On January 17, the 2019 Annual Working Conference of the Chinese Academy of Sciences was held in Beijing. Professor Xu Gang of the Wuhan National High Magnetic Field Center was awarded the "Outstanding Science and Technology Achievement Award of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2018 (collective)" in recognition of his important contribution in “Topological semi-metal theory and the material prediction (collective)”.
“Topological semi-metal theory and the material prediction (collective)” is led by Fang Zhong, a researcher at the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Professor Xu Gang is the main accomplisher. The research collectively extended the topological classification of electronic states from insulators to metal systems, developed a characteristic electronic structure calculation method, theoretically predicted and cooperated with experiments to discover Dirac semi-metal, foreign semi-metal and triple degenerate semi-metal. It has pioneered and led the new upsurge of topological semi-metal research. The relevant achievements have been selected into the international physics community for many times, and promoted China to stand at the forefront of international research.
Professor Xu Gang was an assistant researcher at the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences from July 2010 to November 2012. He was a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University from November 2012 to September 2016. He joined the Huazhong University of Science and Technology in October 2016. The Magnetic Science Center teaches, mainly engaged in the study of condensed matter theory and the computational simulation of singular quantum materials. He has achieved many important research results in the fields of iron-based superconductors and topological materials, and published more than 40 SCI papers, with a total of more than 5,000 references, and H factor of 25. In one of the representative works (Phys. Rev. Lett 107, 182806), he extended the concept of topological classification of electronic states in condensed states from insulators to semi-metals. He first proposed the concept of double-external semi-metals and promoted the research boom of foreign semi-metals.
The Outstanding Science and Technology Achievement Award of the Chinese Academy of Sciences is a science and technology award established by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2002. It mainly rewards individuals or groups who have completed or displayed significant achievements in the past five years. They are selected once a year, and the total number of awards is not more than 10 each. Encourage the innovative spirit of science and technology workers and encourage their belief in making a significant contribution to the cause of human science and technology.
