Yuqiang Li
lyq@ynao.ac.cn
Education
2008-2012 Ph.D. in [Astrometry and Celestial Mechanics], [University of Chinese Academy of Sciences]
2003-2006 Master's Degree in [Astrometry and Celestial Mechanics], [University of Chinese Academy of Sciences]
2001-2003 Bachelor's Degree in [Physics], [Ludong University]
Experience
2023-Present Researcher, Hefei National Laboratory
2018-Present Professor, Yunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences
2012-2018 Associate Professor, Yunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences
2006-2012 Assistant Research Fellow, Yunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Overview of Academic Research
Satellite laser ranging currently serves as the highest-precision measurement method within the Earth-Moon distance scale, holding significant importance for national space security and the establishment of cislunar spatiotemporal reference systems. In the field of space debris laser ranging, Yunnan Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has innovatively utilized domestically developed near-infrared lasers and arrayed superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors to achieve high-precision detection of small-sized low-Earth-orbit space debris. In lunar laser ranging, Yunnan Observatories was the first in China to achieve the goal. Technical upgrades are implemented subsequently, including near-infrared laser ranging technology, optimized optical configurations, ranging control systems, telescope pointing mechanisms, and weak-signal identification techniques. In April 2025, the team was the 1st in China to achieve cislunar satellite laser ranging, and accomplished the world’s first daytime cislunar space satellite laser ranging.
Personal Profile：
Li, Yuqiang is the Deputy Director and Professor at Yunnan Observatories (CAS), a Ph.D. Supervisor, , an Outstanding Member of the Youth Innovation Promotion Association (CAS), a Leading Young Scientist in Science and Technology of Yunnan Province, and a recipient of the Special Allowance from the Yunnan Provincial Government. His research focuses on satellite laser ranging, space debris laser ranging, and lunar laser ranging. He has led multiple national and provincial research projects, including the 863 Program, major projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), NSFC key projects, Yunnan Provincial Natural Science Foundation key projects, and Yunnan Provincial Innovation Teams. Under his leadership, his research team has repeatedly bridged domestic technological gaps in space debris and lunar laser ranging: in May 2017, high-precision detection of small space debris was achieved, filling a domestic research gap; in January 2018, China’s first lunar laser ranging was realized; in April 2025, China’s first cislunar space satellite laser ranging was accomplished; and in the same month, the world’s first daytime cislunar space satellite laser ranging was achieved.
Major Honors and Awards
2024 Recipient of Special Government Allowance from Yunnan Provincial Government
Representative Publications
1.Jin Cao, Rufeng Tang, Kai Huang, Zhulian Li,Yongzhang Yang, Kai Huang, Jintao Li，and Yuqiang Li*.Analysis of the Effect of Tilted Corner Cube Reflector Arrays on Lunar Laser Ranging.remote sensing16,3030(2024).
2.Jin Cao,Runfeng Tang,Kai Huang,Yuqiang Li*,and Yonggen XU.Propagation properties of partially coherent electromagnetic hyperbolic-sine-Gaussian vortex beam through anisotropic atmospheric turbulence.The Optical Society of America A41(3),371-381(2024).
3.Kai Huang , Yongzhang Yang , Rufeng Tang , Jin Cao , Marco Muccino , Luca Porcelli , Simone Dell'Agnello 4, Yuqiang Li *.Review of the development of Lunar Laser Ranging.Astronomical Techniques and Instruments11(1),295-306(2024).
4.Yang Mengxue,Li Zhulian,Li Rongwang,Li Yuqiang*,Sharpness Evaluation Algorithm Based on Real-Time Automatic Focusing of 1.2 m Telescope System.Acta Optica Sinica 43(6),0612006(2023)
5.Li Zhulian,Zhai Dongsheng,Zhang Haitao,Pi Xiaoyu,Fu Honglin,Li Rongwang,Li Pengfei,Zhang Labao,Li Yuqiang*.Superconductivity detector applied to daytime satellite laser ranging experiment and research.Infrared and Laser Engineering49(08),127-132(2020).
6.Li Yuqiang, D. et al.Lunar Laser Ranging Research and Experiment in Yunnan Observatories.CHINESE JOURNAL OF LASERS,46(01).188-195(2019)
7.RUFENG TANG,ZHULIAN LI,YUQIANG LI,*XIAOYU PI,XIAOLI SU,RONGWAGN LI,HAITAO ZHANG,DONGSHENG ZHAIAND HONGLIN FU.Light curve measurements with a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector.Optics Letters.43(21),5488-5491(2018)
8.Li Yuqiang, D. et al.Experimentation of Diffuse Reflection Laser Ranging of Space Debris.CHINESE JOURNAL OF LASERS,38(9),160-164(2011)