Prof. Dr. Rajeev K. Pathak of Pune University, Maharashtra, INDIA

The informal colloquium will try to bring out some really astounding facts that one encounters in looking at diversified phenomena in physics that we encounter even in day-to-day life.  I shall try to answer the following apparently naïve but subtle questions, with a latent and sometimes blatant (!) elements of amazing physics!

•          Law of large numbers: The Emperor’s predicament!
•          What would happen if macroscopic objects, including OURSELVES, had but only a teeny-weeny electrical charge imbalance? […the Universe would               have evolved in a radically different manner!]
•          You are in front of a 100 meter high and five meter thick concrete wall.  Can you get on the other side doing absolutely nothing (no pole-vaulting,               etc. !) Quantum Mechanics says: YES, there is a chance! […what are the odds? ...the answer will knock us out!]
•          Are you a sharp-shooter? What is the quantum mechanical limit on the maximum accuracy with which one could shoot a rifle-bullet aimed at a target?           [...it is bedazzling!]
•          What is common among bullets, light quanta called photons and electrons? […all classical expectations will be shattered!]
•          The classical “explanation” of the photoelectric effect ---deems that an electron will be dislodged only after a delay of a day or two after shining light            on a photosensitive surface…actually, the ejection time is less than a nanosecond!  [Why so?...that will be answered].
•          What if material objects traveled faster than light? […completely weird phenomena would result scrambling space and time!]
•          How does theory of relativity help outlaws escape the police in pursuit?
•          Exotica:  Gravity, Anti-matter, the Higgs ‘scalar’ particle,  Zero-point motion, Bose-Einstein condensation
•           Waywardness of Mother Nature: Parity violation, Planetary motion and tides, Why do electrically neutral metal plates attract each other […are you                  Kidding…No! there is a weird, exotic, attractive force!] 

Biography:

Having earned his Doctoral (Ph.D.) degree in Theoretical Physics, Dr. Rajeev Pathak carried out four post-doctoral assignments in the United States and subsequently joined the University of Poona (now, S.P. Pune University), in 1989.

 Dr. Pathak has had an opportunity to work on a diversified set of research problems in theoretical physics, primarily under the premise of the now ubiquitous density functional formalism.  His subscribes his research interests to :  ·Electronic exchange and correlation effects in atoms in both position and momentum spaces   ·Intermolecular potential energy surfaces  ·Electron Momentum-Distributions exclusively from Coordinate Space Electron Density    ·Rigorous inequalities in atomic  and  molecular  physics   ·Electrostatic  Potentials  for Molecules and their ramifications; novel exact mathematical theorems    ·Structure  and   properties  of Density -  Matrices  in  co-ordinate and  momentum  spaces  ·Critical Exponents in High-T_c superconductivity:  theoretical model of charged Bose gas   ·“Compton  Defect”  within the Kohn-Sham  approach   ·Positron-atom binding   ·Indirect  paths for  accurate  atomic energies: the work formalism   ·Ab initio studies on Water anionic nano-clusters  ·Non-covalent cooperative Interactions: Hydrogen-bonded nano-clusters and their response to external electric fields  ·PT-symmetric quantum systems with time-periodic Hamiltonians.   

In recognition of his contributions to teaching and research, Dr. Pathak has been bestowed upon several awards and recognitions at the National and International levels, including the Career Award  (UGC, New Delhi, India);  International Advisory Board Membership (Boston College, Boston, MA, U.S.A.); American Physical Society’s Visiting Professorship Award for City University of New York System and Graduate Center (New York City, U.S.A.), Visiting Professorship to Tulane University (New Orleans, LA, U.S.A.),and Senior Associate-ship with the International Center for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy.  Dr. Pathak has taught a variety of core physics courses in Pune and New Orleans, and thus far published numerous research articles, all in renowned international research journals.  Very recently, he has written an “E”-book elucidating interpretation of the wave function and surrounding aspects, for beginners (completely a freeware: “Psi of Relief”, available under the link:

 http://physics.unipune.ac.in/~pathak/Rajeev_K_Pathak_Psi_of_Relief_Complete_Set_2013_OCT_05.pdf)

Dr. Pathak has currently been investigating on the effect of external stimuli, especially an applied external electric field on hydrogen-bonded nano-clusters, such as those of ethanol, water and their admixtures.  Ethanol is a promising candidate for fuel cells that harness facilitating electric current charge transfer through proton movement.  His research, in silico, has a predictive value for in vitro ventures to be carried out.  Electronic structure and reactivity have a direct bearing on the response of molecular nano-clusters to the applied electric field.  Certain novel, field-induced-covalent species also have been predicted.  This work is expected to provide immense insight by means of a prototype into description of phenomena like catalysis at the nano-scale.

Email:

Address:Professor of Physics, S.P. Pune University, Pune , Maharashtra, India, 411007

Prof. Dr. Rajeev K. Pathak of Pune University, Maharashtra, INDIA

Biography:

Email:

Address:Pune , Maharashtra, India