On March 5, Professor Gérard Albert Mourou, the distinguished physicist and Nobel Laureate, visited Beihang University, engaging in a series of enriching academic and cultural exchanges. During his visit, Professor Mourou shared cutting-edge insights in the field of extreme optics and inspired students to venture into the uncharted realms of scientific discovery.
In the afternoon, Professor Mourou delivered a riveting lecture titled “Extreme Light Grand Challenges: Scientific and Societal Applications” at the Sunrise Concert Hall, attracting over 800 Beihang students and faculty members, alongside 50 students from the Beijing Bayi School’s “Beihang Class.”
The session was hosted by Professor Geng Lisheng, Dean of the Sino-French Engineer School, with opening remarks by Vice President Wu Jianghao, who presented Professor Mourou with an honorary certificate of “Beihang Grand Lecture.”
In his lecture, Professor Mourou introduced the fundamental principles of extreme optics and its groundbreaking applications in fields such as femtosecond processing, particle acceleration, nuclear medicine, nuclear energy utilization, carbon emission reduction, and space debris removal. Reflecting on his illustrious career, he also shared the story of his 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics, a milestone he achieved alongside Dr. Donna Strickland, the third woman ever to win the Nobel Prize in Physics.
During the Q&A session, Beihang students enthusiastically engaged with Professor Mourou, discussing topics such as the current state and future directions of extreme optics research, the feasibility of using lasers to remove space debris, and the broader relationship between science and humanity. Professor Mourou patiently addressed each question, encouraging students to combine theoretical knowledge with practical innovation and to boldly explore uncharted scientific territories.
Prior to the lecture, Professor Mourou engaged in a roundtable discussion with representatives from the Sino-French Engineer School, Shenyuan Honors College, School of Physics, School of Electronic Information Engineering, School of Instrumentation and Optoelectronic Engineering, School of Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering, and International School. They delved into topics such as the latest advancements in extreme optics technology, the intersection of physics and engineering, and the future of technological innovation.
During his visit, Professor Mourou also toured the Center for Micro-Nano Innovation of Beihang (Beihang Nano) and the Beijing Air and Space Museum. At Beihang Nano, he exchanged ideas with Beihang faculty members on the potential of intelligent micro-nano technology, expressing admiration for the center’s state-of-the-art facilities and conveying keen interest in future collaborations in ultrafast optics and its applications.
At the Museum, Ye Yukun and Tristan, two student guides from the Sino-French Engineer School, led Professor Mourou through the museum’s rich history and exhibits. He lauded the rarity and preservation of the artifacts and commended Beihang’s pivotal role in advancing aerospace education and technology.
Professor Gérard Albert Mourou is a pioneer in the field of ultrafast and high-intensity laser physics. Together with Dr. Donna Strickland, he developed chirped pulse amplification (CPA), a groundbreaking technique that revolutionized ultrahigh-power lasers and advanced laser-matter interactions into the relativistic and extreme relativistic regimes. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2018, elected as a Foreign Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2019, and received the Golden Goose Award in 2022. Professor Mourou’s legacy continues to inspire generations of scientists.
Professor Mourou’s visit to Beihang University not only strengthened the university’s engagement with cutting-edge scientific research but also ignited a spark of curiosity and ambition in students, encouraging them to push the boundaries of knowledge in physics, engineering, and beyond.
Editor: Lyu Xingyun
