Hou Xun is engaged in research on transient optical technology and has personally participated in the development of a series of domestically pioneered and internationally advanced electro-optical and optoelectronic high-speed cameras as a major participant, academic leader and project leader.
In 1985, the development of a series of ultra-high-speed transient phenomenon observation equipment, together with other shooting range observation instruments, won the special prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award entitled "Dynamic Optical Observation and Measurement Technology in Modern Defense Tests" . Hou Xun received a personal award certificate and ranked fifth.
In order to further develop China's transient optical technology and promote research on ultrafast phenomena, he initiated and organized the application for the "National Key Laboratory of Transient Optical Technology", which was successful. In 1991, he organized the application for the "Femtosecond Laser Technology and Ultrafast Process Research" "Eighth Five-Year Plan" climbing plan project. After being approved, he was appointed as the chief scientist of the project by the National Science and Technology Commission. The project includes three parts: femtosecond laser technology, ultra-fast measurement technology and ultra-fast process research. It was jointly undertaken by relevant scientific and technological personnel from six schools and six schools. It was completed very well: in 1996, the National Science and Technology Commission accepted the overall evaluation Grade A. Since 1997, as one of the conveners of the expert group for the pre-selected project of the "Ninth Five-Year Plan" climbing plan "Strong Field Laser Physics and Femtosecond Ultrafast Process Research", he has been responsible for the organizational work and subject research of the ultrafast process research part. In 2001 The project was hired as A-level upon acceptance.
In addition, Hou Xun was also responsible for the successful development of the magnetic focusing mica plate coupled four-level image intensifier in the 1970s; he was the first to successfully develop the transmissive gallium arsenide cathode and field-assisted photocathode in China; 8 In the early 1900s, he invented the palladium silver oxide cesium cathode with high long-wave response, low surface resistance and good stability; he was the first in China to successfully develop a double proximity focusing image intensifier; he invented a combined infrared photocathode using electron trap materials; he invented A new type of high-efficiency X-ray photocathode has obtained invention patents in China and the United States; in 1990, it successfully developed a 100 mm diameter microchannel plate X-ray image intensifier, which was a leader at home and abroad at that time and obtained a Chinese patent. In order to solve the problem of detecting dark, small, fast and multiple targets at conventional weapons ranges, he proposed the method of using pulsed laser illumination, interference filters to suppress the background, and image intensifiers to enhance target images, and successfully developed China's new generation shooting range. Optical measurement equipment, won the second prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award in 1992. He attaches great importance to the transformation of scientific research results. He once presided over the design and manufacturing of a complete set of image intensifier manufacturing equipment, earning US$1.91 million in foreign exchange from exports.
Since being appointed as a professor at the school in 2000, he and Professor Wu Hongcai have presided over the major project "Massive Information Technology" of the 985 Project, leading the development of ultra-high-density optical storage of information, passive devices for optical communications, For research work on low-loss organic optical fibers, the “Shaanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Information Photonics Technology” was established.
In 1984, he was awarded the title of "Young and Middle-aged Experts with Outstanding Contributions" by the Ministry of Personnel.
In 1989, he was awarded the title of "National Advanced Worker" by the State Council.
In 1991, he was elected as a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (now renamed as an academician).
In 2002, he was appointed as a member of the Advisory Expert Committee of the Department of Mathematics and Science of the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
In 2002, he was appointed as a special member of the second Shaanxi Province Decision-making Advisory Committee.
He is currently the executive director of the Chinese Optical Society, director of the High-speed Photography and Photonics Professional Committee, vice chairman of the Shaanxi Association for Science and Technology, chairman of the Shaanxi Physical Society, and director of the Chinese Physical Society.