Peking University, August 8, 2025: Professor Zong Qiugang from the School of Earth and Space Sciences at Peking University has been awarded the 2025 Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar Prize of Plasma Physics by The Association of Asia Pacific Physical Societies(AAPPS). Named after the 1983 Nobel laureate in physics, this prize is one of the highest honors in plasma physics, granted annually to a single outstanding scientist. Zong is the first recipient from mainland China.

The award recognizes his groundbreaking contributions to space plasma physics, particularly in two areas.

The first is his discovery of how high-energy “killer electrons” are accelerated in Earth’s radiation belts. Zong revealed that when interplanetary shocks strike Earth’s magnetosphere, they generate ultra-low-frequency waves. When the electrons’ drift period matches the wave period, a drift resonance occurs, continuously accelerating them to ultra-high energies capable of threatening spacecraft and astronauts. This breakthrough solved a long-standing space weather puzzle and was hailed by the European Space Agency as key to understanding space hazards. It was also listed among Discover Magazine’s Top 100 Science Stories of 2007. 

The second is his leadership in developing space probes. Zong led the creation of China’s Imaging Electron Spectrometer(IES), now on 12 satellites, providing crucial data for the country’s space weather forecasting and advancing its capabilities to a global level. He also led the development of the new Energetic Neutral Atom Imager (ENA Imager) for high-sensitivity imaging of space storms around Earth and other planets, as well as the heliopause.

Zong has previously received the EGU Hannes Alfvén Medal, the COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal, and is an elected AGU Fellow. The Chandrasekhar Prize further affirms his foundational impact on both the theory and technology of space plasma research.



Written by: Wu Hiuman
Edited by: Chen Shizhuo
Source: PKU News (Chinese)