University Distinguished Lecture #22
2025-10-10 14:00 - 15:30 (Asia/Kolkata) | Theatre, SR Block
The 22nd University Distinguished Lecture will host renowned academician, Padma Bhushan Prof. P Balaram, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru on October 10, 2025.
Prof. Balram will deliver an insightful session on the “Evolutionary Inventions and Innovations That Drove the Rise of Chemistry, the Birth of Biology and Determine Human History”.
Abstract
“The word evolution is most closely associated with Darwin and Biology. Yet it is the word that changed physics in my lifetime.” These are the words used by the physicist Jacob Bronowski in his now classic narration of “The Ascent of Man”, in the 1970s on BBC television. Bronowski is at that point trying to explain the formation of the chemical elements in the stars, by nuclear fusion processes, and concludes “matter itself evolves”. Indeed, all the natural elements, present on Earth and accessible by mining, were the Earth’s inheritance when it was born. Geological and chemical evolution must necessarily precede evolution of life on Earth. For almost the first 1.5 billion years of its almost 4.6 billion years of existence, the Earth was devoid of life forms. This was the Hadean age, a period when a molten surface began to settle, a time of asteroid impacts, an unimaginably hostile period for any life form. Yet it was the time that geology and chemistry conspired to create the conditions for the birth of biology.

6th Eminent Guest Lecture by Prof. Somnath Bhattacharyya
2025-10-27 11:00 - 12:30 | Theatre, SR Block
The Office of Dean-Research is organising the 6th Eminent Guest Lecture on October 27, 2025. Prof. Somnath Bhattacharyya, Founder and Head of Nano-Scale Transport Physics Laboratory, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, will deliver a distinguished lecture on “Diamond-Based Hybrid Qubit System for Quantum Computation Technology”.
Abstract
There is a surge in exploring the best qubit platform for building efficient quantum computers suitable for complex operations. A qubit is analogous to the binary bit seen in a conventional computer. We show the potential for a diamond-based hybrid quantum system combining electrical (superconducting) and optical (nitrogen-vacancy centers) techniques. Superconducting qubit technology typically involves the fabrication of various logic elements based on Josephson junctions using standard superconducting materials such as Al or Nb. Boron-doped superconducting diamonds are, however, attractive due to better resistance to external perturbations. Considering a recent discovery of triplet-spin-based superconductivity in nanocrystalline diamond films and that diamond presents well-established quantum states in the form of nitrogen-vacancy centers (NV-centers), diamond demonstrates a potential platform for the realization of all diamond-based quantum circuitry. We advance the understanding of superconducting order parameters in boron-doped nanodiamond films and as a new type of qubit system through the design of the resonator and superconducting quantum interference devices. Quantum information can be exchanged between a superconducting diamond loop (with a phase-slip qubit junction) and an ensemble of spins (NV-centers) attached to a microwave line of the diamond nanowire, which would allow us to initialize, control through microwave circuitry, and perform measurements via an optical interface. Moreover, the diamond NV-centers offer ‘holonomic’ control of qubits for the acquisition of geometric phase, which can be added to the hybrid qubit system. The holonomic control of qubits implemented in a ‘nine-level’ NV center is demonstrated by using IBM QP. This modeling shows a long coherence time of a system of multiple NV centersand also uses the multiple ‘dark’ states present in the NV centers. Such a hybrid quantum system will be useful for studying complex quantum many-body problems and quantum artificial intelligence or vision.
About the Speaker
Prof. Somnath Bhattacharyya, a Professor in Physics at Wits University, Johannesburg, since 2012, founded the Nano-Scale Transport Physics Laboratory, which pioneered quantum-nanotechnology in South Africa. His expertise includes superconducting carbon-based quantum technology, qubit-circuit designing & testing, quantum simulations, and theoretical models. He demonstrated diamond-based quantum tunnel devices, spin-triplet superconductivity, diamond qubits, and NV-center-based quantum technology.He published two books [“Evolution: Classical Philosophy meets Quantum Science” and “Carbon Superstructures: From Quantum Transport to Quantum Computation”], five book chapters, and over 100 journal papers. He supervised 8 PhD, 8MSc students, 8postdocs, established many international collaborations, and founded a start-up company, Quantumquest Technologies Pty. Ltd.

Research Seminar on Macroscopic Quantum Tunneling
2025-10-30 15:00 - 16:00 | S-607, SR Block
The Department of Physics is organising a Research Seminar on “Macroscopic Quantum Tunneling and Nobel Prize in Physics – 2025” by Dr Krishna Prasad Maity, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, SRM University-AP.
Abstract
Quantum tunneling, proposed by Erwin Schrödinger in 1926, is a unique quantum phenomenon with no classical equivalent. It has been observed in microscopic systems like alpha decay and scanning tunneling microscopy but remained unverified at the macroscopic scale for decades.
This year’s Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to John Clarke, Michel H Devoret, and John M Martinis from the University of California for observing macroscopic quantum tunneling in a superconducting tunnel junction, known as the Josephson junction. Their experiments measured the voltage across the junction, corresponding to the quantum phase difference between two superconductors, and revealed that the particles occupy discrete, quantized energy levels. This pioneering work laid the foundation for qubits—the basic units of future quantum computers. In this talk, I will discuss their discovery and its significance for the future of quantum technology.
Join for an interactive and insightful session!
