An Examination of Chia-Hsien Teng's Stay in the United States

The year 2024 marks the 100th birthday anniversary of Chia-Hsien Teng (Deng Jiaxian 邓稼先), one of the principal pioneers and founders of China's nuclear weapons program. While Teng's influence and contributions have garnered widespread attention from various sectors, academic research on his period of study in the United States remains insufficient. Based on the newly released archives of Purdue University, along with other relevant research and historical documents, this paper explores and organizes details about Teng's self-funded trip to the U.S., his coursework during his doctoral studies, mentorship relationships, academic research, and social activities. The paper also aims to address omissions and inaccuracies in previous discussions, thereby enriching our understanding of Teng's life and work.