Yuan Tang, Ph.D., is the latest post-doctoral researcher at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering to win the IIR Peter Kapitza Award. She will be recognized in August 2023 for her work with Associate Professor Wei Guo on superfluid helium-4 at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. (M Wallheiser/FAMU-FSU Engineering)
Yuan Tang, a postdoctoral researcher working with Wei Guo, an associate professor in mechanical engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and Florida State University, received the prestigious Peter Kapitza Award from the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR).
“I can’t express how thrilled I am right now,” Tang said. “As a researcher exploring the captivating world of superfluid helium, it’s an absolute honor to be recognized with an award named after the legendary scientist who uncovered this mind-blowing phenomenon. This recognition fuels my motivation to push even harder, to make more significant contributions, and to push the boundaries of knowledge in this exciting field.”
Every four years at its congress, the IIR offers a series of Young Researchers Awards to honor the work carried out by young researchers in the field of refrigeration. The Peter Kapitza Award is one of seven IIR Young Researchers Awards that will be presented during the 26th IIR International Congress of Refrigeration in August in Paris, France.
“Dr. Tang, a remarkable engineer, has made quite a breakthrough in her research over the past few years,” Guo said. “The Peter Kapitza Award is a testament to her unwavering dedication and hard work.”
Tang joined Guo’s research group, headquartered at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, in 2019 after earning her Ph.D. in refrigeration and cryogenics engineering from China’s Zhejiang University.
She was awarded for her research on the dynamics of quantized vortices in superfluid helium-4, utilizing both experimental and numerical methods. Superfluid helium-4 is a quantum fluid that flows without friction at extremely low temperatures. The vortices are thin, hollow tubes within the superfluid where the fluid rotates, resembling tiny tornadoes.
Understanding their dynamics sheds light on intriguing phenomena in various quantum fluid systems like superfluid helium, superfluid neutron stars, and superconductors. It also holds practical importance for cooling systems that employ superfluid helium.
Tang’s work was recently published in the journal Nature Communications.
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