Distinguished physicist visits PU

Prof Jain,a highly respected scientist who was considered for the Nobel Physics Prize as well,is an ‘Evan Pugh and Erwin W. Mueller Professor of Physics’ at Department of Physics,Pennsylvania State University in USA.

Addressing the students,Prof Jain explained the “composite fermions,” theory,which he had postulated to explain the fractional Quantum Hall effect and to develop a unified theory of the fractional and integral Quantum Hall effect.

He explained the finer aspects of the theory and explained the proof of its existence.

He said this theory struck him while he was watching the television. Composite fermions is the bound state of an electron and an even number of quantized vortices,sometimes visually pictured as the bound state of an electron and,attached,an even number of magnetic flux quanta.

On being asked about the practical applications of the theory,Prof Jain said his job was to extend the knowledge base. It has opened up new possibilities,from which practical applications follow,he added.

Prof Jain had received Oliver E. Buckley Prize in 2002 for his work on “composite fermions,” theory.