1. Overview
Pan Jianwei (潘建伟Pān JiànwěiChinese) is a prominent Chinese quantum physicist and academic administrator. Born in Dongyang, Zhejiang province in 1970, he is widely recognized for his pioneering contributions to the fields of quantum entanglement, quantum information, and quantum computing. As a professor and Executive Vice President at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Pan has spearheaded significant national scientific endeavors, most notably China's quantum satellite program, which has enabled secure quantum communication over vast distances. His research team has also achieved remarkable breakthroughs in quantum computing, developing advanced quantum computers such as the Jiuzhang and Zuchongzhi series. Pan's profound impact on quantum science and technology has earned him numerous accolades, including election to the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the World Academy of Sciences, and international recognition as the "Father of Quantum" by Nature and inclusion in Time magazine's "Time 100 Most Influential People." He also holds significant administrative and advisory roles within the Jiusan Society and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
2. Early life and education
2.1. Birth and upbringing
Pan Jianwei was born on March 11, 1970, in Dongyang, Jinhua, Zhejiang province, China.
2.2. Education
Pan began his academic journey in 1987, when he enrolled at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). He completed his undergraduate studies, receiving a bachelor's degree in modern physics in 1992, followed by a master's degree in modern physics in 1995 from the same institution. Subsequently, he moved to Austria to pursue his doctoral research at the University of Vienna. There, he studied and worked within the research group led by the acclaimed Nobel laureate physicist Anton Zeilinger, ultimately earning his PhD in experimental physics in 1999.
3. Career
Pan Jianwei's career spans significant roles in academia, university administration, and leadership in major scientific projects and organizations, reflecting his multifaceted contributions to science and public service.
3.1. Professorship at the University of Science and Technology of China
Pan Jianwei serves as a distinguished professor of physics at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). In this capacity, he leads extensive research initiatives focused on advancing the frontiers of quantum physics and information science, guiding numerous students and researchers in their scientific endeavors.
3.2. University administration
In addition to his professorial duties, Pan Jianwei holds key administrative positions within the University of Science and Technology of China. In April 2014, he was appointed Vice President of USTC. He currently serves as the Executive Vice President of the university, playing a crucial role in its strategic direction and academic management.
3.3. Leadership in scientific projects and organizations
Pan has been a driving force behind several groundbreaking scientific projects and holds influential positions in prominent academic societies. He notably spearheaded the development and successful launch of the world's first quantum satellite. His scientific standing was recognized in 2011 when, at the age of 41, he was elected an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, making him one of the youngest individuals to receive this prestigious honor. The following year, in 2012, he was also elected to the World Academy of Sciences. In June 2016, Pan was appointed Vice Chairman of the Chinese Association for Science and Technology. Further solidifying his influence in the scientific publishing world, Pan was appointed as the lead editor of Physical Review Research in 2019.
4. Scientific contributions
Pan Jianwei's scientific contributions are characterized by pioneering experimental demonstrations and the development of cutting-edge quantum technologies that have significantly advanced the field of quantum physics and information science.
4.1. Quantum entanglement research
Pan's team has achieved several landmark accomplishments in the experimental demonstration of quantum entanglement, a fundamental phenomenon crucial for quantum information processing. In 2004, his team successfully demonstrated five-photon entanglement, a complex feat that showcased the potential for multi-particle quantum states. Their innovative work on double quantum-teleportation was recognized as the Physics World "Top Breakthrough of the Year" in 2015, highlighting its significance in quantum communication. In June 2017, leveraging their quantum satellite, Pan's team achieved unprecedented results by demonstrating entanglement with satellite-to-ground total summed lengths ranging between 1.0 K mile (1.60 K km) and 1.5 K mile (2.40 K km). They also successfully demonstrated entanglement distribution over a remarkable distance of 0.7 K mile (1.20 K km) between receiver stations, pushing the boundaries of long-distance quantum communication.
4.2. Quantum satellite projects
Under Pan's visionary leadership, China launched the world's first quantum satellite, officially known as the Quantum Experiments at Space Scale (QUESS) satellite, and famously named Mozi (墨子号Chinese), in August 2016. This groundbreaking mission, a cornerstone of China's national research efforts in quantum science, has been instrumental in establishing the feasibility of secure quantum communication over intercontinental distances. The Mozi satellite has enabled a new era of quantum communication, demonstrating the potential for unhackable information transfer through space-based quantum key distribution.
4.3. Quantum computing development
Pan's team has been at the forefront of the global race to develop powerful quantum computers, achieving several significant milestones. In 2020, they announced the successful development of a quantum computer named "Jiuzhang" (九章Chinese). Building on this success, in 2021, his team further advanced quantum computing capabilities, creating devices such as "Zuchongzhi 2.1" (祖沖之2.1Chinese). This particular device was claimed to be one million times faster than its nearest competitor, Google's Sycamore, in certain computational tasks. The same year, the team also unveiled "Jiuzhang 2" (九章2号Chinese), showcasing continued progress in optical quantum computing. Their most recent achievement, announced in 2023, is "Jiuzhang 3" (九章3号Chinese), which set a new record by demonstrating quantum bits with 255 photons, further pushing the limits of quantum computational advantage.
4.4. Other research breakthroughs
Beyond his work on entanglement and quantum computing, Pan Jianwei's team has made other notable contributions to quantum information processing. Their advancements in quantum teleportation, particularly the double quantum-teleportation experiment, have been crucial for understanding and implementing long-distance quantum communication protocols. These breakthroughs collectively contribute to the broader development of quantum information science, laying the groundwork for future quantum technologies.
5. Awards and recognition
Pan Jianwei has received extensive recognition and numerous prestigious awards for his groundbreaking scientific contributions and his leadership in the field of quantum physics, both nationally and internationally.
5.1. Academic memberships and honors
His standing as a leading scientist is reflected in his election to esteemed academic bodies. In 2011, at the age of 41, he was elected an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, making him one of the youngest scholars to achieve this distinction. The following year, in 2012, he was also elected to the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), further cementing his international reputation.
5.2. Major scientific awards
Pan Jianwei has been the recipient of several significant scientific awards. In 2012, he was honored with the International Quantum Communication Award. His team, which includes notable researchers such as Peng Chengzhi, Chen Yu'ao, Lu Chaoyang, and Chen Zengbing, received the State Natural Science Award (First Class) in 2015, one of China's highest scientific honors, for their collective achievements. In 2017, he was awarded the Future Science Prize, a major private science award in China. The year 2018 saw him receive both the Newcomb Cleveland Prize and the Willis Lamb Award. In 2019, The Optical Society (formerly The Optical Society of America) presented him with the R. W. Wood Prize. Most recently, in 2020, Pan was honored with the ZEISS Research Award, recognizing his outstanding contributions to optics and photonics.
5.3. Public recognition and influence
Pan Jianwei's profound impact on science has earned him widespread public recognition and significant influence. He is often referred to as the "Father of Quantum" in China, acknowledging his pivotal role in the nation's quantum science initiatives. In 2017, the prestigious scientific journal Nature included him in its annual "Nature's 10" list, highlighting him as one of the ten people who made a significant impact in science that year. His global influence was further underscored in 2018, when Time magazine featured him in its "Time 100 Most Influential People" list.
7. Impact and legacy
Pan Jianwei's work has had a transformative impact on the field of quantum physics and its technological applications, firmly establishing China as a global leader in quantum science. His pioneering experiments in quantum entanglement and teleportation have not only pushed the boundaries of fundamental scientific understanding but also demonstrated the practical feasibility of quantum phenomena over unprecedented distances, laying the groundwork for future quantum technologies. The successful launch and operation of the Mozi quantum satellite under his leadership marked a new era for secure quantum communication, offering a revolutionary paradigm for unhackable information transfer.
His team's relentless advancements in quantum computing, particularly the development of the Jiuzhang and Zuchongzhi series, underscore China's growing prowess in this critical area. These quantum computers hold the potential to revolutionize computation, enabling the solution of complex problems that are beyond the capabilities of classical supercomputers. Pan's dedication to cutting-edge research and his strategic leadership in major national scientific projects have not only yielded significant breakthroughs but also fostered a vibrant and rapidly expanding quantum research ecosystem in China, inspiring and nurturing a new generation of scientists. His legacy is defined by his profound contributions to both the fundamental understanding and the practical application of quantum mechanics, solidifying his position as a pivotal figure in the global scientific community and a key driver of China's scientific and technological progress.