Laureates > Physical Sciences

The Infosys Prize in Physical Sciences goes to Professor Thanu Padmanabhan in recognition of his contribution to a deeper understanding of Einstein’s Theory of Gravity in the context of thermodynamics, and for his work on the large scale structure in cosmology.

Citation by the Infosys Prize Physical Sciences Jury

Professor Padmanabhan has distinguished himself with fundamental contributions to several areas of theoretical astrophysics. Through a series of papers, Padmanabhan has shown that the link between Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity and thermodynamics is far deeper than suggested by the early work done in the seventies. This work opens a way of selecting gravity theories in higher dimensions and is expected to provide fresh impetus and light to this field. Padmanabhan’s approach is widely considered to be innovative and beautiful.

Padmanabhan has also made highly perceptive and critical contributions to our present understanding of the data on high redshift supernovae. Additionally, his interpretation of the cosmological constant and dark energy has had a significant impact on the overall work in this field. Padmanabhan has also written several highly successful graduate level textbooks in astrophysics as well as popular books aimed at explaining astrophysics and cosmology to the lay public.

Bio

Professor Thanu Padmanabhan completed his Bachelor of Science degree in 1977 and his Master of Science degree in 1979 from Kerala University. He received his Ph.D. from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai in 1983. Padmanabhan went on to do his postdoctoral research at the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, UK in 1986.

Padmanabhan has been awarded numerous prizes in India and abroad. In 2007, he received the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honor in India. He has been a Fellow of the Indian Academy of Science since 1991, Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India since 1993 and Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy since 2001.

Currently, Padmanabhan is a Distinguished Professor at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune, and pursues research in the fields of Quantum Theory, Gravitation, Cosmology and Structure Formation in the universe. Padmanabhan is currently President of the Cosmology Commission of the International Astronomical Union.

Scope and impact of work

Astronomy, which began as a study of heavens, has over time become our greatest laboratory to study and understand basic physics. It is now generally believed that the universe had an explosive beginning. Over time, small perturbations in density of matter and energy, amplified by the attractive force of gravity, led to the development of increasing concentrations of matter, which gradually became galaxies. Particle physics, quantum mechanics, the physics of gravity and the combination of the two (quantum gravity) are essential to understanding the origins of our universe. Separately, thanks to astronomical observations, it is now believed that most of the matter is “dark” (not ordinary matter) and that space is permeated by an unknown energy (dark energy).

Finally, we have black holes which began as mathematical oddities in the Theory of Gravity but are now confirmed by observations. It is widely believed that progress in theories of gravity (a fore-front area in physics) is intimately tied to understanding black holes and cosmology.

Padmanabhan is a theoretical astrophysicist who has worked in three areas: developing deeper understanding of gravity, contributing to the interpretation of data which firmed up the evidence for dark energy and understanding the physics of the growth of large scale structure in our universe.

View Prof. Thanu Padmanabhan’s web page