Physical Research Laboratory
Encyclopedia
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
, Earth Sciences, Solar System
studies and Theoretical Physics
. It manages the Udaipur Solar Observatory
and is located in Ahmedabad
.
. PRL had a modest beginning at his residence, the RETREAT, 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 PRL is actively involved in research, related to five major fields of science. PRL is also instrumental in the PLANEX planetary science and exploration programme.
PRL research encompasses Astrophysics, Solar System and cosmic radiation.
, with specializations in Theoretical Physics
and Complex Systems, 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/interview.
aayushi award
Department of Space
The Department of Space is an Indian government department responsible for administration of the Indian space program.The Indian Space Research Organization is the primary research and development arm of the DoS...
, Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
. This research laboratory has ongoing research programmes in Astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties of celestial objects, as well as their interactions and behavior...
, Atmospheric Sciences
Atmospheric sciences
Atmospheric sciences is an umbrella term for the study of the atmosphere, its processes, the effects other systems have on the atmosphere, and the effects of the atmosphere on these other systems. Meteorology includes atmospheric chemistry and atmospheric physics with a major focus on weather...
and Aeronomy
Aeronomy
Aeronomy is the science of the upper region of the atmosphere, where dissociation and ionization are important. The term aeronomy was introduced by Sydney Chapman, and the above definition stems from 1960. Today the term also includes the science of the corresponding regions of the atmospheres of...
, Earth Sciences, Solar System
Solar System
The Solar System consists of the Sun and the astronomical objects gravitationally bound in orbit around it, all of which formed from the collapse of a giant molecular cloud approximately 4.6 billion years ago. The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun...
studies and Theoretical Physics
Theoretical physics
Theoretical physics is a branch of physics which employs mathematical models and abstractions of physics to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena...
. It manages the Udaipur Solar Observatory
Udaipur Solar Observatory
The Udaipur Solar Observatory is in Udaipur, Rajasthan in India on an island in the Fateh Sagar Lake. The sky conditions at Udaipur are quite favourable for solar observations. Since the observatory is situated amidst a large mass of water, air turbulence which occurs due to ground heating by...
and is located in Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...
.
History
Known as the cradle of Space Sciences in India, the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) was founded on 11 November 1947 by Dr. Vikram SarabhaiVikram Sarabhai
Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai was an Indian physicist. He is considered to be the father of the Indian space program; legendary Homi Bhabha’s successor as chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission; and was as at home in the world of the arts as in his favourite laboratory. His interests were vast and...
. PRL had a modest beginning at his residence, the RETREAT, 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
K. R. Ramanathan
Kalpathi Ramakrishna Ramanathan was an Indian physicist and meteorologist. He was the first Director of Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad. Ramanathan was awarded Padma Bhushan in 1965 and Padma Vibhushan in 1976....
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
Theoretical physics
Theoretical physics is a branch of physics which employs mathematical models and abstractions of physics to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena...
and Radio Physics later with grants from the Atomic Energy Commission
United States Atomic Energy Commission
The United States Atomic Energy Commission was an agency of the United States government established after World War II by Congress to foster and control the peace time development of atomic science and technology. President Harry S...
.
Today PRL is actively involved in research, related to five major fields of science. PRL is also instrumental in the PLANEX planetary science and exploration programme.
Research
- Astronomy and Astrophysics: Current research programmes include studies on star formation, evolution of intermediate mass stars, photometricPhotometry (astronomy)Photometry is a technique of astronomy concerned with measuring the flux, or intensity of an astronomical object's electromagnetic radiation...
and polarimetric studies of active galaxies and BL Lac objects and high angular resolution studies by lunar occulations, 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 International Global Oscillations Network Group (GONG) project at Udaipur Solar Observatory. A 12 ft SPARSPARSpar , trades from approximately 12400 stores in 34 countries worldwide and is the world's largest independent voluntary retail trading chain. Spar was founded in the Netherlands in 1932 by retailer Adriaan Van Well and now, through its affiliate organisations, operates through most European...
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 actively.
- Earth Sciences: Studies that are particularly related to geochronologyGeochronologyGeochronology is the science of determining the age of rocks, fossils, and sediments, within a certain degree of uncertainty inherent to the method used. A variety of dating methods are used by geologists to achieve this, and schemes of classification and terminology have been proposed...
, geochemistryGeochemistryThe field of geochemistry involves study of the chemical composition of the Earth and other planets, chemical processes and reactions that govern the composition of rocks, water, and soils, and the cycles of matter and energy that transport the Earth's chemical components in time and space, and...
, glaciologyGlaciologyGlaciology Glaciology Glaciology (from Middle French dialect (Franco-Provençal): glace, "ice"; or Latin: glacies, "frost, ice"; and Greek: λόγος, logos, "speech" lit...
, oceanographyOceanographyOceanography , also called oceanology or marine science, is the branch of Earth science that studies the ocean...
and palaeoclimatology are carried out in this institute. Isotope geology is one of the most actively researched upon subjects.
- Theoretical PhysicsTheoretical physicsTheoretical physics is a branch of physics which employs mathematical models and abstractions of physics to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena...
: Current research programmes include Neutrino physics, Physics beyond standard model, Standard and non-standard CP violation, Fermion masses, Supersymmetry, 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 synchronized structures in coupled map networks.
- Quantum Optics and Quantum Information: Production and characterization of entangled states, Cavity QED, Realization 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 fibers 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 PhysicsPhysics
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...
, with specializations in Theoretical Physics
Theoretical physics
Theoretical physics is a branch of physics which employs mathematical models and abstractions of physics to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena...
and Complex Systems, Space
Space
Space is the boundless, three-dimensional extent in which objects and events occur and have relative position and direction. Physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions, although modern physicists usually consider it, with time, to be part of a boundless four-dimensional continuum...
and Atmospheric Sciences
Atmospheric sciences
Atmospheric sciences is an umbrella term for the study of the atmosphere, its processes, the effects other systems have on the atmosphere, and the effects of the atmosphere on these other systems. Meteorology includes atmospheric chemistry and atmospheric physics with a major focus on weather...
, Quantum optics
Quantum optics
Quantum optics is a field of research in physics, dealing with the application of quantum mechanics to phenomena involving light and its interactions with matter.- History of quantum optics :...
and Quantum Information
Quantum information
In quantum mechanics, quantum information is physical information that is held in the "state" of a quantum system. The most popular unit of quantum information is the qubit, a two-level quantum system...
, Astronomy and Astrophysics (Infrared
Infrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
, Sub-mm and Radio Astronomy
Radio astronomy
Radio astronomy is a subfield of astronomy that studies celestial objects at radio frequencies. The initial detection of radio waves from an astronomical object was made in the 1930s, when Karl Jansky observed radiation coming from the Milky Way. Subsequent observations have identified a number of...
, Solar Physics
Solar physics
For the physics journal, see Solar Physics Solar physics is the study of our Sun. It is a branch of astrophysics that specializes in exploiting and explaining the detailed measurements that are possible only for our closest star...
, Planetary and Geosciences). The admission is through a written test/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 Infra-Red 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 (SOXS) Submillimeter Astronomy Planetary Exploration