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Press Release
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24th DAE-BRNS National Laser Symposium (NLS-24) held at RRCAT during Dec 2-5, 2015
Nearly 500 scientific and academic students and industries professionals have gathered at RRCAT where the 24th DAE-BRNS National Laser Symposium was inaugurated by Dr. K. Kasturirangan, Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Member, Atomic Energy Commission. The symposium is an annual platform for scientific interaction for professionals in the diverse fields of laser physics, technology and applications. The gathering was accorded a warm welcome by Dr. P. D. Gupta, Director, RRCAT. He reminded that the year 2015 has been designated as the “International year of Light and Light Based Technologies” by United Nations. Thus it is quite appropriate to organize this symposium at RRCAT which is a premier institute engaged in research and development of two important light sources namely lasers and synchrotron light sources.
During his inaugural address, Dr. Kasturirangan who steered the Indian Space Program as chairman Indian Space Research Organisation and secretary, Department of space for nine glorious years, recalled his long association with RRCAT and the contribution that the DAE institutions including RRCAT have made to the Indian Space Programme. Dr. Kasturirangan described the recently launched Astrosat – A unique observatory in space. He informed that Astrosat, built with the collaboration of several institutions, is the only one in the world having a multi spectral platform including UV, optical and low and high energy x-ray spectrometers, thus allowing a hitherto unavailable flexibility in astronomical observation. He also showed x-ray spectra from the Tycho Supernova recorded last month. He again underlined the need for various institutions to join together in such collaborative missions to put India in the forefront of Science and Technology.
The key note speech of the symposium was delivered by Prof. Ajay K. Sood from Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru who described how lasers play a defining role in our deeper understanding of many exciting phenomena in materials and gave some very exciting examples from their recent research. He first talked about two dimensional materials like graphene, phosphore etc. which are of great current technological interest. He described how laser based techniques like Raman, Ultrafast Spectroscopy and THz spectroscopy provide unique tools to study and understand such materials. He also described their recent work on design of novel biosensors using optical fibers coated with nanomaterials and development of a microscope heat engine using laser based optical tweezers.
Dr. P K. Gupta, Associate Director, RRCAT, Dr. D. D. Bhawalkar, former Director, RRCAT, Dr. S. K. Sarkar, President, Indian Laser Association who also were present on this occasion.
The inaugural program was conducted by Dr. Christ Paul, Scientific Secretary, NLS-24. The vote of thanks was given by Shri H. S. Vora, Convener, NLS-24.
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