Ep. 57 Conversation with Venu Gopal Achanta: Journey through Exciton Dynamics, Plasmonics & Metrology

Gopal is an experimental physicist, a Professor at TIFR Mumbai and currently heads the National Physics Laboratory, Delhi: https://www.tifr.res.in/achanta/. He and his research group have made important contributions in plasmonics, metamaterials and metrology. His work on magneto-plasmonics, plasmonic quasicrystals, exciton dynamics and quantum nanophotonics has opened some avenues in the field. In this episode, we discuss his intellectual journey from Guntur, Mumbai, Japan and back to Mumbai, and on the way we explore how he got 2 PhDs and plenty of knowledge in semiconductor optics and plasmonics. We also discuss the importance of metrology in science and engineering and how it can impact the society. A small segment in Telugu and some wonder memories of his student and postdoc days in India and Japan.   Listen as we humanize science.   References: 1.      Achanta, Venu Gopal. 2015. “Plasmonic Quasicrystals.” Progress in Quantum Electronics 39 (January):1–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pquantelec.2014.12.002. 2.      2020. “Surface Waves at Metal-Dielectric Interfaces: Material Science Perspective.” Reviews in Physics 5 (November):100041. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revip.2020.100041. 3.      Akashvani AIR, dir. 2024. Science Talk II Prof Dr Venugopal Achanta, Director, CSIR - National Physical Laboratory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBW9HVPuVV0. 4.      Belotelov, V. I., I. A. Akimov, M. Pohl, V. A. Kotov, S. Kasture, A. S. Vengurlekar, Achanta Venu Gopal, D. R. Yakovlev, A. K. Zvezdin, and M. Bayer. 2011. “Enhanced Magneto-Optical Effects in Magnetoplasmonic Crystals.” Nature Nanotechnology 6 (6): 370–76. https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2011.54. 5.      “DCMPMS.” n.d. Accessed May 26, 2024. https://www.tifr.res.in/dcmpms/venugopal_achanta.php. 6.      “FOTON Laboratory.” n.d. Accessed May 26, 2024. https://www.tifr.res.in/achanta/. 7.      “Metamaterials for Quantum Technologies by Venu Gopal Achanta - YouTube.” n.d. Accessed May 26, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7FEfz3hxMc. 8.      “Our Director – NPL.” n.d. Accessed May 26, 2024. https://www.nplindia.org/index.php/about-us/directors-message/. 9.      “Prof. Venu Gopal Achanta Elected as a Member of International Committee for Weight and Measures (CIPM).” n.d. Accessed May 26, 2024. https://www.pib.gov.in/www.pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1877736. 10.  Rab, Shanay, V. K. Jaiswal, D. D. Shivagan, Goutam Mandal, Ashutosh Agarwal, Sanjay Yadav, D. K. Aswal, and Venu Gopal Achanta. 2024. “An Update on the State of the Art of Metric System in India.” https://www.services.bis.gov.in/tmp/WCPGD16325508_01052024_1.pdf. 11.  Science Talk II Prof Dr Venugopal Achanta, Director, CSIR - National Physical Laboratory. n.d. Accessed May 26, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBW9HVPuVV0. 12.  “‪Venu Gopal Achanta - ‪Google Scholar.” n.d. Accessed May 26, 2024. https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=ZgLTn-EAAAAJ&hl=en.