Context
∙ The year 2024 marks 100 years of Bose’s discovery of the correct set of equations to use to work out the behaviour of collections of photons (particles of light).
Satyendra Nath Bose
∙ Satyendra Nath Bose (1894-1974) was one of India’s most eminent scientists.
∙ He was a renowned Indian physicist whose fundamental contribution to quantum mechanics, known as Bose-Einstein statistics, revolutionized our understanding of the subatomic world.
Breakthrough Contribution
∙ Inspired by Albert Einstein’s work on light quanta, Bose sent Einstein a paper titled “Planck’s Law and the Hypothesis of Light Quanta.”
∙ This paper, based on novel statistical principles, aimed to explain the distribution of radiation energy.
∙ Planck’s law, named after Max Planck, describes the pattern that physics worked differently in the microscopic and all hot objects — from a bowl of hot soup to the Sun — emit radiation in a range of frequencies.
∙ Bose-Einstein statistics: Recognizing the paper’s groundbreaking potential, Einstein translated it into German and published it in a leading scientific journal.
Legacy
∙ Together with Meghanand Saha he published the first English translation of Einstein’s papers on general relativity.
∙ Bose-Einstein condensates: Laid the foundation for Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs), a crucial concept in physics with diverse applications.
∙ Applications of BECs: Range from understanding superconductivity and superfluidity to developing ultra-precise atomic clocks and exploring quantum computing possibilities.
∙ Quantum theory: Bose’s work not only contributed significantly to quantum theory but also paved the way for further advancements in various scientific fields.
∙ Higgs boson: Though not formally acknowledged, his contribution to the discovery of the Higgs boson, later awarded the Nobel Prize, highlights the significance of his pioneering work.
∙ Awards: His dedication to research and scientific integrity earned him numerous accolades, including the Padma Vibhushan and the Fellowship of the Royal Society.
Beyond Physics
∙ Bose’s intellectual pursuits extended beyond physics. He actively participated in promoting Bengali literature and scientific education in India.
∙ He translated scientific papers into Bengali and contributed to the development of science textbooks in his native language.
