MG 17 · 2024
Di Li
Di Li is an observational astrophysicist closely associated with FAST, CRAFTS, interstellar-medium studies, and the statistical transformation of fast radio burst research.
China
National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
“For his groundbreaking contributions to the scientific definition of the most sensitive radio telescope and his numerous innovations in characterizing the dynamic universe, resulting in precise measurements of the interstellar magnetic field and advancing the field of fast radio bursts into a high-statistics era.”
MG XVII, Pescara, Italy
Work
Fast radio bursts and interstellar magnetic fields are central probes of compact objects, plasma, and the matter distribution between galaxies.
Through FAST and the CRAFTS survey, Li helped define high-sensitivity radio observing strategies and led analyses that produced exceptionally large samples of bursts and precise interstellar measurements.
This work moved FRB research from isolated detections toward population science, giving astronomers new tools for studying extreme environments and cosmic structure.