Rafi Muhammad Chaudhry - Revision history

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	==Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission==		==Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission==
	[[File:Dr. Rafi Muhammad Chaudhry.jpg\|thumb\|right\|Dr. Rafi Muhammad Chaudhry with English physicist, [[Thomas Allibone]], Naeem Syed (in middle) and his other students in 1964, Government College, Lahore]]
	In 1960, Chaudhry joined the [[Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission]], where he engaged nuclear technology research. He was the first director of the [[Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology]] (PINSTECH), and was instrumental in the installation of nuclear particle accelerator there. Chaudhry published 42 research papers while at PINSTECH, and due to the sensitivity of the work, the papers were highly classified. Chaudhry was an administrative and influential figure in the establishment of [[Pakistan Atomic Research Reactor#PARR-I Reactor\|PARR-I]] reactor as well, as being part team that supervised the first reactor [[Subcritical reactor\|criticality]] at PINSTECH. In 1967, Rafi supervised the team of scientists at PINSTECH that successfully produced the first batch of [[radioisotopes]].		In 1960, Chaudhry joined the [[Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission]], where he engaged nuclear technology research. He was the first director of the [[Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology]] (PINSTECH), and was instrumental in the installation of nuclear particle accelerator there. Chaudhry published 42 research papers while at PINSTECH, and due to the sensitivity of the work, the papers were highly classified. Chaudhry was an administrative and influential figure in the establishment of [[Pakistan Atomic Research Reactor#PARR-I Reactor\|PARR-I]] reactor as well, as being part team that supervised the first reactor [[Subcritical reactor\|criticality]] at PINSTECH. In 1967, Rafi supervised the team of scientists at PINSTECH that successfully produced the first batch of [[radioisotopes]].

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← Older revision		Revision as of 19:32, 1 March 2022
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	{{~~short~~ description\|Pakistani physicist}}		{{Short description\|Pakistani physicist (1903–1988)}}
	{{EngvarB\|date=March 2020}}		{{EngvarB\|date=March 2020}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=March 2020}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=March 2020}}
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	\|image_size = 200px		\|image_size = 200px
	\|caption =		\|caption =
	\|birth_date = 1 July 1903		\|birth_date = {{birth-date\|July 1903}}
	\|birth_name = Rao Rafi Muhammad		\|birth_name = Rao Rafi Muhammad
	\|birth_place = Kahnaur, [[Rohtak district]], [[East Punjab]] [[British Indian Empire]] (now [[India]])		\|birth_place = Kahnaur, [[Rohtak district]], [[East Punjab]] [[British Indian Empire]] (now India)
	\|death_date = {{Death date and age\|df=y\|1988\|12\|04\|1903\|07\|1}}		\|death_date = {{Death date and age\|df=y\|1988\|12\|04\|1903\|07\|1}}
	\|death_place = [[Lahore]], [[Punjab ~~(Pakistani province)\|Punjab Province~~]]		\|death_place = [[Lahore, Punjab]], Pakistan
	~~\|citizenship = [[Pakistan]]~~		\|fields = [[Nuclear physics]]
	~~\|nationality = [[India]]<br>[[People of~~ Pakistan~~\|Pakistan]]~~		\|occupation = [[Physicist]]
	\|fields = [[Nuclear ~~Physics~~]]		\|workplaces = [[Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission]] (PAEC)<br />[[Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology]] (PINSTECH) <br />[[Government College University, Lahore\|Government College University]] (GCU)<br />High Tension Laboratory (HTL)<br />[[Aligarh Muslim University]]<br />[[Birmingham University\|University of Birmingham]]<br />[[University of California, Berkeley\|University of California]]<br />[[Atomic Energy Research Establishment]] (AERE)
	\|~~Occupation~~ = ~~professor and a~~ [[~~physicist~~]]		\|alma_mater = [[Aligarh Muslim University]]<br />[[University of Cambridge]]
	\|workplaces = [[Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission]] (PAEC)<br/>[[Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology]] (PINSTECH) <br/>[[Government College University, Lahore\|Government College University]] (GCU)<br/>High Tension Laboratory (HTL)<br/>[[Aligarh Muslim University]]<br/>[[Birmingham University\|University of Birmingham]]<br/>[[University of California, Berkeley\|University of California]]<br/>[[Atomic Energy Research Establishment]] (AERE)
	\|alma_mater = [[Aligarh Muslim University]]<br/>[[University of Cambridge]]
	\|doctoral_advisor = [[Ernest Rutherford]]		\|doctoral_advisor = [[Ernest Rutherford]]
	\|academic_advisors =		\|academic_advisors =
	\|doctoral_students = [[Tahir Hussain (physicist)\|Tahir Hussain]]		\|doctoral_students = [[Tahir Hussain (physicist)\|Tahir Hussain]]
	\|notable_students =[[Samar Mubarakmand]]<br/>[[Noor Muhammad Butt]]		\|notable_students =[[Samar Mubarakmand]]<br />[[Noor Muhammad Butt]]
	\|known_for = [[Gamma decay\|Gamma]] and [[~~Beta~~ decay]], and his work in [[Atomic physics\|~~Atomic~~]] and [[~~Nuclear~~ physics]] in Pakistan<br/>[[Pakistan and its Nuclear Deterrent Program\|fission energy research]]		\|known_for = [[Gamma decay\|Gamma]] and [[beta decay]], and his work in [[Atomic physics\|atomic]] and [[nuclear physics]] in Pakistan<br />[[Pakistan and its Nuclear Deterrent Program\|fission energy research]]
	~~\|author_abbrev_bot =~~
	~~\|author_abbrev_zoo =~~
	~~\|Religion = [[Islam~~]]
	\|influenced =		\|influenced =
	\|awards = [[~~Hilal~~-i-Imtiaz]] (~~2004~~)~~<br/>~~[[Nishan-e-Imtiaz]] (1998) ~~<br/>~~[[~~Sitara~~-i-Imtiaz]] (~~1965)<br/>Sitara-i-Khidmat (1954~~)		\|awards = {{ubl\|Sitara-i-Khidmat (1954)\|[[Sitara-i-Imtiaz]] (1965)\|[[Nishan-e-Imtiaz]] (1998)\|[[Hilal-i-Imtiaz]] (2004)}}
	\|signature = <!--(filename only)-->		\|signature = <!--(filename only)-->
	~~\|footnotes = Mentor of prominent Pakistani nuclear scientists Dr. [[Samar Mubarakmand]] and Dr. [[N. M. Butt]]~~
	}}		}}
	'''Rafi Muhammad Chaudhry''' ({{lang-ur\|{{Nastaliq\| رفیع محمد چوہدری}}}}) [[Fellow of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences\|FPAS]] [[Hilal-i-Imtiaz\|HI]], [[Nishan-e-Imtiaz\|NI]], [[Sitara-i-Imtiaz\|SI]], [[Civil decorations of Pakistan\|Skdt]] (1 July 1903 – 4 December 1988) best known as '''R. M. Chaudhry''', was a [[People of Pakistan\|Pakistani]] [[nuclear physicist]] and a professor of particle physics at the [[Government College University, Lahore\|Government College University]].<ref>{{Cite web		'''Rafi Muhammad Chaudhry''' ({{lang-ur\|{{Nastaliq\| رفیع محمد چوہدری}}}}) [[Fellow of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences\|FPAS]] [[Hilal-i-Imtiaz\|HI]], [[Nishan-e-Imtiaz\|NI]], [[Sitara-i-Imtiaz\|SI]], [[Civil decorations of Pakistan\|Skdt]] (1 July 1903 – 4 December 1988) best known as '''R. M. Chaudhry''', was a [[People of Pakistan\|Pakistani]] [[nuclear physicist]] and a professor of particle physics at the [[Government College University, Lahore\|Government College University]].<ref>{{Cite web
	\| last =GCU		\| last =GCU
	\| first =Government College University, Lahore		\| first =Government College University, Lahore
	\| ~~authorlink~~ =Government College University, Lahore		\| author-link =Government College University, Lahore
	\| title =Dr. Rafi Muhammad Chaudhri Chair in Physics		\| title =Dr. Rafi Muhammad Chaudhri Chair in Physics
	\| work =Chief Librarian GC University Library, Lahore.		\| work =Chief Librarian GC University Library, Lahore.
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	==Early life and education==		==Early life and education==
	Chaudhry was born in 1903 to a middle class Rajput family(Rao) in Kahnaur, a small village in [[Rohtak district]] of Eastern Punjab.<ref name="Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust">{{Cite web		Chaudhry was born in 1903 to a middle class Rajput family (Rao) in Kahnaur, a small village in [[Rohtak district]] of Eastern Punjab.<ref name="Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust">{{Cite web
	\|last = NPT		\|last = NPT
	\|first = Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust		\|first = Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust
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	\|year=2006		\|year=2006
	}}</ref>		}}</ref>
	At Cavendish, he studied with [[Mark Oliphant]], who particularly influenced him to study nuclear physics. Chaudhry and Oliphant carried out research in [[artificial disintegration]] of the [[atomic nucleus]] and [[positive ions]]. In 1933, Chaudhry earned his [[Doctor of Philosophy\|D.Phil]] in [[Nuclear physics]] under Ernest Rutherford. He then returned to ~~the British~~ India.<ref name="Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust"/>		At Cavendish, he studied with [[Mark Oliphant]], who particularly influenced him to study nuclear physics. Chaudhry and Oliphant carried out research in [[artificial disintegration]] of the [[atomic nucleus]] and [[positive ions]]. In 1933, Chaudhry earned his [[Doctor of Philosophy\|D.Phil]] in [[Nuclear physics]] under Ernest Rutherford. He then returned to India.<ref name="Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust"/>

	==Professorship in Europe==		==Professorship in Europe==
	At age 30, Chaudhry moved to Lahore and took an academic professorship in physics at the [[Islamia College (Lahore)\|Lahore Islamia College]].<ref name="Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust"/> In 1935, he became Chairman of [[Academic department\|Department]] of Physics there, remaining in that position until 1938. In 1938, Chaudhry moved back to [[Aligarh Muslim University]] (AMU) to teach physics, again becoming head of his department.<ref name="Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust"/> In 1944, Chaudhry was contacted by Mark Oliphant, who offered him an opportunity to return to the Cavendish Laboratory. In response, Chaudhry moved to United Kingdom, where he joined [[Oxford University]]'s [[Nuffield College, Oxford\|Nuffield College]] and was appointed a [[:Category:Fellows of Nuffield College, Oxford\|Nuffield Fellow]].<ref name="Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust"/> Along with Oliphant and [[Homi J. Bhabha]], Chaudhry created a group of physicists that did research in theories of [[Gamma decay\|Gamma]] and [[Beta decay]], as well as researching the neutrino—postulated by Wolfgang Pauli in 1930—[[Compton scattering]], and the behaviour of slow neutrons during the atomic bombardment process.		At age 30, Chaudhry moved to Lahore and took an academic professorship in physics at the [[Islamia College (Lahore)\|Lahore Islamia College]].<ref name="Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust"/> In 1935, he became Chairman of [[Academic department\|Department]] of Physics there, remaining in that position until 1938. In 1938, Chaudhry moved back to [[Aligarh Muslim University]] (AMU) to teach physics, again becoming head of his department.<ref name="Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust"/> In 1944, Chaudhry was contacted by Mark Oliphant, who offered him an opportunity to return to the Cavendish Laboratory. In response, Chaudhry moved to United Kingdom, where he joined [[Oxford University]]'s [[Nuffield College, Oxford\|Nuffield College]] and was appointed a [[:Category:Fellows of Nuffield College, Oxford\|Nuffield Fellow]].<ref name="Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust"/> Along with Oliphant and [[Homi J. Bhabha]], Chaudhry created a group of physicists that did research in theories of [[Gamma decay\|Gamma]] and [[Beta decay]], as well as researching the neutrino—postulated by Wolfgang Pauli in 1930—[[Compton scattering]], and the behaviour of slow neutrons during the atomic bombardment process.

	On the recommendation of Oliphant, Chaudhry joined [[Atomic Energy Research Establishment]] to continue research in nuclear physics. There, he established a laboratory to conduct research in nuclear power plants. He applied his research work to the behaviour of slow neutrons in research nuclear reactors and set about identifying the heavier particles emitted by alpha decay and alpha decay's extension to the [[Cluster decay]].{{citation needed\|date=April 2015}}		On the recommendation of Oliphant, Chaudhry joined [[Atomic Energy Research Establishment]] to continue research in nuclear physics. There, he established a laboratory to conduct research in nuclear power plants. He applied his research work to the behaviour of slow neutrons in research nuclear reactors and set about identifying the heavier particles emitted by alpha decay and alpha decay's extension to the [[Cluster decay]].{{citation needed\|date=April 2015}}

	==Return to India==		==Return to India==
	In 1948, months after the [[Partition of India\|independence]] of [[Pakistan]], while in Great Britain, he was contacted by [[Prime minister of India\|Indian Premier]] [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]. Nehru offered him a senior position at the [[National Physical Laboratory of India\|Physics Laboratory of India]].<ref name="Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust"/> Chaudhry consulted mentor Mark Oliphant about the offer, and Oliphant wrote letters to [[Quaid-e-Azam\|Founder of Pakistan]] [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]], [[Governor-General of Pakistan\|Governor-General]]. The letter encouraged Jinnah to engage his country in research in [[nuclear technology]], particularly nuclear physics.<ref name="Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust"/> According to Oliphant, no other [[Muslim]] scientist was available in the South Asia except Dr. Chaudhary who could prove useful for the newly born country in the field of Nuclear Technology. However, Nehru came to know of this development, and personally offered him a position of "Deputy Directorship" of [[National Physical Laboratory of India\|Physics Laboratory of India]].<ref name="Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust"/>		In 1948, months after the [[Partition of India\|independence]] of Pakistan, while in Great Britain, he was contacted by [[Prime minister of India\|Indian Premier]] [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]. Nehru offered him a senior position at the [[National Physical Laboratory of India\|Physics Laboratory of India]].<ref name="Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust"/> Chaudhry consulted mentor Mark Oliphant about the offer, and Oliphant wrote letters to [[Quaid-e-Azam\|Founder of Pakistan]] [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]], [[Governor-General of Pakistan\|Governor-General]]. The letter encouraged Jinnah to engage his country in research in [[nuclear technology]], particularly nuclear physics.<ref name="Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust"/> According to Oliphant, no other [[Muslim]] scientist was available in the South Asia except Dr. Chaudhary who could prove useful for the newly born country in the field of Nuclear Technology. However, Nehru came to know of this development, and personally offered him a position of "Deputy Directorship" of [[National Physical Laboratory of India\|Physics Laboratory of India]].<ref name="Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust"/>

	While Chaudhry was considering the offers, Jinnah sent him a letter where Jinnah had personally requested him to come to [[Pakistan]], and join Government College University. Despite a personal phone call from Nehru urging him to come to India, Chaudhry chose the Pakistani position. In 1948, Rafi Muhammad Chaudhry migrated to Pakistan and joined Government College University as head of the Physics Department and a professor of [[nuclear physics]].		While Chaudhry was considering the offers, Jinnah sent him a letter where Jinnah had personally requested him to come to Pakistan, and join Government College University. Despite a personal phone call from Nehru urging him to come to India, Chaudhry chose the Pakistani position. In 1948, Rafi Muhammad Chaudhry migrated to Pakistan and joined Government College University as head of the Physics Department and a professor of [[nuclear physics]].

	==Pakistan==		==Pakistan==
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	\| last =GCU		\| last =GCU
	\| first =Government College University		\| first =Government College University
	\| ~~authorlink~~ =Government College University, Lahore		\| author-link =Government College University, Lahore
	\| title =Center For Advance Studies in Physics (CASP)		\| title =Center For Advance Studies in Physics (CASP)
	\| publisher =Government College University press		\| publisher =Government College University press
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	==Recognition and honours==		==Recognition and honours==
	Chaudhry was an influential figure at the Government College University and his work in PAEC and PINSTECH has been far reaching. In 1998, on personal recommendation of Noor Muhammad Butt, the [[Government of Pakistan]] awarded him [[Nishan-e-Imtiaz]] – the first high [[Civil decorations of Pakistan\|civil award]].{{Citation needed\|date=August 2012}} In 2004, the "High Tension Laboratory (HTL)" was renamed as "Rafi Chaudhry High Tension Laboratory" by the then-[[President of Pakistan]], General [[Pervez Musharaff]]<ref>http://www.dawn.com/2004/01/17/letted.htm#6</ref> in the honour of Chaudhry. Due to his work, scientists at PINSTECH named him the "Father of the Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme".{{Citation needed\|date=August 2012}}		Chaudhry was an influential figure at the Government College University and his work in PAEC and PINSTECH has been far reaching. In 1998, on personal recommendation of Noor Muhammad Butt, the [[Government of Pakistan]] awarded him [[Nishan-e-Imtiaz]] – the first high [[Civil decorations of Pakistan\|civil award]].{{Citation needed\|date=August 2012}} In 2004, the "High Tension Laboratory (HTL)" was renamed as "Rafi Chaudhry High Tension Laboratory" by the then-[[President of Pakistan]], General [[Pervez Musharaff]]<ref>{{cite web\| url = http://www.dawn.com/2004/01/17/letted.htm#6\| url-status = dead\| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040117192559/http://www.dawn.com/2004/01/17/letted.htm\| archive-date = 2004-01-17\| title = DAWN - Letters; 17 January, 2004}} </ref> in the honour of Chaudhry. Due to his work, scientists at PINSTECH named him the "Father of the Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme".{{Citation needed\|date=August 2012}}

	==Family of physicists==		==Family of physicists==

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{{short description|Pakistani physicist}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox scientist
|name = Rafi Muhammad Chaudhry
|image = Professor Rafi Muhammad Chaudhry.jpg
|image_size = 200px
|caption =
|birth_date = 1 July 1903
|birth_name = Rao Rafi Muhammad
|birth_place = Kahnaur, [[Rohtak district]], [[East Punjab]] [[British Indian Empire]] (now [[India]])
|death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|1988|12|04|1903|07|1}}
|death_place = [[Lahore]], [[Punjab (Pakistani province)|Punjab Province]]
|citizenship = [[Pakistan]]
|nationality = [[India]] [[People of Pakistan|Pakistan]]
|fields = [[Nuclear Physics]]
|Occupation = professor and a [[physicist]]
|workplaces = [[Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission]] (PAEC) [[Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology]] (PINSTECH) [[Government College University, Lahore|Government College University]] (GCU) High Tension Laboratory (HTL) [[Aligarh Muslim University]] [[Birmingham University|University of Birmingham]] [[University of California, Berkeley|University of California]] [[Atomic Energy Research Establishment]] (AERE)
|alma_mater = [[Aligarh Muslim University]] [[University of Cambridge]]
|doctoral_advisor = [[Ernest Rutherford]]
|academic_advisors =
|doctoral_students = [[Tahir Hussain (physicist)|Tahir Hussain]]
|notable_students =[[Samar Mubarakmand]] [[Noor Muhammad Butt]]
|known_for = [[Gamma decay|Gamma]] and [[Beta decay]], and his work in [[Atomic physics|Atomic]] and [[Nuclear physics]] in Pakistan [[Pakistan and its Nuclear Deterrent Program|fission energy research]]
|author_abbrev_bot =
|author_abbrev_zoo =
|Religion = [[Islam]]
|influenced =
|awards = [[Hilal-i-Imtiaz]] (2004) [[Nishan-e-Imtiaz]] (1998) [[Sitara-i-Imtiaz]] (1965) Sitara-i-Khidmat (1954)
|signature = 
|footnotes = Mentor of prominent Pakistani nuclear scientists Dr. [[Samar Mubarakmand]] and Dr. [[N. M. Butt]]
}}
'''Rafi Muhammad Chaudhry''' ({{lang-ur|{{Nastaliq| رفیع محمد چوہدری}}}}) [[Fellow of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences|FPAS]] [[Hilal-i-Imtiaz|HI]], [[Nishan-e-Imtiaz|NI]], [[Sitara-i-Imtiaz|SI]], [[Civil decorations of Pakistan|Skdt]] (1 July 1903 – 4 December 1988) best known as '''R. M. Chaudhry''', was a [[People of Pakistan|Pakistani]] [[nuclear physicist]] and a professor of particle physics at the [[Government College University, Lahore|Government College University]].<ref>{{Cite web
| last =GCU
| first =Government College University, Lahore
| authorlink =Government College University, Lahore
| title =Dr. Rafi Muhammad Chaudhri Chair in Physics
| work =Chief Librarian GC University Library, Lahore.
| publisher =GC University
| date =4 September 2009
| url =http://www.gcu.edu.pk/RafiCh_Chair.htm
}}
</ref> His teaching and instructions on modern physics influenced many of his student to pursue career in physics who regard him as one of the key architects of having been the pioneer of [[Experimental physics|experimental nuclear physics]] research in Pakistan
<ref>{{Cite web
| last =Haq
| first = Prof. M. Ikramul
| title =Remembering Dr Rafi Chaudhry
| work =[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]
| date =17 January 2004
| url =http://www.dawn.com/2004/01/17/letted.htm#6
}}
</ref>
and, along with [[Abdus Salam]] and [[Ishrat Hussain Usmani]], one of the main creators of Pakistan's nuclear weapons research program in the 1970s. Chaudhry, who served as professor of [[nuclear physics]] at Government College University, was later referred to by Dr. [[Samar Mubarakmand]], one of his students, as "the true father of the nuclear weapons program of Pakistan ".<ref>[http://www.armscontrolwonk.com/2371/aq-khan-and-samar-mubarakmand A.Q. Khan and Samar Mubarakmand – Krepon – Arms Control Wonk]</ref>

==Early life and education==
Chaudhry was born in 1903 to a middle class Rajput family(Rao) in Kahnaur, a small village in [[Rohtak district]] of Eastern Punjab.<ref name="Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust">{{Cite web
|last = NPT
|first = Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust
|title = Dr. Rafi Mohammad Chaudhary [1903–1988]
|work = Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust
|publisher = Nazaria-i-Pakistan Publications
|date = d
|url = http://nazariapak.info/famous-pakistanis/Scientists.html#DrRafi
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100113154236/http://www.nazariapak.info/famous-pakistanis/Scientists.html#DrRafi
|url-status = dead
|archive-date = 13 January 2010
|df = dmy-all
}}</ref> He passed the university entrance exam with highest marks and earned a scholarship awarded by the [[Viceroy of India|Viceroy]] [[Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading]]. He used the scholarship to enroll as a student of [[chemical engineering]] at [[Aligarh University]] in 1923,<ref name="comsats"/> but after taking an [[engineering physics]] course, he decided to change his focus to [[thermodynamics]] and [[multivariable calculus]].<ref name="comsats"/> He was successful as a [[physics]] student, earning the respect of his peers and professors.<ref name="Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust"/>

In 1927, Chaudhry took his BSc in [[Experimental physics]], followed by his 1929 MSc in physics with [[British undergraduate degree classification|First Class Honours]].<ref name="Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust"/> The same year, Chaudhry gained attention from [[Hamidullah Khan]], the [[Nawab of Bhopal]] of [[List of Indian princely states|princely state]] of [[Bhopal State|Bhopal]], who awarded him a science scholarship for higher studies.<ref name="Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust"/> Under that scholarship, Chaudhry travelled to United Kingdom to study for his doctoral degree. Chaudhry joined the [[Cavendish Laboratory]] of the [[University of Cambridge]]. At Cambridge, Chaudhry studied [[Integral calculus|Calculus of mathematical Integrals]], and learned [[Tensor calculus]], [[quantum physics]], and [[general relativity]] under [[List of Nobel laureates in Chemistry|Nobel laureate]] in [[Nobel Prize in Chemistry|Chemistry]] [[Ernest Rutherford]].<ref name="comsats">
{{cite journal
|author=Hameed A. Khan
|title=Physics in Developing Countries – Past, Present & Future
|url=http://www.comsats.org.pk
|format=PDF
|year=2006
}}</ref>
At Cavendish, he studied with [[Mark Oliphant]], who particularly influenced him to study nuclear physics. Chaudhry and Oliphant carried out research in [[artificial disintegration]] of the [[atomic nucleus]] and [[positive ions]]. In 1933, Chaudhry earned his [[Doctor of Philosophy|D.Phil]] in [[Nuclear physics]] under Ernest Rutherford. He then returned to the British India.<ref name="Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust"/>

==Professorship in Europe==
At age 30, Chaudhry moved to Lahore and took an academic professorship in physics at the [[Islamia College (Lahore)|Lahore Islamia College]].<ref name="Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust"/> In 1935, he became Chairman of [[Academic department|Department]] of Physics there, remaining in that position until 1938. In 1938, Chaudhry moved back to [[Aligarh Muslim University]] (AMU) to teach physics, again becoming head of his department.<ref name="Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust"/> In 1944, Chaudhry was contacted by Mark Oliphant, who offered him an opportunity to return to the Cavendish Laboratory. In response, Chaudhry moved to United Kingdom, where he joined [[Oxford University]]'s [[Nuffield College, Oxford|Nuffield College]] and was appointed a [[:Category:Fellows of Nuffield College, Oxford|Nuffield Fellow]].<ref name="Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust"/> Along with Oliphant and [[Homi J. Bhabha]], Chaudhry created a group of physicists that did research in theories of [[Gamma decay|Gamma]] and [[Beta decay]], as well as researching the neutrino—postulated by Wolfgang Pauli in 1930—[[Compton scattering]], and the behaviour of slow neutrons during the atomic bombardment process.

On the recommendation of Oliphant, Chaudhry joined [[Atomic Energy Research Establishment]] to continue research in nuclear physics. There, he established a laboratory to conduct research in nuclear power plants. He applied his research work to the behaviour of slow neutrons in research nuclear reactors and set about identifying the heavier particles emitted by alpha decay and alpha decay's extension to the [[Cluster decay]].{{citation needed|date=April 2015}}

==Return to India==
In 1948, months after the [[Partition of India|independence]] of [[Pakistan]], while in Great Britain, he was contacted by [[Prime minister of India|Indian Premier]] [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]. Nehru offered him a senior position at the [[National Physical Laboratory of India|Physics Laboratory of India]].<ref name="Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust"/> Chaudhry consulted mentor Mark Oliphant about the offer, and Oliphant wrote letters to [[Quaid-e-Azam|Founder of Pakistan]] [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]], [[Governor-General of Pakistan|Governor-General]]. The letter encouraged Jinnah to engage his country in research in [[nuclear technology]], particularly nuclear physics.<ref name="Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust"/> According to Oliphant, no other [[Muslim]] scientist was available in the South Asia except Dr. Chaudhary who could prove useful for the newly born country in the field of Nuclear Technology. However, Nehru came to know of this development, and personally offered him a position of "Deputy Directorship" of [[National Physical Laboratory of India|Physics Laboratory of India]].<ref name="Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust"/>

While Chaudhry was considering the offers, Jinnah sent him a letter where Jinnah had personally requested him to come to [[Pakistan]], and join Government College University. Despite a personal phone call from Nehru urging him to come to India, Chaudhry chose the Pakistani position. In 1948, Rafi Muhammad Chaudhry migrated to Pakistan and joined Government College University as head of the Physics Department and a professor of [[nuclear physics]].

==Pakistan==
Following his settlement in Pakistan, the Government of Pakistan asked him to engage research in physics at the Government College University. In 1952, Chaudhry established the "High Tension Laboratory" (now "Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics") as an offshoot of the Physics Department at Government College.<ref>Ashok Kapur, "1953–59: The Origins and Early History of Pakistani Nuclear Activities," Pakistan's Nuclear Development, (New York: Croom Helm, 1987), p. 36.</ref> Chaudhry was an instrumental figure in the installation of the 1.2 [[Volt|MeV]] [[Cockcroft-Walton accelerator]] in the High Tension Laboratory (HTL) in 1954 for carrying out basic research in atomic and nuclear physics.<ref name="Government College University ">{{Cite web
| last =GCU
| first =Government College University
| authorlink =Government College University, Lahore
| title =Center For Advance Studies in Physics (CASP)
| publisher =Government College University press
| url =http://www.gcu.edu.pk/CASP.htm
}}</ref> Chaudhry led projects that investigated fundamental problems of physics concerning [[gaseous diffusion]], [[Electron impact ionization|ion and electron impact phenomena]], nuclear physics, radioactivity, and cosmic rays.<ref name="Government College University"/> The research carried out at the laboratory resulted in research publications in [[Nature (journal)|Nature]] and it was visited by the [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]] in 1958.<ref name="Government College University"/> At HTL, Chaudhry influenced many physicists who studied under him, such as [[N. M. Butt]] and [[Samar Mubarakmand]], [[Abdul Majid]] who became the senior scientists in Pakistan's indigenous nuclear and space development. After retirement from Government College, Lahore in 1958 he continued as Director of High Tension Laboratory until 1965.

==Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission==
[[File:Dr. Rafi Muhammad Chaudhry.jpg|thumb|right|Dr. Rafi Muhammad Chaudhry with English physicist, [[Thomas Allibone]], Naeem Syed (in middle) and his other students in 1964, Government College, Lahore]]
In 1960, Chaudhry joined the [[Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission]], where he engaged nuclear technology research. He was the first director of the [[Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology]] (PINSTECH), and was instrumental in the installation of nuclear particle accelerator there. Chaudhry published 42 research papers while at PINSTECH, and due to the sensitivity of the work, the papers were highly classified. Chaudhry was an administrative and influential figure in the establishment of [[Pakistan Atomic Research Reactor#PARR-I Reactor|PARR-I]] reactor as well, as being part team that supervised the first reactor [[Subcritical reactor|criticality]] at PINSTECH. In 1967, Rafi supervised the team of scientists at PINSTECH that successfully produced the first batch of [[radioisotopes]].

===1971 war and atomic bomb project===
In 1968, Chaudhry went to United States with a fellowship awarded by [[University of California, Berkeley|University of California]] at Berkeley. There, he was joined by [[Hafeez Qureshi]], a mechanical engineer who built weapons in the 1970s. In 1969, Chaudhry moved to the [[University of Chicago]] where he did his research at [[Argonne National Laboratory]] (ANL). In 1970, Chaudhry and Qureshi visited the [[National Museum of the United States Air Force]] where they saw the actual design of [[Fat Man]] – an implosion device built during the World War II.{{Citation needed|date=August 2012}}

In 1971, after the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]], Chaudhry returned to Pakistan and joined Government College University. In January 1972, Chaudhry represented the HTL's delegation at the Multan Meeting, convened by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.{{Citation needed|date=August 2012}} During the meeting, Chaudhry spoke, as he said: ''I was perhaps the only one among the scientists who had seen an actual atom bomb.''{{Citation needed|date=August 2012}} Chaudhry was immediately posted at PINSTECH institute, where he was made director of Radiation Physics Division (RPD). Chaudhry was among the senior scientists that built the first [[nuclear pile]] [[Pakistan Atomic Research Reactor#PARR-II Reactor|PARR-II]] reactor at Pinstech.{{Citation needed|date=August 2012}} Under Chaudhry, the RPD scientists engaged in research in radiation physics.

==Post career==
In 1973, Rafi moved back to High Tension Laboratory at GCU Lahore. In 1975, he joined the Centre for Solid State Physics at the [[University of the Punjab|Punjab University]] and continued to work there as an honorary Professor; he was made Professor Emeritus in 1977. Chaudhry peacefully died at the age of 85 in Lahore.

==Recognition and honours==
Chaudhry was an influential figure at the Government College University and his work in PAEC and PINSTECH has been far reaching. In 1998, on personal recommendation of Noor Muhammad Butt, the [[Government of Pakistan]] awarded him [[Nishan-e-Imtiaz]] – the first high [[Civil decorations of Pakistan|civil award]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2012}} In 2004, the "High Tension Laboratory (HTL)" was renamed as "Rafi Chaudhry High Tension Laboratory" by the then-[[President of Pakistan]], General [[Pervez Musharaff]]<ref>http://www.dawn.com/2004/01/17/letted.htm#6</ref> in the honour of Chaudhry. Due to his work, scientists at PINSTECH named him the "Father of the Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme".{{Citation needed|date=August 2012}}

==Family of physicists==
Dr Rafi had nine children, all of whom became physicists. The most distinguished ones are Dr. Anwar Chaudhri, currently working in Germany, and Dr. Munawar Chaudhri, working at the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, UK.

==Awards==
*[[Hilal-i-Imtiaz]](2004)
*[[Nishan-e-Imtiaz]] (1998)
*[[Sitara-i-Imtiaz]] (1965)
*Sitara-i-Khidmat (1954)

==Institutes named after Rafi Muhammad Chaudhry==
* Rafi Chaudhry High Tension Laboratory, Government College University

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Military of Pakistan}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chaudhry, Rafi Muhammad}}
[[Category:1903 births]]
[[Category:Pakistani physicists]]
[[Category:Pakistani scientists]]
[[Category:Pakistani scholars]]
[[Category:Pakistani nuclear physicists]]
[[Category:Aligarh Muslim University alumni]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Cambridge]]
[[Category:Project-706 people]]
[[Category:1988 deaths]]
[[Category:Fellows of Nuffield College, Oxford]]
[[Category:Fellows of Pakistan Academy of Sciences]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to Pakistan]]