Xie Xide
The mother of Chinese semiconductors, one of the pioneers of my country’s semiconductor physics and surface physics, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and an academician of the Third World Academy of Sciences; the first female university president after the founding of the People’s Republic of China. President of Harvard University", former president of Fudan University, former president of Shanghai Sanda College.
■ Correspondent Wang Zengfan Liu Yue Reporter Wen Caifei
Xie Xide, who specializes in semiconductor and solid-state physics research, can be said to be labor-saving and reliable, and results can be quickly produced if she continues to engage in her research. However, she is not a professional person. More importantly, as a senior in academia, she should encourage young colleagues to explore new fields.
Someone said: "The war of chips is the war of the future." In the current Sino-US trade friction triggered by chips, it is difficult to define who is the real winner and loser. Behind the
chip is the battle of science and technology. To put it more precisely, it is the battle of semiconductor technology.
In fact, China's semiconductor technology research did not significantly lag behind the world process when it started. Speaking of which, I have to thank someone. In the age when New China is waiting to be lifted, her thin and strong body has supported my country's theoretical research on semiconductor physics and surface physics.
Her name is Xie Xide.
returned to the country to raise talents
Xie Xide was born in 1921 in a scholarly family in Quanzhou City, Fujian Province. Father Xie Yuming is also a physicist.
has gone through hardships in his youth. After the Lugouqiao Incident, Xie Xide fled south with her father to Guiyang. At this time, tuberculosis of the hip joint made her bedridden and dropped out of school. Four years later, she left the bed and stood up again.
is either genetic or inherited from childhood. Xie Xide has shown extraordinary talent since he was a child, and has achieved excellent results all the way. However, the situation during the war was special. She participated in the university entrance examination for 3 times, and was admitted 3 times, but did not really become a college student until the 3rd time. She entered the Department of Physics of Xiamen University, which opened her indissoluble bond with physics. .
In 1947, after graduating from Xie Xide University, he went to study in the United States and received a master's degree from Smith College and a doctorate from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. At MIT, she studied under Morse, a well-known physicist and pioneer in the field of operations research, focusing on theoretical research on the light-blocking properties of high-pressure hydrogen.
After graduation, Xie Xide joined the solid and molecular theory research group led by the American solid-state physicist Slater, engaged in the theoretical research of semiconductor properties in microwave resonators. This scientific research experience laid a solid foundation for her subsequent research in semiconductor physics.
Xie Xide is not a "science girl" in the traditional sense. While studying in a foreign country, she who loves art extensively dabbled in music and opera, and became a loyal "fan" of the Boston baseball team "Red Sox". Perhaps even she herself did not expect that these "little hobbies" could be "big use" in a few years.
During his five-year stay in the United States, Xie Xide’s lover Cao Tianqin studied in the UK and also obtained a doctorate. It was not long after the founding of New China, where will we go after studying? The lovers face a choice. "Returning to China to participate in socialist construction" was the first and most permanent idea that broke into their minds.
Unfortunately, when the Korean War broke out, the US government announced that all Chinese students studying science and engineering in the United States would not be allowed to return to mainland China.
The two discussed the strategy of returning to China: Xie Xide first got away from the United States, got married in England, and then returned to China. With the help of Needham, a British biochemist and historian of science, the plan finally succeeded. In August 1952, they bid farewell to Cambridge. On October 1 of that year, the 4th National Day of New China, the two finally arrived at the Shanghai Railway Station after all hard work.
Fudan University data map
Soon the two were appointed to work. Xie Xide was originally hired to teach at Shanghai Jiaotong University. Later, after the adjustment of faculties and departments across the country, the same group of professors adjusted to Fudan University to teach.
After visiting relatives in Beijing, Xie Xide devoted himself to a long teaching career. In just a few years, seven or eight courses in general physics including optics, mechanics, theoretical mechanics, quantum mechanics, and solid physics have been offered. She is good at organizing course content to ensure the maximum amount of information, from the shallower to the deeper, clearly organized, The students are deeply taught. Nowadays, many scientific and technological backbones, as well as Fang Shouxian, Ding Dazhao, and Wang Qiming, who were elected academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, are her proud students.
Cultivate my country's first batch of semiconductor talents
In 1956, Xie Xide and her husband Cao Tianqin ushered in the birth of their beloved son, and the whole family was immersed in the joy of happiness.
But in the same year, the National Science Planning Commission put forward the "Emergency Measures for the Development of Computing Technology, Semiconductor Technology, Radio Electronics, Automation and Remote Control Technology." The plan was personally reviewed and approved by Premier Zhou Enlai.
In order to meet the needs of the rapidly developing semiconductor industry, the Ministry of Education decided to convene relevant teachers and students from five universities, Peking University, Fudan University, Jilin University, Nanjing University, and Xiamen University, to Peking University to open my country’s first semiconductor specialized training class. One of the pioneers of semiconductor physics education in my country, Professor Huang Kun of the Department of Physics of Peking University serves as the director, and Xie Xide serves as the deputy director.
Many people worry about Xie Xide's 5-month-old child, and fear that she will not be willing to leave the child in Shanghai. However, one afternoon in late August, Xie Xide made all arrangements, left a kiss on his son's red cheek, and embarked on a new journey.
Winter goes to autumn, two cold and heat. From 1956 to 1958, on the basis of being poor and white, the 5 universities did not go through any preparatory stage and opened a series of courses from theory to experiment on time, such as solid state physics, semiconductor physics, semiconductor experiment, semiconductor materials science, and semiconductor devices. , Transistor circuits, etc. Xie Xide and Huang Kun give lectures on semiconductor physics and guide students in semiconductor physics research.
In the autumn of 1958, "Semiconductor Physics" co-edited by Xie Xide and Huang Kun came out. This book is the earliest monograph in the field of semiconductors in my country, and it can be regarded as a work of high academic level in the world. For a long period of time It has become a must-read standard textbook and basic reference book for students and researchers majoring in semiconductor physics in my country.
After everyone's hard work, the five-university joint special team has systematically trained my country's first batch of semiconductor graduates, a total of more than 200, laying a solid foundation for the development of my country's semiconductor industry. Since then, many universities across the country have imitated the establishment of semiconductor majors, establishing research institutes and workshops for the production of semiconductor materials and devices. In 1960, the Chinese Academy of Sciences established the Institute of Semiconductors of the Chinese Academy of Sciences on the basis of the Semiconductor Research Laboratory of the Institute of Applied Physics. my country's semiconductor disciplines and semiconductor technology quickly developed independently. Among them, the talents cultivated by the five universities in joint specialized teaching contributed greatly.
Wang Yangyuan, a student in the class, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and professor of Peking University, recalled: “Mr. Xie talked about his lectures, like a mountain stream and clear springs. In my spare time, I talked with Mr. Xie many times on the bank of Weiming Lake. Learning, her enlightenment makes me refreshed and happy, and has an important impact on my career pursuit in my life."
Scientists who are unwilling to keep their jobs
The development of science and technology is changing with each passing day, and we must keep track of progress in order to remain invincible. Xie Xide knows this truth well.
With the breakthrough of silicon planar technology, the semiconductor research of foreign science and technology circles has shifted from germanium to in-depth exploration of various properties of silicon. This trend has attracted Xie Xide's attention. In 1962, Xie Xide and Huang Kun jointly proposed to carry out solid-state energy spectroscopy research in my country, which was jointly undertaken by Peking University, Fudan University and Nanjing University.
Although solid-state energy spectrum research is a basic theoretical research, it is closely related to its application and is an important applied basic research. From 1963 to 1965, Xie Xide conducted research on zinc selenide, indium antimonide, etc., and obtained preliminary results, and established a relatively advanced experimental technology laboratory such as paramagnetic resonance in Fudan. She offered courses on "Semiconductor Theory" and "Group Theory", and guided graduate students to publish a series of papers on the application of group theory in solid-state physics research in the Journal of Physics, which attracted a lot of attention from Chinese and foreign experts.
Xie Xide, who specializes in semiconductor and solid-state physics research, can be said to be labor-saving and reliable, and results can be produced quickly if she continues to engage in her research. However, she is not a professional person. More importantly, as a senior in academia, she should encourage young colleagues to explore new fields.
"Why doesn't stainless steel rust?" "What plays the role of anti-corrosion protective layer?" "The Soviet Union and the United States suffer from corrosion every yearAnd the scrap steel reaches 40 million tons. How can my country's limited steel play a greater role? "With these questions, Xie Xide gradually discovered that a new edge science, namely surface science, is being formed between solid state physics, material science, and quantum chemistry, based on surface physics. After in-depth and detailed investigation, Xie Xide gradually uncovered surface physics. The mystery of, basically understands the basic content of surface physics. There are three parts: one is to determine the atomic composition of the surface; the other is the surface atomic structure and bonding properties; the third is the electronic state of the surface and various unique physical properties .
At the end of 1977, Xie Xide publicized this scientific investigation at the National Natural Science Planning Conference, and advocated the development of surface physics in our country, which won the appreciation of the scientists present and the strong support of the former State Science and Technology Commission and the Ministry of Higher Education. Riding the east wind, she The Institute of Modern Physics is planned to be established in Fudan University with a focus on surface physics.
When the international authority on surface physics visited the Institute of Modern Physics in 1982, Wispenser evaluated that “it is an outstanding center of condensed matter physics in China and has the potential to develop into International Center of Excellence".
In 1980, Xie Xide was elected as a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
chip concept diagram
Six years later, China’s semiconductor profession ushered in the 30th anniversary of its founding. At the commemorative meeting, the participants had a common Wish-Strive for the 21st International Conference on Semiconductor Physics to be held in China in 1992. The International Conference on Semiconductor Physics is recognized as the most authoritative international conference in the field of semiconductor physics. The international conferences on semiconductor physics have always been played by Europe and the United States, developing countries There is almost no right to say. The preparatory team composed of Huang Kun and Xie Xide overcome all difficulties and finally got what they wanted. This has greatly excited China’s physics community and allowed Chinese science to go to the world in opening up.
New China A female university president
If the story stops here, it is just a standard scientist story. However, Xie Xide’s thin body also contains a huge amount of energy. She dedicated this energy to education.
1983 At the Fudan Spring Festival delegation, Sheng Hua, then Secretary of the Party Committee of Fudan University, announced the decision of the State Council to appoint Xie Xide as the president of Fudan University. Warm applause echoed in the hall for a long time, and people unanimously voted for the first female president of a university in New China. Very admirable gaze.
Xie Xide in life is approachable. She does not take a car every time she goes to work, but rides a school bus with everyone, so that she can handle some business affairs, talk with everyone, and listen to the voices of teachers.
In the morning, she always goes to the research room of the physics building first, and then walks to the principal’s office. She does not walk fast or slow. In physics terms, the "mean free path" on the road is too short and the "collision frequency" is too high Just like a molecule in a high-pressure vessel after moving a short distance, it will collide with another molecule. The teacher hopes to talk about house division and job title evaluation and stop her. The journalism trainee who is internship in photography, She took it as a practice Shadow object. She brought a fresh wind of democracy to Fudan.
As the first female principal of a university in New China, Xie Xide is far-sighted and bold.
During her ten years as vice president and principal principal of Fudan University, she took the lead in breaking the Soviet model in which comprehensive universities had only liberal arts and sciences, and added several colleges such as the School of Technical Sciences, the School of Economics, and the School of Management. Turn Fudan into a comprehensive university with humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, technical sciences and management sciences.
She pays attention to the construction of the teaching team, adopts the method of extraordinary promotion, encourages academic leaders to stand out, and promotes young teachers to be top-notch. She wrote an article in the newspaper to change the teacher structure of "inbreeding", advocate the flow of talents and practice it.
She pays attention to the guiding role of teachers in teaching and educating people. In the autumn of 1986, she implemented a tutor system at Fudan University, hiring well-known teachers to train students in a "one-to-one, one-to-many" manner. The tutors understood and moved the students. With affection, the effect is very good.
She set up the "Principal's Mailbox", "Principal Forum" and "Press Conference" to communicate all aspects of the school, so that existing problems can be resolved in a timely manner. She strongly advocates a good style of study among teachers and students.
She emphasizes the training of cross-type and compound talents, and many insights are still quite far-sighted today.
"Harvard University in ChinaPrincipal"
"Old friend, how are the recent matches of the Red Sox? After shaking hands with Condy, then chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, Xie Xide blurted out. It turned out that Condy had studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was a fan of the "Red Sox" baseball team. Xie Xide knew this well. Condy listened. I’m very happy, I’ve gotten close to each other invisibly. While chatting, Xie Xide naturally shifted the topic to fundraising.
Xie Xide was at the Chinese Academy of Sciences
In 1985, Xie Xide, the president, realized that there are many studies and cooperation between China and the United States The lack of communication led to the intention to establish an American Research Center in Fudan. In the same year, the center was approved and became the first university in the country. In order to solve the funding problem, Xie Xide ran around and sought support with his influence and popularity in the United States. Later, Kandi It lived up to expectations and really made a lot of effort in project investment.
In 1995, the American Research Center building was completed, and more than ten years later, the second phase of the project was completed and put into use. At present, the center has become an influential and standard international research institution.
In fact, it is not the first time that Xie Xide has borrowed foreign capital to build a university.
In 1980, China officially restored the seat of the World Bank member states. In that year, the first Chinese university development project loaned by the World Bank began preparations. Xie Xide was appointed as the deputy leader of the expert group. She felt that she could do a lot.
She summarized the domestic laboratory experience, introduced foreign laboratory and technical management experience, and used the loan in a targeted manner to build a laboratory for China In just 5 years, Fudan used this loan to send more than 70 visiting scholars and graduate students overseas, and invited 17 well-known experts and scholars to give lectures at the school, which promoted the training of graduate students. , The quality of scientific research has been significantly improved. Only the Fudan family has benefited this way, not to mention the gains of the other 27 universities across the country.
Since then, Xie Xide has been appointed as the leader of the World Bank loan project for two consecutive times. With her unique charm, she will Fudan and even more colleges and universities are pushed to the world.
While striving for collective interests, Xie Xide also takes care of every individual. She writes letters of recommendation for students who are admitted to the “China-US Joint Graduate Physics Program” (CUSPEA) program every year. It is a project led by Nobel Prize winner Li Zhengdao. In the era when TOEFL and GRE were not available, excellent physics students were sent abroad to study for graduate students. Over the years, Xie Xide has written hundreds of recommendation letters. One time, one In order to save time and effort, the student drafted the recommendation letter in advance to Xie Xide, but she was severely criticized. Because the recommendation letter was written by her, she never did it on behalf of others. This move was also popular among students.
In 1987, when Xie Xide was awarded an honorary doctorate by the State University of New York at Albany, a reporter from USA Today called him "the President of Harvard University in China."
In 1998, Xie Xide visited China when President Clinton and his wife visited China. As a celebrity, he participated in Clinton's forum in Shanghai.
On March 4, 2000, Xie Xide, who had struggled with cancer for 34 years, passed away in Shanghai Huadong Hospital at the age of 79. Overnight, thousands of paper cranes spontaneously folded by students hung all over the branches, stretching from the No. 9 building of the student dormitory of Fudan Physics Department to the first teaching building. They are swaying in the wind, seeming to speak endless grief.
"China Science News" (2019-06-12 5th edition scholar)
