Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai recently conducted a four day Young Indian Scientists Colloquium to commemorate birth centenary of Dr. Homi Bhabha,founder of country`s nuclear energy programme and one of the greatest theoretical and applied research scientist India has ever produced.
Colloquium`s inaugural talk was by Mahindra Agrawal from IIT, Kanpur who elaborated on the principle of N being not equal to NP. The founding assumption behind this formula is that finding the correct solution may take a very long time when n is very large. On the contrary given the solution of the puzzle it is very easy to verify if the solution of the puzzle is correct. In many problems, finding a solution is far more difficult than checking the correctness of a given solution. This is understandable because discovering a solution is often much more difficult than verifying the correctness. This emphasis by Dr. Agrawal was in reference to the efficiency of omputational power of the modern processors some of which use algorithms in sequential manner. An algorithm being a set of precise instructions in terms of arithmetic, assignments and Boolean operations.
In majority of the computational exercises the time complexity of the sequential operations is principle hindrance in enhancing the efficiency of the operations. A problem with very high complexity of the order of 1000 power is extremely difficult to solve although it does not arise in practise. The core of this discussion lies in the belief that if P is equal to NP (P=NP) then “for all problems whose solutions can be efficiently verified, then the solutions can be efficiently generated too. This is fundamental problem in contemporary research in computer science facing these days.
The progress in current research in String Theory was highlighted by Mr. Rajesh Gopakumar from Harishchandra Research Institute of Allahabad. He started off with expressing the special characteristics of laws of physics which award us the opportunity to embody our ability to discern regularities amidst complex behaviour. Further laws of physics are remarkably capturable in precise mathematical language.
This talk highlighted the successive failures of Newtonian and Eienstienian frameworks in understanding the behaviour of bodies in very fast velocities, ultra-high density and very short Planckian distances. The previously discussed aspect of verification vs. success in generating solutions (N=NP) to the problem was underlined by Dr. Gopakumar by saying that “it is discouraging that ideas to solve the latest puzzles of String Theory and it`s reation to Quantum Field are subject to inadequacy of Newton and Eienstien`s frameworks.”
The hallmark of the Colloquium can be attributed to the presentation of Dr. Shubha Tole from Dept. of Biological Sciences, TIFR. She discussed about current efforts to understand how the brain is built? The building up of vertebral cortex which is responsible for psychological features of perception, language, learning, memory and finally cognition is very much at the core of realising the possibilities to answer the long vexed questions of what is the intelligence and common sense, how we form our intuitions, where exactly the connection between neurons is established to forge a concrete decision making arrangement etc.
The keen observation behind the belief to describe the commonality of the behavioural patterns being same across different systems. The crux of the talk was focussed on the question of what would happen if LhX2 mutant cells were sprinkled in a background of normal cells of the brain. This talk was really the indicator of how complex biological topic about cortex, neurons, axons and functioning of brain can be made enjoyable through proactive body language, engaging audience in multiple interactions probing their information level about the topic being discussed and energised approach of enthusiasm.
In another interesting talk about Liquid-liquid transactions and Anomalous properties of water, silicon and other tetrahedral liquids was delivered by Srikanth Shastry of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Research, Bengaluru. The main theme of this research concerns about why do temperature and pressure matter when we talk about phase transition? How do the other phases of water arise like metastable states.
Water phase diagram reveals rich crystal ‘polymorphism’ and current research is trying to find out the various reasons associated with this phenomenon. For many positive reasons liquid-solid transitions work for better ways than anticipated. These coexistent lines are possible because they have same energy level. For success in getting fresh insight in the abnormal behaviour of water this free energy barrier need to be crossed. It is significant that liquid-gas coexistence line terminates at a critical point beyond which there is no distinction between liquid and gas.
Metastable state is basically where matter can exist in a state that is not the thermodynamically stable state. Such metastable states can survive for long times, but will eventually transform to the stable state, either on contact with the stable phase, spontaneously, or when “disturbed” in some way e.g. Nucleation. Research around metastability is focussed on what happens when coexistence line is crossed. It remains to be conclusively state that whether these metastable states are having finite time or not. In this respect four basic properties of liquid need to be studies in details. Properties are: density, coefficient of thermal expansion, compressibility, specific heat and many other properties show dynamic behaviour at low temperature.
Eventually talk summarised that an unusual transition between two forms of liquid water appears to be present, though not conclusively proved experimentally. Consistent (though not unique) explanation of many interesting observations in super - cooled water is being given. Computer simulation studies reveal existence of a liquid-liquid critical point. Other fascinating phenomena (protein glass transition, colloidal self assembly..) appear to involve some aspects of such a transition.
The colloquium culminated with the talk “The Elusive Neutrino” by Dr. Amol Dighe from Dept of Theoretical Physics, TIFR. The neutrinos needed to be studies as their enormous potential to reveal the secrets about the universe formation. They are found in nuclear reactors, in thermonuclear fusion in the corona of Sun, particle accelerators, cosmic rays, natural radioactivity, supernova i.e. stellar collapse etc. A neutrino which is thousand times lighter than electron and there has been no conclusive measurement about the physical properties of neutrino.
The role of neutrinos in stellar explosion was under investigation during Dr. Amol`s talk. If we could locate information about neutrino masses and mixing encoded in energy spectra of neutrinos; this combined with identification of neutrinos mass ordering either normal or inverted order can predict the supernova explosion hours before actual event. This is possible b y tracking the shock waves when still inside the mantle. The future of neutrino physics is concentrated in developing bigger and better detectors.
The eleventh plan of Government of India has envisaged foundation of Indian Neutrino Observatory near Mysore. Several groups belonging to different Universities and research Institutes in India are part of the collaboration working on the details of INO. The current proposal focuses on neutrino detection with static detectors, to be placed deep underground at a site close to Masinagudi in the Nilgiri mountains of South India.The research work in this direction will be based in Mysore. Dr. Dighe told that even if presently we are in a position to narrow down on hundred possible an excellent group of theorists making the physics case of INO strong, it is true that we need around 500 Physicists for this ambitious exercise. INO is an effort aimed at building a world-class underground laboratory to study fundamental issues in physics.
The primary goal of the laboratory is the study of neutrinos from various natural and laboratory sources. It is envisaged that such an underground facility will develop into a centre for other studies as well, in physics, biology, geology, etc., all of which will make use of the special conditions that exist deep underground. Apart from the scientific goals of INO, the laboratory itself will greatly enhance the development of detector technology and its varied applications.
Recent data from several neutrino detectors around the world, in particular, that from the Super-Kamiokande detector in Japan, and the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) in Canada, seem to indicate that neutrinos not only have mass, but also experience flavour mixing. This leads to the phenomenon of neutrino oscillations that can then explain the discrepancy between theory and observation as seen in certain experiments. If correct, this will provide the first unambiguous evidence for physics beyond the so-called standard model of particle physics. The existence of nonzero neutrino masses has profound implications on fields as varied as nuclear physics, particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology. It is also important to note that with the observation of neutrinos from the core of the sun and also from the supernova SN1987A, a new window to the universe has opened up.
In future, neutrino astronomy is going to play a key role in our understanding of the universe. Most importantly, neutrino telescopes will allow us to look into the densest places of the universe which are completely opaque to optical astronomy. To exploit this emerging new area of observational neutrino physics, about two years ago, the idea to construct a neutrino detector at an India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) was mooted.[1]
The first year of the project will be devoted to exploration, finalisation of designs, identifying the contractors, etc. The next two years will involve excavation of the tunnel and laboratory cavern. During the last two years installation of the laboratory equipment and detector construction will begin. The present road map envisages that the first module of the detector, 16 ktons, will start taking data at the end of five years. Immediately after that the subsequent modules will be constructed. This project is expected to be beyond 25 years of it`s functioning capacity.
This commemoration of the legendary scientist’s birth centenary marks the one more step in the direction of celebrating the ethos of scientific spirit represented by equally passionate interest he showed in music, literature, strategic thinking, administrative and bureaucratic acumen and above all belief that any Big science ultimately should benefit common men and women.
[1] NABA K MONDAL (2004), STATUS OF INDIA-BASED NEUTRINO OBSERVATORY (INO), Proc Indian Natn Sci Acad, 70, A, No.1, January 2004, pp.71–77
