Rendong Nan

National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Papers

Total Citations

358

H-Index

About

Rendong Nan is the visionary engineer and astronomer behind the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST), the world’s largest and most sensitive single-dish radio telescope. His core research areas span radio astronomy instrumentation, large-scale structural engineering, and innovative antenna design. Nan’s most transformative contribution is the conceptualization and realization of FAST, a groundbreaking project that overcame the limitations of traditional fixed-dish telescopes. He pioneered the use of a unique karst depression as a natural site and an active main reflector that corrects spherical aberration on the ground, enabling full polarization and wide bandwidth without a complex feed system. His 2006 paper “Five hundred meter aperture spherical radio telescope (FAST)” has garnered over 300 citations, establishing the foundational design for this global scientific asset. Nan also introduced a light focus cabin driven by cables, further simplifying the telescope’s mechanics. As the chief scientist of FAST, his work has enabled transformative discoveries in pulsar astronomy and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, cementing his legacy as a pioneer in modern radio astronomy infrastructure.