China Vitae

Biography

Cheng Kaijia, male, Han nationality, is a native Wujiang, Jiangsu Province. He was born in 1918 and is a member of the CPC. Chen graduated from the Physics Department of Zhejiang University in 1941 and received a doctor's degree from Edinburgh University in 1948.

Considered a pioneer in the nuclear industry and nuclear weapons field, Cheng is credited with participating in the development of the first nuclear bomb in China. His research on temperature and pressure in core parts of the atomic bomb explosion were deemed critical to the process. Cheng later solved an explosion mechanism problem on the atomic bomb and helped with its configuration. Among his other accomplishments, Cheng established a nuclear experiment research institute and directed dozens of nuclear experiments for atomic bombs, nuclear missiles, and began nuclear explosion experimental research and anti-nuclear reinforcement technology studies.

His career is as lengthy as his nuclear research. After working as a researcher for the British Royal Chemistry Industry Research Institute, Cheng returned to China in 1950 to teach at Zhejiang and Nanjing universities. He then left to assume several leadership posts with the Nuclear Industrial Corporation. Cheng later became a consultant to the science and technology committee of the general equipment department of the Chinese military forces.

Career Data