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Physical Research Laboratory

Coordinates: 23°02′8″N 72°32′33″E / 23.03556°N 72.54250°E / 23.03556; 72.54250
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Physical Research Laboratory
TypeResearch institution
Established1947
DirectorAnil Bhardwaj
Location
Ahmedabad
,
Gujarat
,
India

23°02′8″N 72°32′33″E / 23.03556°N 72.54250°E / 23.03556; 72.54250
Websitehttp://www.prl.res.in
Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad

The Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) is a National Research Institute for space and allied sciences, supported mainly by Department of Space, Government of India. This research laboratory has ongoing research programmes in astronomy and astrophysics, atmospheric sciences and aeronomy, planetary and geosciences, Earth sciences, Solar System studies and theoretical physics.[1] It also manages the Udaipur Solar Observatory and Mount Abu InfraRed Observatory. The PRL is located in Ahmedabad.

Known as the cradle of space sciences in India, the Physical Research Laboratory was founded on 11 November 1947[2] by Dr. Vikram Sarabhai. The laboratory had a modest beginning at his residence, with research on cosmic rays.

The institute was formally established at the M.G. Science Institute, Ahmedabad, with support from the Karmkshetra Educational Foundation and the Ahmedabad Education Society. Prof. Kalpathi Ramakrishna Ramanathan was the first Director of the institute. The initial focus was research on cosmic rays and the properties of the upper atmosphere. Research areas were expanded to include theoretical physics and radio physics later with grants from the Atomic Energy Commission.

Today[when?] PRL is involved in research, related to five major fields of science. PRL is also instrumental in the PLANEX planetary science and exploration programme.

In June 2018, PRL scientists discovered exoplanet EPIC 211945201b or K2-236b, located 600 light years away from the Earth.[3]

The building of the PRL was designed by Achyut Kanvinde in 1962.[4]

Organizational Structure

File:Organisational-chart-prl.jpg

PRL council of Management is on the top of the hierarchy of the organizational structure of PRL[5]. The director of PRL works under it. The director is consulted by various scientific divisions, the dean, and the registrar to work consistently. PRL has the following scientific divisions: Astronomy & Astrophysics, Solar Physics, Planetary Sciences, Space & Atmospheric Sciences, Geosciences, Theoretical Physics, and Atomic, Molecular & Optical Physics. The dean of PRL offers several academic services. Administration, workshop, construction & maintenance, computational services, and library are managed by the registrar of PRL. The administration takes care of general administration, stores & purchases, accounts, medical cell, and Hindi cell.

History

Known as the cradle of space sciences in India, the Physical Research Laboratory was founded on 11 November 1947[2] by Dr. Vikram Sarabhai. The laboratory had a modest beginning at his residence, with research on cosmic rays.

The institute was formally established at the M.G. Science Institute, Ahmedabad, with support from the Karmakshetra Educational Foundation and the Ahmedabad Education Society.After retiring from the India Meteorological Department, Prof. Kalpathi Ramakrishna Ramanathan joined as the first Director of the institute. The initial focus was research on cosmic rays and the properties of the upper atmosphere as the science behind very high energetic particles bombarding the Earth was not much known[6]. The dream of the founders was to establish a leading institute at Ahmedabad for conducting fundamental research on cosmic rays and some other selected areas of Physics. Atmospheric Physics being Prof. Ramanathan's primary research interest, the Department of Atmospheric Physics was added to extend the scope of research activities. In some M. G. Science Institute rooms, the laboratory was initiated with few research students and assistants.

The overall scientific programs expanded in the direction of a unified study of the various types of radiation imparted on the Earth, with the growth of the laboratory. The need to incorporate radiophysics, theoretical physics, and an electronics group into the then existing atmospheric physics and cosmic ray groups was strongly felt in the interest of adequate implementation of this type of program. For the financial support, the Atomic Energy Commission of the Government of India was requested, and the request was accepted in 1949. A Council of Management for PRL was framed in 1950 with support from several bodies such as erstwhile Government of Bombay, Ministry of Natural Resources and Scientific Research, Karmakshetra Educational Foundation, Ahmedabad Educational Society, and Atomic Energy Commission. The ozone observing station was set up at Mount Abu by Prof. Ramanathan in 1951. On the date of October 12th, 1951, the first measurement of ozone was performed using Dobson Spectrometer.

As the number of activities and workers were increasing, Ahmedabad Education Society decided to provide land for a separate building. Ahmedabad Education Society and Karmakshetra Educational Foundation contributed money for the cost of the building. Nobel Laureate Prof. C. V. Raman placed the foundation stone of the building on February 15th, 1952 and the late Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurated the first building of the campus on April 10th, 1954. In the years of 1957-58, the scientists of PRL were vigorously taking part in a variety of scientific programs related to Earth Sciences. Due to this, a strong need of in-house development of radiation detectors and electronic instruments was felt. Thus, PRL started developing and implementing Meson Telescopes, Photometers, Geiger-Muller Counters, Ionosonde, Dobson Spectrometers, etc.

Research

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the Laboratory's founder.

PRL research encompasses astrophysics, Solar System and cosmic radiation.

  • Astronomy and astrophysics: Current research programmes include studies on star formation, evolution of intermediate mass stars, photometric and polarimetric studies of active galaxies and BL Lac objects and high angular resolution studies by lunar occultations, study on circumstellar structure. The astronomical observations are taken through a 1.2 m telescope that is located in Mount Abu. The laboratory has also undertaken solar photospheric and chromospheric studies under the Global Oscillations Network Group project at Udaipur Solar Observatory. A 12 ft SPAR telescope is being used in this project.
  • Planetary sciences and Planex:study of planetary sciences and exploration
  • Planetary atmospheres and aeronomy: The institute has been recently investigating the electric and magnetic fields, plasma instabilities and the dynamics of the upper atmosphere are being carried out by elegant radio, optical and plasma diagnostic techniques. The role of trace gases in the chemical and radiative properties of the Earth's atmosphere and their impact on climate, ionization and electrodynamical parameters of the middle atmosphere are a few of the topics which are also being studied.
  • Earth sciences: Studies that are particularly related to geochronology, geochemistry, glaciology, oceanography and palaeoclimatology are carried out in this institute. Isotope geology is one of the most researched subjects.
  • Theoretical physics: Current research programmes include neutrino physics, physics beyond standard model, standard and non-standard CP violation, Fermion masses, super-symmetry, baryogenesis, phenomenology of higher-dimensional theories, QCD and quark gluon plasma, colour superconductivity, chiral symmetry breaking, study of quantum chaos in nuclear energy levels, group theoretical models and nuclear structures, study of atomic Rydberg states, stark spectroscopy of atomic levels, stability analysis of synchronised structures in coupled map networks.
  • Quantum optics and quantum information: Production and characterisation of entangled states, cavity QED, realisation of quantum gates and networks, storage and retrieval of quantum information, subluminal and superluminal propagation of light, dynamics of Bose-Einstein condensates and cold Fermions, non-commutative field theory, solitons, optical resonators and optical fibres are currently studied theoretically. Experimental study of optical vortices is also pursued.

Academics

The Physical Research Laboratory holds various seminars and public lectures. It has a workshop, computer centre, library and various other laboratories. It also offers a five-year doctoral programme in physics, with specialisations in theoretical physics and complex systems, outer space and atmospheric sciences, quantum optics and quantum information, astronomy and astrophysics (infrared, sub-mm and radio astronomy, Solar physics, planetary and geosciences). The admission is through a written test and interview.

National awards

The research institution offers national awards to scientists who have made outstanding contributions in the field of science and technology. The awards presented are:

  • Hari Om Ashram Prerit Senior Scientist Award
  • Hari Om Ashram Prerit Vikram Sarabhai Research Awards, and
  • PRL Award
  • Aayushi award

Scientific milestones

  • 1950s  : Cosmic rays, atmospheric sciences
  • 1960s  : Theoretical physics, radio physics
  • 1970s  : Earth and planetary sciences infrared astronomy
  • 1980s  : Particle physics, Solar physics
  • 1990s  : Laser physics and quantum optics, non-linear dynamics and computational physics, astroparticle physics and cosmology
  • 2000s  : Quantum information, solar X-ray astronomy, submillimeter astronomy, planetary exploration
  • 2010s  : Exoplanet detection

References

  1. ^ "Physical Research Laboratory". Department of Space, Indian Space Research Organisation. 2005. Retrieved 22 June 2007.
  2. ^ a b "Brief History". Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  3. ^ "Exoplanet find that put India in select league - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  4. ^ Williamson, Daniel (2016). "Modern Architecture and Capitalist Patronage in Ahmedabad, India 1947-1969". ProQuest Dissertations Publishing. New York University. p. 91. Retrieved 18 February 2020 – via ProQuest.
  5. ^ "PRL organization structure". Physical Research Laboratory. 4 December 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ "PRL". www.nodc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
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