March 19, 2021 is the centennial birthday of Mr. Xie Xide, the "icebreaker" of China's semiconductor industry

This scientist, who is the same age as the Chinese Communist Party, is a solid-state physicist well-known at home and abroad, one of the pioneers of semiconductor physics in my country, and the first female university president after the founding of New China.

Like a fighter, she has struggled for decades in the fields of education and scientific research while suffering from illness, and has left and cultivated the first batch of valuable semiconductor talents in our country.

Approaching Mr. Xie, you can get a glimpse of the beginning of China's "core" road and blue thread, and provide inspiration for the accelerated research of today's neck-neck technology

Looking back at the development history of Chinese chips, it is impossible to avoid the first textbook in my country that comprehensively discusses semiconductors - "Semiconductor Physics". In 1958, this authoritative monograph on chips was published in the world at that time, and it became a textbook for "breaking the ice" of Chinese chips.

March 19, 2021, is the centennial birthday of Mr. Xie Xide, one of the authors of this book and known as the "icebreaker" of China's semiconductors. This scientist, who is the same age as the Communist Party of China, is a solid-state physicist well-known at home and abroad, one of the pioneers of my country's semiconductor physics discipline, and the first female university president after the founding of New China. Like a fighter, she has struggled for decades in the fields of education and scientific research despite her illness, and has cultivated the first batch of valuable semiconductor talents in my country. Approaching Mr. Xie, you can get a glimpse of the beginning of China's "core" road and blue thread, and provide inspiration for the accelerated research of today's neck-neck technology.

China's "core" that overcomes all obstacles and grows from nothing

In 1956, China's first specialized training course for semiconductors was established at Peking University. In the past two years, more than 300 first-generation semiconductor professionals in my country have been trained. The seeds of semiconductors have been scattered from the lakeside to the north and south of the river, from the single furnace in the laboratory to the factory floor. This latest achievement in modern physics has miraculously spread widely in our country.

Photographed at Shanghai Hujiang University during the Spring Festival of 1947. Photo courtesy of Fudan University

This class, co-chaired by Huang Kun of Peking University and Xie Xide of Fudan University, has become the birthplace of a large number of semiconductor talents in my country. More than 300 scholars trained by teachers such as Xie Xide have become academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Sciences, university professors and corporate engineers respectively. talent.

As one of the backbones, Xie Xide, together with his colleagues at the time, almost started out of poverty and no good. Xie Xide, who was born in a family of physicists, could not wait to leave the United States after receiving a doctorate in physics from MIT, and went to his lover Cao Tianqin who was in the United Kingdom at the time. Through such a "torque" way, both of them were able to return home quickly. He teaches at the Department of Physics, Fudan University. With her efforts, the disciplinary gap in Fudan University has been gradually filled, and within 5 years, she has opened several physics-related courses such as solid state physics and quantum mechanics.

In the spring of 1946, he was engaged to take a group photo with his lover. Photo courtesy of Fudan University

In May 1956, Xie Xide joined the Communist Party of China. In the autumn of the same year, in order to realize the national 12-year scientific development plan, she was transferred to Peking University to co-found the semiconductor physics specialization. Another famous physicist, Huang Kun, served as the director of the teaching and research group, and Xie Xide served as the deputy director. At that time, her son Weizheng was only 5 months old. Not long after she returned to China, she still happily took the lead, simply packed up the package and set off. Since then, the "ice-breaking" road of China's semiconductors has been started from scratch.

"Our country's semiconductor research started later than others. At this critical moment, I can't hold back the country." In Xie Xide's view, it is through his own efforts to "quickly introduce the world's most advanced scientific achievements. Quickly make up for shortages and much-needed categories.”

During the day, Xie Xide worked tirelessly from the dormitory to the classroom; at night, she worked tirelessly to translate foreign literature, draft lectures, study teaching plans with the faculty, guide homework, and spend a lot of time compiling textbooks. In 1958, "Semiconductor Physics" came out, and for a long period of time, it has become a standard textbook and basic reference book that must be read by students and researchers of semiconductor physics majors in my country.

"The vast majority of this book can be read as long as it has a foundation equivalent to that of a general science and engineering university"; "I hope the content of the book can be comprehensive, and at the same time I hope to avoid discussing issues only related to theoretical foundations and theoretical research. "; "Semiconductor physics is a booming science, and it is inevitable that the latest developments will be missed, and I hope to add them in the reprint"...

Even if I look at this textbook now, I can feel the painstaking efforts of the two masters when they created the book. When China's semiconductor technology started, they have paid attention to two key issues in the development of this field: cultivating enough talents for the industry, and ecological construction that takes into account theoretical research and market application.

"After Xie Xide returned to Fudan, he worked non-stop with the faculty members of the semiconductor teaching and research group who stayed at the school. In a short period of time, he successively opened a full set of semiconductor professional courses for semiconductor undergraduates, such as semiconductor physics, semiconductor theory, semiconductor materials, semiconductor devices, and semiconductor specialized experiments. "Professor Ruan Gang, the founder of germanium integrated circuits in my country, was one of Xie Xide's party introductions. He recalled during his lifetime, "The country needs, the school attaches great importance to, all teachers and students of the semiconductor teaching and research department headed by Xie Xide seized the opportunity to make 1956 The founding of Fudan's semiconductor specialty started in 2009 and got off to a good start."

Send teachers and students out, let knowledge come back

On February 24, 2000, an American flag was hoisted and fluttered over the U.S. Capitol Hill in honor of Shehide's contribution to China-U.S. relations. Soon after, the flag was sent to the bedside of Xie Xide in East China Hospital. Regrettably, in March 2000, Mr. Xie passed away in Shanghai.

In front of the building of the Fudan Center for American Studies, there is a bronze statue of Xie Xide, which is to commemorate her outstanding contribution to the center. It can be said that the establishment, development, and major achievements of the American Studies Center today Gathering Xie Xide's efforts.

In 1978, Professor Xie Xide, vice president of Fudan University, gave an academic report on surface physics. Photo courtesy of Fudan University

In 1983, she became president of Fudan University. After the reform and opening up, in order to improve the opening of teaching and research and international exchanges, Xie Xide personally wrote letters of recommendation for students studying abroad. As the principal, Xie Xide has a long-term and sharp vision. She defied public opinion and took the lead in breaking the Soviet model of comprehensive universities with only liberal arts and sciences in China. She added a number of colleges such as the School of Technical Sciences, the School of Economics, and the School of Management, turning Fudan into a university with humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. A comprehensive university of science, technical sciences and management sciences.

Since he became the vice president in 1978, Mr. Xie has insisted on taking the "Dragon" bus with the faculty and staff of Fudan University. Photo courtesy of Fudan University

In 1985, Xie Xide realized that there were many research and communication gaps between China and the United States. In order to fill these shortcomings, on February 1 of the same year, the Center for American Studies of Fudan University was established with approval, and Xie Xide also served as the director of the center. She traveled to the United States many times to persuade more friends to join the ranks of the establishment of the American research center.

During the 15 years from the establishment of the American Studies Center to the death of Mr. Xie, under her leadership and her words and deeds, the Center has grown from nothing, from small to large, and developed into an international research institution with considerable influence and standards at home and abroad. A bridge of friendship and exchange between the two countries.

At the same time, Xie Xide also paid attention to inviting celebrities to communicate face-to-face with Fudan teachers and students. During her tenure as president of Fudan University, Fudan University awarded honorary doctorate degrees to famous experts and scholars such as famous Japanese physicist Mao Chengji and Nobel Prize winner Yang Zhenning, and received US President Ronald Reagan, Brazil Speaker Guimaraes and other national leaders. people visit. Through such foreign affairs activities, Fudan teachers and students not only have the opportunity to face academic masters and celebrities, but also strengthen the connection between Fudan and the world, which greatly enhances Fudan's international reputation.

In 1984, President Sheheed presented a souvenir to President Reagan. Photo courtesy of Fudan University

"Mr. Xie actively pursued reform and opening up, which made Fudan the most open in the country at that time." Bao Minhang, a retired professor at the School of Microelectronics of Fudan University, recalled that in May 1979, a group of 18 people from Fudan went to the United States as visiting scholars and also met with She is related. "In order to make up for the lack of public assignments, she also created methods such as public assignments at her own expense, broadening the form of assignments. She personally wrote letters of recommendation for students going abroad, and basically no one refused."

As long as she is recognized by Xie Xide, whether she is a student of this school or not, she will seriously write a long recommendation letter, and there are no stereotyped empty words in the letter. Each letter is written very truthfully and comprehensively. There is such a small story among the students: some students were afraid of causing trouble to Mr. Xie, so they drafted their recommendation letters in advance, but they were criticized by Mr. Xie. She said, "Although it will take up a lot of my time, it is very important to me. It's a pleasure to say. Seeing the self-introductions written by each of them, most are well-rounded hands of versatility."

According to incomplete statistics, during her tenure as the principal, she wrote a letter of recommendation every three days on average, and sent away more than 100 students each year. The typewriter became one of her most used tools.

The small typewriter entrusted Mr. Xie's affection for the students. Photo courtesy of Fudan University

"Send teachers and students out to bring knowledge back." Almost all the teachers and students sent by Xie Xide returned to the motherland after their study abroad period expired, and became the backbone of the academic world and the backbone of the country.

This open atmosphere has become an important boost for my country's semiconductor field to move towards international cooperation. Since 1983, Mr. Xie has attended the March Condensed Matter Conference of the American Physical Society every March, and organized the materials into a concise academic report. The latest developments and information from the international physical community.

Bao Minhang said that when Mr. Xie was the principal, Mr. Zhang Qianling was in charge of establishing the State Key Laboratory of Application-Specific Integrated Circuits and Systems (ASIC). At that time, Mr. Xie was the leader of the expert group loaned by the World Bank. With her strong support, the teaching and research group established the only laboratory in China at that time with the help of the World Bank loan.

"Since then, the college has encouraged students to work hard in scientific research based on our state key laboratory, make good progress, participate in international competition, and enter the circle of high-end international scientific research. Semiconductor integrated circuits cover one aspect, It is not a single point, so for different units and different people in the field, there should be division of labor from basic to technology, and everyone should do what they should do.”

A "geese" flying back to the homeland of the motherland

On March 14, 2021, the original master play "Xie Xide" on the campus of Fudan University will be performed for two consecutive performances, telling the life of this Chinese Communist Party member, physicist, and the first female university president of New China who sticks to her original aspiration and is dedicated to serving the country.

In the first act, she said affectionately: "I feel like a wild goose: I had to leave my homeland in the severe winter when the cold wind was bleak and the trees were withering; now that I return to the earth in spring, I want to fly back to the homeland of the motherland and work hard. , to fight." The sonorous and powerful words, the delicate and firm emotions, this is how she broke through the blockades with her determination, and returned to serve the motherland after her studies.

Mr. Xie chatting with students while walking. Photo courtesy of Fudan University  

Chen Xizhu, a student of Keqing College and a 2020-level undergraduate student of the School of Nursing, who played the young Xie Xide, told reporters with a sigh: "The process of participating in the master play is exactly the perception of the master's spirit. I hope to be able to interpret Mr. Xie Xide's family and country feelings well, and pursue academic pursuits. The school's vision and state of mind, and a good interpretation of such a senior party member, a truly pure teacher."

One day in December 1999, when a cold snap from the north hit Shanghai again, Xie Xide, who had been fighting the disease for decades, became sicker. After repeated surgeries and chemotherapy, she suffered a lot, but her life was tough and bright.

Her only requirement during her hospital stay was a phone that would connect her to a laptop. Because her legs can't be bent, she can only work standing up. She received a lot of emails every day and dealt with a lot of things until she had acute heart failure and respiratory failure. After rescue, she could no longer stand up and had to stop working.

"A Communist Party member and a scientist, as long as his heart is still beating, he must fight and fight for the scientific cause of the Party." This scientist and educator, who is the same age as the Chinese Communist Party, has been pursuing the pursuit all his life. Explore the truth and contribute to the development of the country and the school. No matter where you go, you must embark on a road to return to the country. In the hearts of every student, the seeds of innovation and progress are planted.

In old age Sheheed. Photo courtesy of Fudan University

To study abroad, he resolutely gave up the superior conditions abroad, returned to China through the UK, and devoted himself to the construction of new China; he also taught and compiled many basic courses, built a large number of disciplines from scratch, and trained a large number of backbone scientific research talents and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; served as the deputy director of the Institute of Technical Physics to cultivate more engineering talents; established technical physics secondary schools to cultivate experimental technical talents; finally adhered to innovation leadership and encouraged international cooperation...

"Xie Xide", an icebreaker in the semiconductor field, used her lifelong struggles and experiences to inspire future generations. For the development of the high-end chip field, which is still "stuck" in my country, it seems that these measures still have great significance: in this field where technology, industry, ecology, and capital are indispensable, we must stick to our original intention and open up. Mentality, forge ahead.

Disclaimer: This article is reproduced from "Science and Technology Daily" to support the protection of intellectual property rights. Please indicate the original source and author of the reprint. If there is any infringement, please contact us to delete it.