Kalbe Razi Naqvi
Encyclopedia
Dr. Prof. Kalbe Razi Naqvi (Born-1944) is a British Pakistani physicist
, who has been ordinarily resident in Norway
since 1977, working as a professor of biophysics
in the Norwegian University of Science and Technology
.
, and moved to the United Kingdom
in 1964, when the University of Manchester
awarded him a research scholarship. He joined the molecular physics
group, and obtained his Ph.D in 1968 for a thesis entitled “Delayed light emission from organic molecules in solution”. The Royal Society of London appointed him to a Rutherford Scholarship for the period 1968–71 to continue his work on the behaviour of the excited state
s of molecules. In 1969, he moved to the Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield
, where he stayed for five years.
, Naqvi’s interest widened considerably. He investigated, in addition to photoluminescence
of organic molecules, the photophysics of saturable absorbers (cryptocyanine and related dyes, then used for passive Q-switching
of ruby laser
s), and used their nonlinear behaviour for determining the subnanosecond lifetimes of their first excited singlet states. In 1973, he became interested in developing biophysical applications of spectroscopy
, and used triplet
probes to develop what had until then been among the desiderata of membrane
research, optical methods for monitoring the translational and rotational mobility of membrane components. His theoretical analysis of diffusion
-controlled reactions in lipid membranes led to the remarkable conclusion that in the two-dimensional case, one cannot speak of a rate constant. More than two decades later, his prediction was verified, and his expression for the rate parameter of a two-dimensional diffusion-controlled reaction was named as the Razi Naqvi kinetic law.
citizen in 1974, but left Sheffield
for the Physical Chemistry Laboratory, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
(ETH) in Zurich
. In 1976, he reported the first example of a comparatively rare phenomenon: electronic energy transfer
, mediated by electron exchange, from a triplet
donor to a double acceptor; in his experiments, the donor was the benzophenone
triplet
and the acceptor was the benzophenone
ketyl
radical
.
in 1977, Naqvi has worked on a wide range of problems within physics
, chemistry
and biology
, dividing his time equally between theory and experiment and between the pure and the applied. These topics include: (1) calculation of Franck-Condon factors, (2) applications of linear transport theory to chemical kinetics
, diffuse reflection
spectroscopy
, and phonon
transport in semiconductor
s, (3) spectroscopy
of absorbing and scattering specimens, (4) primary photophysical processes in carotenoid
s, vitamin E
and related molecules, (5) revival of quantum wave packets, (6) photoprotection
in artificial and natural photosynthesis
, and (7) non-invasive measurement of blood pressure
.
Naqvi’s many coauthors include a very large number of scientists from all over the world. Within NTNU
, his collaborators include, apart from many physicists, several chemists (analytical, organic, physical) and two mathematicians. In addition to his steady research output, Naqvi has manifested his commitment to teaching by contributing to journals devoted to didactical aspects of science (American Journal of Physics
, European Journal of Physics
, Journal of Chemical Education
).
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
, who has been ordinarily resident in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
since 1977, working as a professor of biophysics
Biophysics
Biophysics is an interdisciplinary science that uses the methods of physical science to study biological systems. Studies included under the branches of biophysics span all levels of biological organization, from the molecular scale to whole organisms and ecosystems...
in the Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology , commonly known as NTNU, is located in Trondheim. NTNU is the second largest of the eight universities in Norway, and, as its name suggests, has the main national responsibility for higher education in engineering and technology...
.
Education
Born in Rae Bareli, British India in 1944, Naqvi received his school and university education in KarachiKarachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, and moved to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1964, when the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
awarded him a research scholarship. He joined the molecular physics
Molecular physics
Molecular physics is the study of the physical properties of molecules, the chemical bonds between atoms as well as the molecular dynamics. Its most important experimental techniques are the various types of spectroscopy...
group, and obtained his Ph.D in 1968 for a thesis entitled “Delayed light emission from organic molecules in solution”. The Royal Society of London appointed him to a Rutherford Scholarship for the period 1968–71 to continue his work on the behaviour of the excited state
Excited state
Excitation is an elevation in energy level above an arbitrary baseline energy state. In physics there is a specific technical definition for energy level which is often associated with an atom being excited to an excited state....
s of molecules. In 1969, he moved to the Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
, where he stayed for five years.
Razi Naqvi Kinetic Law
After his formative years in ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, Naqvi’s interest widened considerably. He investigated, in addition to photoluminescence
Photoluminescence
Photoluminescence is a process in which a substance absorbs photons and then re-radiates photons. Quantum mechanically, this can be described as an excitation to a higher energy state and then a return to a lower energy state accompanied by the emission of a photon...
of organic molecules, the photophysics of saturable absorbers (cryptocyanine and related dyes, then used for passive Q-switching
Q-switching
Q-switching, sometimes known as giant pulse formation, is a technique by which a laser can be made to produce a pulsed output beam. The technique allows the production of light pulses with extremely high peak power, much higher than would be produced by the same laser if it were operating in a...
of ruby laser
Ruby laser
A ruby laser is a solid-state laser that uses a synthetic ruby crystal as its gain medium. The first working laser was a ruby laser made by Theodore H. "Ted" Maiman at Hughes Research Laboratories on May 16, 1960....
s), and used their nonlinear behaviour for determining the subnanosecond lifetimes of their first excited singlet states. In 1973, he became interested in developing biophysical applications of spectroscopy
Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy is the study of the interaction between matter and radiated energy. Historically, spectroscopy originated through the study of visible light dispersed according to its wavelength, e.g., by a prism. Later the concept was expanded greatly to comprise any interaction with radiative...
, and used triplet
Triplet
-Science:* A series of three nucleotide bases that form Genetic code* J-coupling as part of NMR spectroscopy* Opal in preparation to be a gemstone* Spin triplet in quantum mechanics — as in triplet oxygen, or simply triplet state in general....
probes to develop what had until then been among the desiderata of membrane
Biological membrane
A biological membrane or biomembrane is an enclosing or separatingmembrane that acts as a selective barrier, within or around a cell. It consists of a lipid bilayer with embedded proteins that may constitute close to 50% of membrane content...
research, optical methods for monitoring the translational and rotational mobility of membrane components. His theoretical analysis of diffusion
Diffusion
Molecular diffusion, often called simply diffusion, is the thermal motion of all particles at temperatures above absolute zero. The rate of this movement is a function of temperature, viscosity of the fluid and the size of the particles...
-controlled reactions in lipid membranes led to the remarkable conclusion that in the two-dimensional case, one cannot speak of a rate constant. More than two decades later, his prediction was verified, and his expression for the rate parameter of a two-dimensional diffusion-controlled reaction was named as the Razi Naqvi kinetic law.
Research in Chemical Physics
Naqvi became a naturalized BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
citizen in 1974, but left Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
for the Physical Chemistry Laboratory, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
ETH Zurich
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich or ETH Zürich is an engineering, science, technology, mathematics and management university in the City of Zurich, Switzerland....
(ETH) in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
. In 1976, he reported the first example of a comparatively rare phenomenon: electronic energy transfer
Energy transfer
Energy transfer is the transfer of energy from one body to another.There are a few main ways that energy transfer occurs:*Radiant energy *Heat conduction*Convection*Electrical power transmission*Mechanical work...
, mediated by electron exchange, from a triplet
Triplet
-Science:* A series of three nucleotide bases that form Genetic code* J-coupling as part of NMR spectroscopy* Opal in preparation to be a gemstone* Spin triplet in quantum mechanics — as in triplet oxygen, or simply triplet state in general....
donor to a double acceptor; in his experiments, the donor was the benzophenone
Benzophenone
Benzophenone is the organic compound with the formula 2CO, generally abbreviated Ph2CO. Benzophenone is a widely used building block in organic chemistry, being the parent diarylketone.-Uses:...
triplet
Triplet
-Science:* A series of three nucleotide bases that form Genetic code* J-coupling as part of NMR spectroscopy* Opal in preparation to be a gemstone* Spin triplet in quantum mechanics — as in triplet oxygen, or simply triplet state in general....
and the acceptor was the benzophenone
Benzophenone
Benzophenone is the organic compound with the formula 2CO, generally abbreviated Ph2CO. Benzophenone is a widely used building block in organic chemistry, being the parent diarylketone.-Uses:...
ketyl
Ketyl
A ketyl group in organic chemistry is an anion radical with the general structure C-O. in which an oxygen radical is bonded directly to carbon. This radical is very unstable and appears in chemical reactions as a reactive intermediate...
radical
Radical (chemistry)
Radicals are atoms, molecules, or ions with unpaired electrons on an open shell configuration. Free radicals may have positive, negative, or zero charge...
.
Research in Biophysics
Since moving to TrondheimTrondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
in 1977, Naqvi has worked on a wide range of problems within physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
, chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
and biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, dividing his time equally between theory and experiment and between the pure and the applied. These topics include: (1) calculation of Franck-Condon factors, (2) applications of linear transport theory to chemical kinetics
Chemical kinetics
Chemical kinetics, also known as reaction kinetics, is the study of rates of chemical processes. Chemical kinetics includes investigations of how different experimental conditions can influence the speed of a chemical reaction and yield information about the reaction's mechanism and transition...
, diffuse reflection
Diffuse reflection
Diffuse reflection is the reflection of light from a surface such that an incident ray is reflected at many angles rather than at just one angle as in the case of specular reflection...
spectroscopy
Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy is the study of the interaction between matter and radiated energy. Historically, spectroscopy originated through the study of visible light dispersed according to its wavelength, e.g., by a prism. Later the concept was expanded greatly to comprise any interaction with radiative...
, and phonon
Phonon
In physics, a phonon is a collective excitation in a periodic, elastic arrangement of atoms or molecules in condensed matter, such as solids and some liquids...
transport in semiconductor
Semiconductor
A semiconductor is a material with electrical conductivity due to electron flow intermediate in magnitude between that of a conductor and an insulator. This means a conductivity roughly in the range of 103 to 10−8 siemens per centimeter...
s, (3) spectroscopy
Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy is the study of the interaction between matter and radiated energy. Historically, spectroscopy originated through the study of visible light dispersed according to its wavelength, e.g., by a prism. Later the concept was expanded greatly to comprise any interaction with radiative...
of absorbing and scattering specimens, (4) primary photophysical processes in carotenoid
Carotenoid
Carotenoids are tetraterpenoid organic pigments that are naturally occurring in the chloroplasts and chromoplasts of plants and some other photosynthetic organisms like algae, some bacteria, and some types of fungus. Carotenoids can be synthesized fats and other basic organic metabolic building...
s, vitamin E
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is used to refer to a group of fat-soluble compounds that include both tocopherols and tocotrienols. There are many different forms of vitamin E, of which γ-tocopherol is the most common in the North American diet. γ-Tocopherol can be found in corn oil, soybean oil, margarine and dressings...
and related molecules, (5) revival of quantum wave packets, (6) photoprotection
Photoprotection
Photoprotection is a group of mechanisms that nature has developed to minimize the damage that the human body suffers when exposed to UV radiation...
in artificial and natural photosynthesis
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is a chemical process that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight. Photosynthesis occurs in plants, algae, and many species of bacteria, but not in archaea. Photosynthetic organisms are called photoautotrophs, since they can...
, and (7) non-invasive measurement of blood pressure
Blood pressure
Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. When used without further specification, "blood pressure" usually refers to the arterial pressure of the systemic circulation. During each heartbeat, BP varies...
.
Naqvi’s many coauthors include a very large number of scientists from all over the world. Within NTNU
NTNU
NTNU can refer to several universities.*Norwegian University of Science and Technology *National Taiwan Normal University*Nigerian Turkish Nile University...
, his collaborators include, apart from many physicists, several chemists (analytical, organic, physical) and two mathematicians. In addition to his steady research output, Naqvi has manifested his commitment to teaching by contributing to journals devoted to didactical aspects of science (American Journal of Physics
American Journal of Physics
The American Journal of Physics is a monthly, peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the American Association of Physics Teachers and the American Institute of Physics. The editor is Jan Tobochnik of Kalamazoo College.-Aims and scope:...
, European Journal of Physics
European Journal of Physics
The European Journal of Physics is an international peer-reviewed, scientific journal dedicated to maintaining and improving the standard of physics education in higher education...
, Journal of Chemical Education
Journal of Chemical Education
The Journal of Chemical Education is a monthly peer-reviewed academic journal available in both print and electronic versions. It is published by the Division of Chemical Education of the American Chemical Society and was established in 1924...
).