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V. Balakrishnan (physicist)
Encyclopedia
V. Balakrishnan is an Indian theoretical physicist who has worked in a number of areas, namely theoretical particle physics
, many-body theory
, dynamical systems, stochastic processes, quantum dynamics
, and the mechanical behavior of solids. Dr. Balakrishnan received his PhD
from Brandeis University
. He was then a visiting fellow at TIFR and the scientific officer at Kalpakkam
's IGCAR
, before joining IIT Madras as a Professor of Physics in 1980. He was briefly a Professor Emeritus at IIT Madras and has currently been re-employed as a Professor. He was elected Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences
for his research contributions. He is the life member of the Indian Physics Association and also the member of the American Physical Society
. He is an accomplished educator and lecturer of Physics, and is known for an engaging teaching style. He has taught a wide range of courses from the undergraduate to the post-doctoral levels over the past 25–30 years.
Prof. Balakrishnan has authored several books. He co-authored (with G. Venkataraman and D. Sahoo) the book titled Beyond the Crystalline State: An Emerging Perspective which was published in April 1989 by Springer in the Springer Series in Solid-State Sciences. His most recent book (published March 2008) titled Elements of Nonequilibrium Statistical Mechanics has been published by CRC Press.
Prof. Balakrishnan supports and reiterates in his lectures that India or any nation needs pure sciences or theoretical sciences as much as applied science or engineering/technology for national progress. In his lectures, he is often found adding a component of humor and wit while teaching Physics in a thought-provoking style.
His son, Hari Balakrishnan
, is also a renowned academic, currently a Professor of Computer Science at MIT. His daughter, Hamsa Balakrishnan, is also on the faculty at MIT as an Assistant Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Particle physics
Particle physics is a branch of physics that studies the existence and interactions of particles that are the constituents of what is usually referred to as matter or radiation. In current understanding, particles are excitations of quantum fields and interact following their dynamics...
, many-body theory
Many-body theory
The many-body theory is an area of physics which provides the framework for understanding the collective behavior of vast assemblies of interacting particles. In general terms, the many-body theory deals with effects that manifest themselves only in systems containing large numbers of constituents...
, dynamical systems, stochastic processes, quantum dynamics
Quantum dynamics
In physics, quantum dynamics is the quantum version of classical dynamics. Quantum dynamics deals with the motions, and energy and momentum exchanges of systems whose behavior is governed by the laws of quantum mechanics...
, and the mechanical behavior of solids. Dr. Balakrishnan received his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
. He was then a visiting fellow at TIFR and the scientific officer at Kalpakkam
Kalpakkam
Kalpakkam is a small town in Tamil Nadu, India, situated on the Coromandel Coast 70 kilometres south of Chennai. A conglomerate of two villages and a DAE township, it is about 55 km from Thiruvanmiyur....
's IGCAR
IGCAR
The Reactor Research Centre set up at Kalpakkam, India, 80 km south of Chennai in 1971 under the Department of Atomic Energy was renamed Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research in 1985. The center is primarily a research facility besides being a nuclear power plant aiding in meeting a...
, before joining IIT Madras as a Professor of Physics in 1980. He was briefly a Professor Emeritus at IIT Madras and has currently been re-employed as a Professor. He was elected Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences
Indian Academy of Sciences
The Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore was founded by Sir C. V. Raman, and was registered as a Society on 24 April 1934. Inaugurated on 31 July 1934, it began with 65 founding fellows. The first general meeting of Fellows, held on the same day, elected Professor Raman as President, and adopted...
for his research contributions. He is the life member of the Indian Physics Association and also the member of the American Physical Society
American Physical Society
The American Physical Society is the world's second largest organization of physicists, behind the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. The Society publishes more than a dozen scientific journals, including the world renowned Physical Review and Physical Review Letters, and organizes more than 20...
. He is an accomplished educator and lecturer of Physics, and is known for an engaging teaching style. He has taught a wide range of courses from the undergraduate to the post-doctoral levels over the past 25–30 years.
Prof. Balakrishnan has authored several books. He co-authored (with G. Venkataraman and D. Sahoo) the book titled Beyond the Crystalline State: An Emerging Perspective which was published in April 1989 by Springer in the Springer Series in Solid-State Sciences. His most recent book (published March 2008) titled Elements of Nonequilibrium Statistical Mechanics has been published by CRC Press.
Prof. Balakrishnan supports and reiterates in his lectures that India or any nation needs pure sciences or theoretical sciences as much as applied science or engineering/technology for national progress. In his lectures, he is often found adding a component of humor and wit while teaching Physics in a thought-provoking style.
His son, Hari Balakrishnan
Hari Balakrishnan
Hari Balakrishnan is a Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT. He is well-known for his contributions to computer networks and networked computer systems, including overlay and peer-to-peer networks, Internet routing and congestion control, wireless and...
, is also a renowned academic, currently a Professor of Computer Science at MIT. His daughter, Hamsa Balakrishnan, is also on the faculty at MIT as an Assistant Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics.