurement accuracy of laser interferometer reaches 100 pm. The measurement accuracy of gravitational reference sensor reaches a billionth . The thrust resolution ratio of micro thruster reaches sub-scale.Taiji-01 Achieved: China’s highest accuracy of spatial laser interferometry. China’s first on-orbit drag free control technology test. Firstly and internationally on-orbit verification of micro-newton level radio frequency ion propulsion technology and dual mode hall-effect micro thruster technology. Professor Wu introduced that, in 1916, Einstein predicted the existence of gravitational waves based on general relativity. It is a kind of matter wave generated by the violent movement and change of matter and energy. The research on gravitational waves will provide a new important window for observing the universe and promote humans understanding of the unknown world.Prof. Xiao-Long DongProf. Xiao-Long Dong, general manager of the project, introduced the development process, organization, and implementation of the Taiji-01 project. After that, Prof. Hua-Wang Li, introduced the platform and payload of the satellite system.Prof. Hua-Wang LiTaiji-01 has taken the first step in the exploration of space gravitational waves in China，and promoted the breakthrough of key technologies in the detection of space gravitational waves in China. ICTP-AP will also provide sustained support to the Taiji project and contribute to space gravitational waves detection.
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.
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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.
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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
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