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{{Short description|Indian physicist and cosmologist}}
{{for|the writer|T. Padmanabhan}}
{{for|the writer|T. Padmanabhan}}
{{short description|Indian scientist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox scientist
{{Infobox scientist
| name              = Thanu Padmanabhan
| name              = Thanu Padmanabhan
| image            = ThanuPadmanabhan.png
| image            = ThanuPadmanabhan.png
| birth_date        = 10 March 1957 <ref>{{Cite web|title=Homepage of Padmanabhan|url=http://www.iucaa.in/~paddy/|access-date=2020-09-19|website=www.iucaa.in}}</ref>
| birth_date        = 10 March 1957<ref name="Homepage of Padmanabhan">{{Cite web|title=Homepage of Padmanabhan|url=http://www.iucaa.in/~paddy/|access-date=19 September 2020|website=www.iucaa.in|archive-date=24 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024060318/http://www.iucaa.in/~paddy/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| birth_place      = [[Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Kerala]]
| birth_place      = [[Trivandrum]], [[Kerala]], India
| nationality       = [[Indian people|Indian]]
| death_date        = {{death date and age|df=y|2021|09|17|1957|03|10}}
| field            = [[Physics]], [[Astronomy]]
| death_place       = [[Pune]], [[Maharashtra]], India
| work_institution  = [[Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Homepage of Padmanabhan|url=http://www.iucaa.in/~paddy/|access-date=2020-09-19|website=www.iucaa.in}}</ref>
| field            = [[Physics]], [[astronomy]]
| alma_mater        = [[Kerala University]],<br>[[Tata Institute of Fundamental Research]]
| work_institution  = [[Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics]]<ref name="Homepage of Padmanabhan" />
| alma_mater        = [[Kerala University]],<br />[[Tata Institute of Fundamental Research]]
| doctoral_advisor  = [[Jayant Narlikar]]
| doctoral_advisor  = [[Jayant Narlikar]]
| doctoral_students =  
| doctoral_students =  
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}}
}}


'''Thanu Padmanabhan''' is an [[India]]n [[theoretical physicist]] and [[cosmologist]] whose research spans a wide variety of topics in [[Gravitation]], [[Structure formation]] in the [[universe]] and [[Quantum Gravity]]. He has published nearly 300 papers and reviews in international journals and ten books in these areas. He has made several contributions related to the analysis and modelling of [[dark energy]] in the universe and the interpretation of gravity as an [[emergent phenomenon]]. He is currently a Distinguished Professor at the [[Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics]], ([[IUCAA]]) at [[Pune]], India.<ref>{{cite web |title=IUCAA - People |url=http://www.iucaa.in:8080/iucaa/jsp/N-People.jsp |website=IUCAA |access-date=8 September 2019}}</ref>
'''Thanu Padmanabhan''' (10 March 1957 – 17 September 2021) was an Indian [[theoretical physicist]] and [[cosmologist]] whose research spanned a wide variety of topics in [[gravitation]], [[structure formation]] in the [[universe]] and [[quantum gravity]]. He published nearly 300 papers and reviews in international journals and ten books in these areas. He made several contributions related to the analysis and modelling of [[dark energy]] in the universe and the interpretation of gravity as an [[emergent phenomenon]]. He was a Distinguished Professor at the [[Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics]] (IUCAA) at [[Pune]], India.<ref>{{cite web |title=IUCAA - People |url=http://www.iucaa.in:8080/iucaa/jsp/N-People.jsp |website=IUCAA |access-date=8 September 2019 |archive-date=11 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111015055/http://www.iucaa.in:8080/iucaa/jsp/N-People.jsp |url-status=live }}</ref>


==Life and career==
==Life and career==
Padmanabhan did his schooling in [[Thiruvananthapuram]] and earned his [[B.Sc.]] (1977) and [[M.Sc.]] (1979) in [[Physics]], from the University College, [[Kerala University]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Homepage of Padmanabhan|url=http://www.iucaa.in/~paddy/|access-date=2020-09-19|website=www.iucaa.in}}</ref> He published his first research paper (on [[general relativity]]) when he was still a B.Sc. student, at the age of 20.<ref>[https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02846243 T.Padmanabhan, Solutions of scalar and electromagnetic wave equations in the field of gravitational and electromagnetic waves, Pramana , (1977), 9 , 371.]</ref>  He joined the [[Tata Institute of Fundamental Research]] ([[TIFR]]), [[Mumbai]] in 1979 for his [[Ph.D.]] and became a faculty member there in 1980.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Homepage of Padmanabhan|url=http://www.iucaa.in/~paddy/|access-date=2020-09-19|website=www.iucaa.in}}</ref> He held various faculty positions at [[TIFR]] during 1980-1992 and also spent a year (in 1986-87) at the [[Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge]]. He moved to [[IUCAA]] in 1992 and served as its Dean, Core Academic Programmes, for 18 years (1997-2015).
Born to Thanu Iyer and Lakshmi on 10 March 1957 in [[Thiruvananthapuram]] (then Trivandrum), Padmanabhan attended school there. He earned his [[B.Sc.]] (1977) and [[M.Sc.]] (1979) in [[Physics]] from the [[University College Thiruvananthapuram]], part of [[Kerala University]].<ref name="Homepage of Padmanabhan" /> He published his first research paper (on [[general relativity]]) when he was still a B.Sc. student, at the age of 20.<ref>{{Cite journal |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02846243 |title=T.Padmanabhan, Solutions of scalar and electromagnetic wave equations in the field of gravitational and electromagnetic waves, Pramana , (1977), 9 , 371. |journal=Pramana |date=October 1977 |volume=9 |issue=4 |pages=371–384 |doi=10.1007/BF02846243 |access-date=2 December 2020 |archive-date=3 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180603150132/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF02846243 |url-status=live |last1=Padmanabhan |first1=T. |s2cid=123557221 }}</ref>  He joined the [[Tata Institute of Fundamental Research]] (TIFR) in [[Mumbai]] in 1979 for his [[Ph.D.]] and became a faculty member there in 1980.<ref name="Homepage of Padmanabhan" /> He held various faculty positions at TIFR from 1980 to 1992 and also spent a year (in 1986–87) at the [[Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge]]. He moved to Pune to work at the [[Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics]] in 1992 and served as its Dean, Core Academic Programmes, for 18 years (1997–2015).<ref name=":0" />


Padmanabhan has also served as Adjunct Faculty of the [[Tata Institute of Fundamental Research]] (Mumbai), the [[Harish-Chandra Research Institute]] ([[Allahabad]]), the [[Raman Research Institute]] ([[Bangalore]]) and the [[IISER|Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research]] ([[IISER]], [[Pune]]) at different periods in his career. He is currently adjunct faculty of IISER, Mohali.
Padmanabhan served as adjunct faculty of TIFR, the [[Harish-Chandra Research Institute]] ([[Allahabad]]), the [[Raman Research Institute]] ([[Bangalore]]) and the [[IISER|Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research]] (IISER, Pune) at different periods in his career. He was adjunct faculty of IISER, [[Mohali]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Prof. Padmanabhan: A Personal and Professional History|url=http://www.iucaa.in/~paddy/biodata/bio60.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=19 September 2021|archive-date=8 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008070415/http://www.iucaa.in/~paddy/biodata/bio60.pdf}}</ref>


Padmanabhan served as the Chairman (2006–09) of the Time Allocation Committee<ref>[http://www.ncra.tifr.res.in/ncra/gmrt/gtac]</ref> of the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope of NCRA. He was the Chairman (2008–11) of the Indian National Science Academy's National Committee <ref>[http://insaindia.res.in/com.php]</ref> which interfaces with the activities of the International Astronomical Union. In addition to advising the Government on policy issues, this also required him to coordinate the International Year of Astronomy 2009 activities in the country.
Padmanabhan served as chairman (2006–09) of the Time Allocation Committee<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ncra.tifr.res.in/ncra/gmrt/gtac |title=GMRT Time Allocation Committee |access-date=17 January 2020 |archive-date=2 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202140143/http://www.ncra.tifr.res.in/ncra/gmrt/gtac |url-status=live }}</ref> of the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope of NCRA. He was chairman (2008–11) of the Indian National Science Academy's National Committee<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://insaindia.res.in/com.php |title=INSA |access-date=17 January 2020 |archive-date=15 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115182700/http://www.insaindia.res.in/com.php |url-status=live }}</ref> which interfaces with the activities of the International Astronomical Union. In addition to advising the Government on policy issues, this also required him to coordinate the International Year of Astronomy 2009 activities in the country.<ref name=":1" />


He was elected as the President of the Cosmology Commission (2009-2012) of the [[International Astronomical Union]] ([[IAU]]) and was providing advice to IAU activities in this field. He was elected in 2011 as the Chairman of the Astrophysics Commission (2011-2014) of the [[International Union of Pure and Applied Physics]] ([[IUPAP]]) <ref>[https://iupap.org/members-liaisons/]</ref> and co-ordinated the activities of IUPAP in this area. He has also been a Visiting Faculty at many institutes including the [[California Institute of Technology]], [[Princeton University]], and a Sackler Distinguished Astronomer of the [[Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge]]. He is an elected fellow of [[The World Academy of Sciences]] and of all the three National Academies of Science in India (the [[Indian National Science Academy]], [[Indian Academy of Sciences]], and the [[National Academy of Sciences, India]]).
He was elected president of the Cosmology Commission (2009–2012) of the [[International Astronomical Union]] (IAU) and provided advice to IAU activities in this field. He was elected in 2011 as chairman of the Astrophysics Commission (2011–2014) of the [[International Union of Pure and Applied Physics]] (IUPAP)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://iupap.org/members-liaisons/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=17 January 2020 |archive-date=24 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124093009/http://iupap.org/members-liaisons/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and co-ordinated the activities of IUPAP in this area. He was also a visiting faculty at many institutes including the [[California Institute of Technology]], [[Princeton University]], and a Sackler Distinguished Astronomer of the [[Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge]]. He was an elected fellow of [[The World Academy of Sciences]] and of all three National Academies of Science in India (the [[Indian National Science Academy]], [[Indian Academy of Sciences]], and the [[National Academy of Sciences, India]]).<ref name=":1" />


Padmanabhan is an excellent teacher and has served as an active guide and mentor to several young researchers. Links to many of his innovative courses, which are available in YouTube, can also be accessed through his Facebook page.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/tplectures/?ref=bookmarks]</ref>
In addition to his scientific research, Padmanabhan worked actively to popularize science and gave over 300 popular science lectures and authored more than 100 popular science articles. He did a comic strip serial ''The Story of Physics''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scipop.iucaa.in/Literature/tsop/tsop01.html|title=The Story of Physics|access-date=17 September 2021|archive-date=17 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917194711/https://scipop.iucaa.in/Literature/tsop/tsop01.html|url-status=live}}</ref> aimed at school children. Published by Vigyan Prasar (New Delhi), it was translated into half a dozen regional Indian languages and made available at an affordable price at Indian schools. To commemorate the International Year of Astronomy (IYA) in 2009, he published (with [[Jayant Narlikar|J. V. Narlikar]] and Samir Dhurde) the IYA Astronomical Diary 2009,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iucaa.ernet.in/~scipop/Literature/iyadiary.html |title=Archived copy |website=www.iucaa.ernet.in |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121205014219/http://www.iucaa.ernet.in/~scipop/Literature/iyadiary.html |archive-date=5 December 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> which comprises 53 illustrated pages of astronomical information. In 2019, he co-authored  with  Vasanthi Padmanabhan ''The Dawn of Science'' (published by Springer<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030175085 |title=The Dawn of Science |year=2019 |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-17509-2 |access-date=17 January 2020 |archive-date=20 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120052412/https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030175085 |url-status=live |last1=Padmanabhan |first1=Thanu |last2=Padmanabhan |first2=Vasanthi |isbn=978-3-030-17508-5 |s2cid=167177582 }}</ref>).


In addition to his scientific research, Padmanabhan works actively to popularize science and has given over 300 popular science lectures and has authored more than 100 popular science articles. He did a comic strip serial "The Story of Physics"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iucaa.ernet.in/~scipop/Literature/tsop/tsop01.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150715010432/http://www.iucaa.ernet.in/~scipop/Literature/tsop/tsop01.html|archive-date = 15 July 2015|url-status=usurped|title = The Story of Physics 02}}</ref> intended for school children. Published by Vigyan Prasar (New Delhi), it was translated into half a dozen regional Indian languages and made available at an affordable price at Indian schools. To commemorate the  International Year of Astronomy (IYA) 2009, he published (with [[Jayant Narlikar|J.V.Narlikar]] and Samir Dhurde) the IYA Astronomical Diary 2009,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121205014219/http://www.iucaa.ernet.in/~scipop/Literature/iyadiary.html]</ref> which comprises 53 illustrated pages of astronomical information. In 2019, he co-authored  with  Vasanthi Padmanabhan the "Dawn of Science" (published by Springer<ref>[https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030175085]</ref>). This is a lucid and captivating book which takes the reader back to the early history of all the sciences, starting from antiquity and ending roughly at the time of Newton. Each of the 24 chapters focuses on a particular and significant development in the evolution of science, and is connected in a coherent way to the others to yield a smooth, continuous storyline.
He was married to Vasanthi Padmanabhan, who has a Ph.D. in astrophysics from TIFR, Mumbai, and they had one daughter, Hamsa Padmanabhan, who herself has a Ph.D. in astrophysics from IUCAA, Pune.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Scientific community in Kerala mourns Thanu Padmanabhan's demise {{!}} Kochi News|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/scientific-community-in-kerala-mourns-thanu-padmanabhans-demise/articleshow/86312578.cms|url-status=live|access-date=19 September 2021|website=The Times of India|language=en|archive-date=19 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210919080340/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/scientific-community-in-kerala-mourns-thanu-padmanabhans-demise/articleshow/86312578.cms}}</ref>


He is married to Vasanthi Padmanabhan, who has a Ph.D. in astrophysics from TIFR, Mumbai and has one daughter, Hamsa Padmanabhan, who has a Ph.D. in astrophysics from IUCAA, Pune.
He died on 17 September 2021 at the age of 64 after a heart attack at his residence in Pune.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|date=17 September 2021|title=Renowned astrophysicist Thanu Padmanabhan passes away|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/renowned-astrophysicist-thanu-padmanabhan-passes-away/article36513555.ece|access-date=17 September 2021|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=8 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008070416/https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/renowned-astrophysicist-thanu-padmanabhan-passes-away/article36513555.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=17 September 2021|title=Theoretical physicist Thanu Padmanabhan passes away in Pune|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/theoretical-physicist-thanu-padmanabhan-passes-away-in-pune-7514922/|access-date=17 September 2021|website=The Indian Express|language=en|archive-date=17 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917153742/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/theoretical-physicist-thanu-padmanabhan-passes-away-in-pune-7514922/|url-status=live}}</ref> A tribute article written by his former graduate students and  post-doctoral fellows and physics friends from college days has been posted on the Physics arXiv.<ref>{{cite arXiv|last1=Bagla|first1=Jasjeet Singh|last2=Bhattacharya|first2=Krishnakanta|last3=Chakraborty|first3=Sumanta|last4=Engineer|first4=Sunu|last5=Faraoni|first5=Valerio|last6=Kolekar|first6=Sanved|last7=Kothawala|first7=Dawood|last8=Lochan|first8=Kinjalk|last9=Modak|first9=Sujoy|last10=Nair|first10=V. Parameswaran|last11=Paranjape|first11=Aseem|date=2021-10-07|title=The Life and Science of Thanu Padmanabhan|class=physics.hist-ph|eprint=2110.03208}}</ref>


==Key awards and distinctions==
==Key awards and distinctions==
Padmanabhan has received several national and international awards including:
Padmanabhan received several national and international awards including:<ref>{{Cite web|title=padmanabhan_cv.dvi|url=http://www.iucaa.in/~paddy/biodata/padmanabhan_cv.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=17 September 2021|archive-date=9 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009021552/http://www.iucaa.in/~paddy/biodata/padmanabhan_cv.pdf}}</ref>
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* M.P. Birla Memorial Award, 2019 <ref>[https://www.firstpost.com/tech/science/physics-scientists-thanu-padmanabhan-receives-m-p-birla-memorial-award-in-cosmology-7424631.html]</ref>
* Kerala Shastra Puraskaram, 2021<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kerala's prestigious science honor for M S Swaminathan and Thanu Padmanabhan|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/keralas-prestigious-science-honor-for-m-s-swaminathan-and-thanu-padmanabhan/articleshow/85402647.cms|access-date=17 September 2021|website=The Times of India|archive-date=27 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827173942/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/keralas-prestigious-science-honor-for-m-s-swaminathan-and-thanu-padmanabhan/articleshow/85402647.cms|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Homi Bhabha Lecturer at UK (IoP-IPA award), 2014 <ref>[https://www.tifr.res.in/~ipa1970/exlist.php]</ref>
* M. P. Birla Memorial Award, 2019<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.firstpost.com/tech/science/physics-scientists-thanu-padmanabhan-receives-m-p-birla-memorial-award-in-cosmology-7424631.html |title=Physics scientist Thanu Padmanabhan receives M P Birla Memorial Award in cosmology- Technology News, Firstpost |date=30 September 2019 |access-date=17 January 2020 |archive-date=17 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017064228/https://www.firstpost.com/tech/science/physics-scientists-thanu-padmanabhan-receives-m-p-birla-memorial-award-in-cosmology-7424631.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[TWAS Prize]] in Physics (2011)<ref>[http://twas.org/article/twas-announces-2011-prize-winners Announcement of TWAS Prize in Physics (2011)]</ref>
* Homi Bhabha Lecturer at UK (IoP-IPA award), 2014<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.tifr.res.in/~ipa1970/exlist.php |title=Indian Physics Association |access-date=17 January 2020 |archive-date=27 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127145103/https://www.tifr.res.in/~ipa1970/exlist.php |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Infosys Prize|Infosys Science Foundation Prize]] for Physical Sciences (2009)<ref>[http://www.infosys-science-foundation.com/prize/laureates/2009/index.asp List of Laureates - Infosys Prize 2009]</ref>
* [[TWAS Prize]] in Physics (2011)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://twas.org/article/twas-announces-2011-prize-winners |title=Announcement of TWAS Prize in Physics (2011) |access-date=4 February 2016 |archive-date=10 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151110112833/http://twas.org/article/twas-announces-2011-prize-winners |url-status=live }}</ref>
* J.C.Bose National Fellowship (DST) (2008)
* [[Infosys Prize|Infosys Science Foundation Prize]] for Physical Sciences (2009)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.infosys-science-foundation.com/prize/laureates/2009/index.asp |title=List of Laureates – Infosys Prize 2009 |access-date=4 February 2016 |archive-date=15 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315091225/http://www.infosys-science-foundation.com/prize/laureates/2009/index.asp |url-status=live }}</ref>
* J. C. Bose National Fellowship ([[Science and Engineering Research Board]], DST<ref name="SERB_JCBoseFellowship" />) (2008)<ref name="IndiaTimes_Physicist_dies_at_64" />
* [[Indian National Science Academy|INSA]] [[Vainu Bappu]] Gold Medal (2007)<ref>[http://www.insaindia.org/recipients.php List of Recipients of INSA Medals] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20140404115326/http://www.insaindia.org/recipients.php |date=4 April 2014 }}</ref>
* [[Indian National Science Academy|INSA]] [[Vainu Bappu]] Gold Medal (2007)<ref>[http://www.insaindia.org/recipients.php List of Recipients of INSA Medals] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20140404115326/http://www.insaindia.org/recipients.php |date=4 April 2014 }}</ref>
* [[Padma Shri]] (from the [[President of India]], 2007)<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web | url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf | title=Padma Awards | publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India | date=2015 | access-date=21 July 2015}}</ref>
* [[Padma Shri]] (from the [[President of India]], 2007)<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web | url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf | title=Padma Awards | publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India | date=2015 | access-date=21 July 2015 | archive-date=15 October 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref>
* Miegunah Fellowship Award ([[University of Melbourne]], [[Australia]], 2004)
* Miegunah Fellowship Award ([[University of Melbourne]], [[Australia]], 2004)
* Homi Bhabha Fellowship (2003)
* Homi Bhabha Fellowship (2003)
* [[G.D. Birla Award for Scientific Research]] (2003)
* [[G. D. Birla Award for Scientific Research]] (2003)
* [[Khwarizmi International Award|Al-Khwarizmi International Award]] (2002)
* [[Khwarizmi International Award|Al-Khwarizmi International Award]] (2002)
* The Millennium Medal ([[Council of Scientific and Industrial Research|CSIR]], 2000)
* The Millennium Medal ([[Council of Scientific and Industrial Research|CSIR]], 2000)
* [[Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award]] (1996) <ref>[http://ssbprize.gov.in/Content/Detail.aspx?AID=218 Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize: Profile of the Awardee]</ref>
* [[Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award]] (1996)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ssbprize.gov.in/Content/Detail.aspx?AID=218 |title=Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize: Profile of the Awardee |access-date=4 February 2016 |archive-date=8 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008070424/https://ssbprize.gov.in/Content/Detail.aspx?AID=218 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* The Birla Science Prize (1991) <ref>[http://www.birlasciencecentre.org/awards/birlaSciencePrizes/ List of B. M. Birla Science Prizes]</ref>
* The Birla Science Prize (1991)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.birlasciencecentre.org/awards/birlaSciencePrizes/ |title=List of B. M. Birla Science Prizes |access-date=4 February 2016 |archive-date=28 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180128175901/http://www.birlasciencecentre.org/awards/birlaSciencePrizes/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Young Scientist Award, ([[Indian National Science Academy]]) (1984) <ref>[http://www.insaindia.org/youngmedal.php List of recipients of INSA medal for young scientists 1974-2014]</ref>
* Young Scientist Award, ([[Indian National Science Academy]]) (1984)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.insaindia.org/youngmedal.php |title=List of recipients of INSA medal for young scientists 1974-2014 |access-date=4 February 2016 |archive-date=11 October 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131011230428/http://www.insaindia.org/youngmedal.php |url-status=live }}</ref>
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His research work has won prizes nine times (in 1984, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2020) including the First Prize in 2008 from the [[Gravity Research Foundation]], USA.<ref>[http://www.2physics.com/2008/09/gravity-emergent-perspective.html Article : "Gravity : An Emergent Perspective"]</ref>
His research work won prizes nine times (in 1984, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2020) including the First Prize in 2008 from the [[Gravity Research Foundation]], USA.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.2physics.com/2008/09/gravity-emergent-perspective.html |title=Gravity : An Emergent Perspective |access-date=9 July 2012 |archive-date=7 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407060622/http://www.2physics.com/2008/09/gravity-emergent-perspective.html |url-status=live }}</ref>


A Stanford study in 2020, listing top scientists in different fields, has ranked Padmanabhan as 24th in world in his research area.<ref>[https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3000918 Updated science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators]</ref><ref>[https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-stanford-universitys-list-of-top-2-per-cent-scientists-7013248/ Article : Indian Express]</ref>
A Stanford study in 2020, listing top scientists in different fields, ranked Padmanabhan as 24th in the world in his research area.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Updated science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators |year=2020 |doi=10.1371/journal.pbio.3000918 |last1=Ioannidis |first1=John P. A. |last2=Boyack |first2=Kevin W. |last3=Baas |first3=Jeroen |journal=PLOS Biology |volume=18 |issue=10 |pages=e3000918 |pmid=33064726 |pmc=7567353 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-stanford-universitys-list-of-top-2-per-cent-scientists-7013248/ |title=Explained: Why Stanford University has a list of the top 2 per cent scientists|work=The Indian Express |date=19 November 2020 |access-date=2 December 2020 |archive-date=1 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201181838/https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-stanford-universitys-list-of-top-2-per-cent-scientists-7013248/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


==Research==
==Research==
Padmanabhan's original research contributions have made a significant impact on the subjects of gravitation and cosmology. His work in the last decade has far-reaching implications both for [[quantum gravity]] and for the nature of [[dark energy]].<ref>[https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0370157303001200?via%3Dihub]</ref><ref>[https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/abs/10.1142/S0218271820300013}]</ref> During 2002–2015, he provided a clear interpretation of [[gravity]] as an emergent phenomenon (like elasticity or fluid dynamics) and showed that this paradigm extends to a wide class of theories of gravitation including, but not limited to, general relativity.<ref>{{Cite journal | doi=10.1088/0034-4885/73/4/046901| title=Thermodynamical aspects of gravity: New insights| year=2010| last1=Padmanabhan| first1=T.| journal=Reports on Progress in Physics| volume=73| issue=4| pages=046901| arxiv=0911.5004}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | doi=10.1007/s10714-014-1673-7| title=General relativity from a thermodynamic perspective| year=2014| last1=Padmanabhan| first1=T.| journal=General Relativity and Gravitation| volume=46| issue=3| pages=1673| arxiv=1312.3253}}</ref> Padmanabhan could show that several peculiar aspects of classical gravitational theories find natural interpretations in this approach.<ref>{{Cite journal |doi = 10.1088/1742-6596/306/1/012001|title = Lessons from classical gravity about the quantum structure of spacetime|year = 2011|last1 = Padmanabhan|first1 = Thanu|journal = Journal of Physics: Conference Series|volume = 306|pages = 012001|arxiv = 1012.4476}}</ref> Such an interpretation also provides a novel solution to the cosmological constant problem.<ref>{{Cite journal|arxiv=1404.2284|last1= Padmanabhan|first1= T.|title= Cosmological Constant from the Emergent Gravity Perspective|journal= International Journal of Modern Physics D|volume= 23|issue= 6|pages= 1430011|last2= Padmanabhan|first2= Hamsa|year= 2014|doi= 10.1142/S0218271814300110|bibcode= 2014IJMPD..2330011P}}</ref> He has given two lectures at the Oxford-Cambridge collaborative conference on "Cosmology and the Constants of Nature" about this.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pcd911qSTBk Video : Cosmological constants - Part 1 (Thanu Padmanabhan)]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPkspt1XrKQ Video : Cosmological constants - Part 2 (Thanu Padmanabhan)]</ref>
Padmanabhan's research was on the fields of gravitation and cosmology which includes [[quantum gravity]] and nature of [[dark energy]].<ref name="Physics Reports 2003">{{cite journal |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0370157303001200 |last1=Padmanabhan |first1=T. |title=Cosmological constant—the weight of the vacuum |journal=Physics Reports |date=July 2003 |volume=380 |issue=5–6 |pages=235–320 |doi=10.1016/S0370-1573(03)00120-0 |arxiv=hep-th/0212290 |bibcode=2003PhR...380..235P |s2cid=119440437 |access-date=18 September 2021 |archive-date=27 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527142325/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0370157303001200 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/abs/10.1142/S0218271820300013}]</ref> During 2002–2015, he provided a clear interpretation of [[gravity]] as an emergent phenomenon (like elasticity or fluid dynamics) and showed that this paradigm extends to a wide class of theories of gravitation including, but not limited to, general relativity.<ref>{{Cite journal | doi=10.1088/0034-4885/73/4/046901| title=Thermodynamical aspects of gravity: New insights| year=2010| last1=Padmanabhan| first1=T.| journal=Reports on Progress in Physics| volume=73| issue=4| pages=046901| arxiv=0911.5004| bibcode=2010RPPh...73d6901P}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | doi=10.1007/s10714-014-1673-7| title=General relativity from a thermodynamic perspective| year=2014| last1=Padmanabhan| first1=T.| journal=General Relativity and Gravitation| volume=46| issue=3| pages=1673| arxiv=1312.3253| bibcode=2014GReGr..46.1673P| s2cid=119177380}}</ref> Padmanabhan could show that several peculiar aspects of classical gravitational theories find natural interpretations in this approach.<ref>{{Cite journal |doi = 10.1088/1742-6596/306/1/012001|title = Lessons from classical gravity about the quantum structure of spacetime|year = 2011|last1 = Padmanabhan|first1 = Thanu|journal = Journal of Physics: Conference Series|volume = 306|issue = 1|pages = 012001|arxiv = 1012.4476|bibcode = 2011JPhCS.306a2001P|s2cid = 119249958}}</ref> Such an interpretation also provides a novel solution to the cosmological constant problem.<ref>{{Cite journal|arxiv=1404.2284|last1= Padmanabhan|first1= T.|title= Cosmological Constant from the Emergent Gravity Perspective|journal= International Journal of Modern Physics D|volume= 23|issue= 6|pages= 1430011|last2= Padmanabhan|first2= Hamsa|year= 2014|doi= 10.1142/S0218271814300110|bibcode= 2014IJMPD..2330011P|s2cid= 119181469}}</ref> He gave two lectures at the Oxford–Cambridge collaborative conference on "Cosmology and the Constants of Nature" about this.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pcd911qSTBk |title=Video : Cosmological constants – Part 1 (Thanu Padmanabhan) |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=27 January 2016 |archive-date=25 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425140012/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pcd911qSTBk&gl=US&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPkspt1XrKQ |title=Video : Cosmological constants – Part 2 (Thanu Padmanabhan) |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=27 January 2016 |archive-date=23 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423150450/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPkspt1XrKQ&gl=US&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref>


Popular (non-technical) descriptions of Padmanabhan's research have been published in [[Scientific American]] (India),<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140722003933/http://www.iucaa.ernet.in/~paddy/research/SAfinalarticle.pdf Article : Scientific American (India)]</ref> and a more technical description is available in an article from the [[Gravity Research Foundation]] in 2008, that describes his First Prize work. [http://www.wissenschaft.de/archiv/-/journal_content/56/12054/4771028/Die-Atome-der-Raumzeit/ Another popular article] about his work which appeared in a German science magazine along with the [https://web.archive.org/web/20160131081918/http://www.iucaa.ernet.in/~paddy/research/german-article.pdf English translation] is available on his home page. An interview of Padmanabhan by George Musser about his work can be found [http://spookyactionbook.com/2015/12/23/an-interview-with-thanu-padmanabhan-video/ here].
Popular (non-technical) descriptions of Padmanabhan's research have been published in [[Scientific American]] (India),<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140722003933/http://www.iucaa.ernet.in/~paddy/research/SAfinalarticle.pdf Article : ''Scientific American'' (India)]</ref> and a more technical description is available in an article from the [[Gravity Research Foundation]] in 2008, that describes his First Prize work. [http://www.wissenschaft.de/archiv/-/journal_content/56/12054/4771028/Die-Atome-der-Raumzeit/ Another popular article] about his work which appeared in a German science magazine along with the [https://web.archive.org/web/20160131081918/http://www.iucaa.ernet.in/~paddy/research/german-article.pdf English translation] is available on his home page. An interview of Padmanabhan by George Musser about his work can be found [http://spookyactionbook.com/2015/12/23/an-interview-with-thanu-padmanabhan-video/ here].


In the earlier part of Padmanabhan's career (1980-2001), he made important contributions to [[quantum cosmology]], [[structure formation]] in the universe and statistical mechanics of gravitating systems.  In the 1980s, he came up with an interpretation of the [[Planck length]] as the `zero-point length' of the [[spacetime]]  based on very general considerations.<ref>[https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000349168580004X]</ref> This result, established by theoretical considerations and well-chosen thought experiments,<ref>{{Cite journal |doi = 10.1088/0264-9381/4/4/007|title = Limitations on the operational definition of spacetime events and quantum gravity|year = 1987|last1 = Padmanabhan|first1 = T.|journal = Classical and Quantum Gravity|volume = 4|issue = 4|pages = L107–L113}}</ref> finds an echo in more recent results in several other candidate models for [[quantum gravity]]. He developed the complex path method (in 1998 <ref>{{Cite journal | doi=10.1103/PhysRevD.60.024007| title=Particle production and complex path analysis| year=1999| last1=Srinivasan| first1=K.| last2=Padmanabhan| first2=T.| journal=Physical Review D| volume=60| issue=2| pages=024007| arxiv=gr-qc/9812028}}</ref>) to study [[black hole thermodynamics]] which was a precursor to the `tunneling paradigm' that became quite popular later on. He is a recognized authority in the subject of the statistical mechanics of gravitating systems<ref>[https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0370157390900513?via%3Dihub]</ref> and was a pioneer in the systematic application of these concepts to study the [[gravitational clustering]] in an [[expanding universe]].<ref>{{Cite book |doi = 10.1007/3-540-45835-2_7|chapter = Statistical Mechanics of Gravitating Systems in Static and Cosmological Backgrounds|title = Dynamics and Thermodynamics of Systems with Long-Range Interactions|series = Lecture Notes in Physics|year = 2002|last1 = Padmanabhan|first1 = Thanu|volume = 602|pages = 165–207|arxiv = astro-ph/0206131|isbn = 978-3-540-44315-5}}</ref> He has been invited to lecture twice at the Les Houches Schools (in 2002 and 2008) to a broader community about this subject.
In the earlier part of Padmanabhan's career (1980–2001), he made important contributions to [[quantum cosmology]], [[structure formation]] in the universe and statistical mechanics of gravitating systems.  In the 1980s, he came up with an interpretation of the [[Planck length]] as the 'zero-point length' of the [[spacetime]]  based on very general considerations.<ref name="AnnalsPhysics1985">{{cite journal |last1=Padmanabhan |first1=T. |title=Physical significance of planck length |journal=Annals of Physics |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S000349168580004X |date=November 1985 |volume=165 |issue=1 |pages=38–58 |doi=10.1016/S0003-4916(85)80004-X |bibcode=1985AnPhy.165...38P |access-date=18 September 2021 |archive-date=18 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918202751/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S000349168580004X |url-status=live }}</ref> This result, established by theoretical considerations and well-chosen thought experiments,<ref>{{Cite journal |doi = 10.1088/0264-9381/4/4/007|title = Limitations on the operational definition of spacetime events and quantum gravity|year = 1987|last1 = Padmanabhan|first1 = T.|journal = Classical and Quantum Gravity|volume = 4|issue = 4|pages = L107–L113|bibcode = 1987CQGra...4L.107P}}</ref> finds an echo in more recent results in several other candidate models for [[quantum gravity]]. He developed the complex path method (in 1998<ref>{{Cite journal | doi=10.1103/PhysRevD.60.024007| title=Particle production and complex path analysis| year=1999| last1=Srinivasan| first1=K.| last2=Padmanabhan| first2=T.| journal=Physical Review D| volume=60| issue=2| pages=024007| arxiv=gr-qc/9812028| bibcode=1999PhRvD..60b4007S| s2cid=53450120}}</ref>) to study [[black hole thermodynamics]] which was a precursor to the 'tunneling paradigm' that became quite popular later on. He was a recognized authority in the subject of the statistical mechanics of gravitating systems<ref name="Physics Reports 1990">{{cite journal |last1=Padmanabhan |first1=T. |title=Statistical mechanics of gravitating systems |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0370157390900513 |journal=Physics Reports |date=April 1990 |volume=188 |issue=5 |pages=285–362 |doi=10.1016/0370-1573(90)90051-3 |bibcode=1990PhR...188..285P |access-date=18 September 2021 |archive-date=8 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008070418/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0370157390900513 |url-status=live }}</ref> and was a pioneer in the systematic application of these concepts to study the [[gravitational clustering]] in an [[expanding universe]].<ref>{{Cite book |doi = 10.1007/3-540-45835-2_7|chapter = Statistical Mechanics of Gravitating Systems in Static and Cosmological Backgrounds|title = Dynamics and Thermodynamics of Systems with Long-Range Interactions|series = Lecture Notes in Physics|year = 2002|last1 = Padmanabhan|first1 = Thanu|volume = 602|pages = 165–207|arxiv = astro-ph/0206131|isbn = 978-3-540-44315-5}}</ref> He was invited to lecture twice at the Les Houches Schools (in 2002 and 2008) to a broader community about this subject.


In November 2016, Padmanabhan published research studies advocating a new [[paradigm shift]] in understanding [[gravity]].<ref name="ARX-20161110">{{cite journal |last=Padmanabhan |first=Thanu |author-link=Thanu Padmanabhan |title=Do We really Understand the Cosmos? |arxiv=1611.03505 |year=2017 |doi=10.1016/j.crhy.2017.02.001 |volume=18 |issue=3–4 |journal=Comptes Rendus Physique |pages=275–291|bibcode=2017CRPhy..18..275P }}</ref><ref name="ENS-20161115">{{cite news |author=Staff |title=Research shows paradigm shift in understanding of gravity |url=http://epaper.indianexpress.com/c/14675133 |date=15 November 2016 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |access-date=19 November 2016 }}</ref> A key question in quantum gravity lies in understanding the primordial, pre-geometric phase of the universe, from which the classical, geometric phase described by Einstein's equations emerges along with the notions of space and time themselves.  
In November 2016, Padmanabhan published research studies advocating a new [[paradigm shift]] in understanding [[gravity]].<ref name="ARX-20161110">{{cite journal |last=Padmanabhan |first=Thanu |author-link=Thanu Padmanabhan |title=Do We really Understand the Cosmos? |arxiv=1611.03505 |year=2017 |doi=10.1016/j.crhy.2017.02.001 |volume=18 |issue=3–4 |journal=Comptes Rendus Physique |pages=275–291|bibcode=2017CRPhy..18..275P |s2cid=119214901 }}</ref><ref name="ENS-20161115">{{cite news |author=Staff |title=Research shows paradigm shift in understanding of gravity |url=http://epaper.indianexpress.com/c/14675133 |date=15 November 2016 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |access-date=19 November 2016 |archive-date=20 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161120010313/http://epaper.indianexpress.com/c/14675133 |url-status=live }}</ref> A key question in quantum gravity lies in understanding the primordial, pre-geometric phase of the universe, from which the classical, geometric phase described by Einstein's equations emerges along with the notions of space and time themselves.  
Padmanabhan introduced the notion of Cosmic Information (called 'CosmIn') which allows to connect these two phases in a fascinating manner. CosmIn, which is a [[conserved quantity]], measures the total information transferred from the quantum gravitational phase to the classical phase of the universe. Quantum gravitational considerations advocate an astonishingly simple value for CosmIn: 4π, the number of information 'bits' on the surface of a sphere of unit radius. Using these considerations, CosmIn was able to relate the numerical value of the [[cosmological constant]] - possibly the deepest unsolved problem in [[theoretical physics]] today - to the energy scale at which the universe made the quantum-to-classical transition.<ref>[https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0370269317306408?via%3Dihub]</ref> This is the first time that a model with no adjustable parameters is able to provide a holistic explanation for both these observations, which has far-reaching implications for the quantum structure of spacetime.   A non-technical account covering this latest development in Padmanabhan's research was recently published in the magazine 'Nautilus'.<ref>[http://nautil.us/issue/53/monsters/the-universe-began-with-a-big-melt-not-a-big-bang]</ref>
Padmanabhan introduced the notion of Cosmic Information (called 'CosmIn'), which allows these two phases to be connected in a fascinating manner. CosmIn, which is a [[conserved quantity]], measures the total information transferred from the quantum gravitational phase to the classical phase of the universe. Quantum gravitational considerations advocate an astonishingly simple value for CosmIn: 4π, the number of information 'bits' on the surface of a sphere of unit radius. Using these considerations, CosmIn was able to relate the numerical value of the [[cosmological constant]] – possibly the deepest unsolved problem in [[theoretical physics]] today – to the energy scale at which the universe made the quantum-to-classical transition.<ref>{{Cite journal |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0370269317306408 |title=Cosmic information, the cosmological constant and the amplitude of primordial perturbations |journal=Physics Letters B |date=10 October 2017 |volume=773 |pages=81–85 |doi=10.1016/j.physletb.2017.07.066 |bibcode=2017PhLB..773...81P |access-date=17 January 2020 |archive-date=17 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917113228/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0370269317306408?via%3Dihub |url-status=live |last1=Padmanabhan |first1=T. |last2=Padmanabhan |first2=Hamsa |arxiv=1703.06144 |s2cid=118886523 }}</ref> This is the first time that a model with no adjustable parameters is able to provide a holistic explanation for both these observations, which has far-reaching implications for the quantum structure of spacetime. A non-technical account covering this latest development in Padmanabhan's research was published in the magazine ''Nautilus''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://nautil.us/issue/53/monsters/the-universe-began-with-a-big-melt-not-a-big-bang |title=The Universe Began with a Big Melt, Not a Big Bang |date=5 October 2017 |access-date=17 January 2020 |archive-date=21 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200121134711/http://nautil.us/issue/53/monsters/the-universe-began-with-a-big-melt-not-a-big-bang |url-status=live }}</ref>


==Publications==
==Publications==


===Books authored===
===Books authored===
Padmanabhan has authored several advanced level textbooks which are acclaimed as magnificent achievements and used worldwide as standard references. In addition, he has authored several popular-level science books.
Padmanabhan authored several advanced level textbooks. In addition, he authored several popular-level science books.
{{div col|colwidth=35em}}
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* [https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030175085 ''The Dawn of Science: Glimpses from History for the Curious Mind''], Springer, Heidelberg (2019)
* [https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030175085 ''The Dawn of Science: Glimpses from History for the Curious Mind''], Springer, Heidelberg (2019)
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== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist|refs=
 
<ref name="IndiaTimes_Physicist_dies_at_64">{{cite news | last1= Khanna | first1= Monnit | title= World-Renowned Physicist Prof Thanu Padmanabhan Dies From Heart Attack At 64 | date= 2021-09-17 |newspaper= [[India Times]] | url= https://www.indiatimes.com/technology/news/world-renowned-physicist-prof-thanu-padmanabhan-dead-at-64-549669.html |access-date= 2021-09-29 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210920034405/https://www.indiatimes.com/technology/news/world-renowned-physicist-prof-thanu-padmanabhan-dead-at-64-549669.html |archive-date= 2021-09-20 |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
<ref name="SERB_JCBoseFellowship">{{cite web | title= J.C. Bose Fellowship | website= [[Science and Engineering Research Board]] |year = 2021 | url = https://serbonline.in/SERB/jcbose_fellowship | access-date = 2021-09-29 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210928231602/https://serbonline.in/SERB/jcbose_fellowship |archive-date= 2021-09-28 |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xCZFk0ycrM A 50-hour course by Padmanabhan on Quantum Field Theory], (available on YouTube).
* [http://gr-lectures-paddy.blogspot.in/2009_07_21_archive.html A one-semester course of lectures] on [[General Relativity]] by Padmanabhan.
* [http://pcc2341f.unige.ch/videos/VideosPadmanabhan.htm Another set of lectures] (15 hours) by Padmanabhan on Advanced Topics in [[General relativity]] at the 'troisieme cycle de la physique en suisse romande' course (Geneva, Switzerland).
* [http://www.iucaa.in/~paddy/ Thanu Padmanabhan's Home page]
* [http://www.iucaa.in/~paddy/ Thanu Padmanabhan's Home page]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xCZFk0ycrM A 50-hour course by Padmanabhan on Quantum Field Theory] (available on YouTube)
* [http://gr-lectures-paddy.blogspot.in/2009_07_21_archive.html A one-semester course of lectures] on general relativity by Padmanabhan
* [http://pcc2341f.unige.ch/videos/VideosPadmanabhan.htm Another set of lectures] (15 hours) by Padmanabhan on Advanced Topics in general relativity at the 'troisieme cycle de la physique en suisse romande' course (Geneva, Switzerland).
{{SSBPST recipients in Physical Science}}
{{SSBPST recipients in Physical Science}}
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{{Scientific Research in Kerala |state=collapsed}}
{{Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Laureates of Kerala}}
{{Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Laureates of Kerala}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Science & Engineering}}
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{{Authority control}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Science & Engineering}}


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[[Category:20th-century Indian physicists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian physicists]]
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[[Category:21st-century Indian physicists]]
[[Category:Indian cosmologists]]
[[Category:Indian theoretical physicists]]
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[[Category:Scientists from Thiruvananthapuram]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in science & engineering]]
[[Category:Tata Institute of Fundamental Research alumni]]
[[Category:TWAS laureates]]
[[Category:University College Thiruvananthapuram alumni]]
[[Category:University College Thiruvananthapuram alumni]]
[[Category:Tata Institute of Fundamental Research alumni]]
[[Category:Indian theoretical physicists]]
[[Category:University of Kerala alumni]]
[[Category:University of Kerala alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian astronomers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian astronomers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian physicists]]
[[Category:TWAS laureates]]
[[Category:1957 births]]

Revision as of 04:23, 11 June 2022


For the writer, see T. Padmanabhan.

Thanu Padmanabhan
Born10 March 1957[1]
Trivandrum, Kerala, India
Died17 September 2021(2021-09-17) (aged 64)
Pune, Maharashtra, India
Alma materKerala University,
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
AwardsPadma Shri
Scientific career
FieldsPhysics, astronomy
InstitutionsInter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics[1]
Doctoral advisorJayant Narlikar

Thanu Padmanabhan (10 March 1957 – 17 September 2021) was an Indian theoretical physicist and cosmologist whose research spanned a wide variety of topics in gravitation, structure formation in the universe and quantum gravity. He published nearly 300 papers and reviews in international journals and ten books in these areas. He made several contributions related to the analysis and modelling of dark energy in the universe and the interpretation of gravity as an emergent phenomenon. He was a Distinguished Professor at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) at Pune, India.[2]

Life and career

Born to Thanu Iyer and Lakshmi on 10 March 1957 in Thiruvananthapuram (then Trivandrum), Padmanabhan attended school there. He earned his B.Sc. (1977) and M.Sc. (1979) in Physics from the University College Thiruvananthapuram, part of Kerala University.[1] He published his first research paper (on general relativity) when he was still a B.Sc. student, at the age of 20.[3] He joined the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai in 1979 for his Ph.D. and became a faculty member there in 1980.[1] He held various faculty positions at TIFR from 1980 to 1992 and also spent a year (in 1986–87) at the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge. He moved to Pune to work at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics in 1992 and served as its Dean, Core Academic Programmes, for 18 years (1997–2015).[4]

Padmanabhan served as adjunct faculty of TIFR, the Harish-Chandra Research Institute (Allahabad), the Raman Research Institute (Bangalore) and the Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research (IISER, Pune) at different periods in his career. He was adjunct faculty of IISER, Mohali.[5]

Padmanabhan served as chairman (2006–09) of the Time Allocation Committee[6] of the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope of NCRA. He was chairman (2008–11) of the Indian National Science Academy's National Committee[7] which interfaces with the activities of the International Astronomical Union. In addition to advising the Government on policy issues, this also required him to coordinate the International Year of Astronomy 2009 activities in the country.[5]

He was elected president of the Cosmology Commission (2009–2012) of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and provided advice to IAU activities in this field. He was elected in 2011 as chairman of the Astrophysics Commission (2011–2014) of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP)[8] and co-ordinated the activities of IUPAP in this area. He was also a visiting faculty at many institutes including the California Institute of Technology, Princeton University, and a Sackler Distinguished Astronomer of the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge. He was an elected fellow of The World Academy of Sciences and of all three National Academies of Science in India (the Indian National Science Academy, Indian Academy of Sciences, and the National Academy of Sciences, India).[5]

In addition to his scientific research, Padmanabhan worked actively to popularize science and gave over 300 popular science lectures and authored more than 100 popular science articles. He did a comic strip serial The Story of Physics[9] aimed at school children. Published by Vigyan Prasar (New Delhi), it was translated into half a dozen regional Indian languages and made available at an affordable price at Indian schools. To commemorate the International Year of Astronomy (IYA) in 2009, he published (with J. V. Narlikar and Samir Dhurde) the IYA Astronomical Diary 2009,[10] which comprises 53 illustrated pages of astronomical information. In 2019, he co-authored with Vasanthi Padmanabhan The Dawn of Science (published by Springer[11]).

He was married to Vasanthi Padmanabhan, who has a Ph.D. in astrophysics from TIFR, Mumbai, and they had one daughter, Hamsa Padmanabhan, who herself has a Ph.D. in astrophysics from IUCAA, Pune.[12]

He died on 17 September 2021 at the age of 64 after a heart attack at his residence in Pune.[4][13] A tribute article written by his former graduate students and post-doctoral fellows and physics friends from college days has been posted on the Physics arXiv.[14]

Key awards and distinctions

Padmanabhan received several national and international awards including:[15]

His research work won prizes nine times (in 1984, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2020) including the First Prize in 2008 from the Gravity Research Foundation, USA.[28]

A Stanford study in 2020, listing top scientists in different fields, ranked Padmanabhan as 24th in the world in his research area.[29][30]

Research

Padmanabhan's research was on the fields of gravitation and cosmology which includes quantum gravity and nature of dark energy.[31][32] During 2002–2015, he provided a clear interpretation of gravity as an emergent phenomenon (like elasticity or fluid dynamics) and showed that this paradigm extends to a wide class of theories of gravitation including, but not limited to, general relativity.[33][34] Padmanabhan could show that several peculiar aspects of classical gravitational theories find natural interpretations in this approach.[35] Such an interpretation also provides a novel solution to the cosmological constant problem.[36] He gave two lectures at the Oxford–Cambridge collaborative conference on "Cosmology and the Constants of Nature" about this.[37][38]

Popular (non-technical) descriptions of Padmanabhan's research have been published in Scientific American (India),[39] and a more technical description is available in an article from the Gravity Research Foundation in 2008, that describes his First Prize work. Another popular article about his work which appeared in a German science magazine along with the English translation is available on his home page. An interview of Padmanabhan by George Musser about his work can be found here.

In the earlier part of Padmanabhan's career (1980–2001), he made important contributions to quantum cosmology, structure formation in the universe and statistical mechanics of gravitating systems. In the 1980s, he came up with an interpretation of the Planck length as the 'zero-point length' of the spacetime based on very general considerations.[40] This result, established by theoretical considerations and well-chosen thought experiments,[41] finds an echo in more recent results in several other candidate models for quantum gravity. He developed the complex path method (in 1998[42]) to study black hole thermodynamics which was a precursor to the 'tunneling paradigm' that became quite popular later on. He was a recognized authority in the subject of the statistical mechanics of gravitating systems[43] and was a pioneer in the systematic application of these concepts to study the gravitational clustering in an expanding universe.[44] He was invited to lecture twice at the Les Houches Schools (in 2002 and 2008) to a broader community about this subject.

In November 2016, Padmanabhan published research studies advocating a new paradigm shift in understanding gravity.[45][46] A key question in quantum gravity lies in understanding the primordial, pre-geometric phase of the universe, from which the classical, geometric phase described by Einstein's equations emerges along with the notions of space and time themselves. Padmanabhan introduced the notion of Cosmic Information (called 'CosmIn'), which allows these two phases to be connected in a fascinating manner. CosmIn, which is a conserved quantity, measures the total information transferred from the quantum gravitational phase to the classical phase of the universe. Quantum gravitational considerations advocate an astonishingly simple value for CosmIn: 4π, the number of information 'bits' on the surface of a sphere of unit radius. Using these considerations, CosmIn was able to relate the numerical value of the cosmological constant – possibly the deepest unsolved problem in theoretical physics today – to the energy scale at which the universe made the quantum-to-classical transition.[47] This is the first time that a model with no adjustable parameters is able to provide a holistic explanation for both these observations, which has far-reaching implications for the quantum structure of spacetime. A non-technical account covering this latest development in Padmanabhan's research was published in the magazine Nautilus.[48]

Publications

Books authored

Padmanabhan authored several advanced level textbooks. In addition, he authored several popular-level science books.

Selected technical review articles

Selected popular science articles

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Homepage of Padmanabhan". www.iucaa.in. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  2. ↑ "IUCAA - People". IUCAA. Archived from the original on 11 January 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  3. ↑ Padmanabhan, T. (October 1977). "T.Padmanabhan, Solutions of scalar and electromagnetic wave equations in the field of gravitational and electromagnetic waves, Pramana , (1977), 9 , 371". Pramana. 9 (4): 371–384. doi:10.1007/BF02846243. S2CID 123557221. Archived from the original on 3 June 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Renowned astrophysicist Thanu Padmanabhan passes away". The Hindu. 17 September 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Prof. Padmanabhan: A Personal and Professional History" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  6. ↑ "GMRT Time Allocation Committee". Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  7. ↑ "INSA". Archived from the original on 15 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  8. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 24 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ↑ "The Story of Physics". Archived from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  10. ↑ "Archived copy". www.iucaa.ernet.in. Archived from the original on 5 December 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. ↑ Padmanabhan, Thanu; Padmanabhan, Vasanthi (2019). The Dawn of Science. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-17509-2. ISBN 978-3-030-17508-5. S2CID 167177582. Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  12. ↑ "Scientific community in Kerala mourns Thanu Padmanabhan's demise | Kochi News". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 19 September 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  13. ↑ "Theoretical physicist Thanu Padmanabhan passes away in Pune". The Indian Express. 17 September 2021. Archived from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  14. ↑ Bagla, Jasjeet Singh; Bhattacharya, Krishnakanta; Chakraborty, Sumanta; Engineer, Sunu; Faraoni, Valerio; Kolekar, Sanved; Kothawala, Dawood; Lochan, Kinjalk; Modak, Sujoy; Nair, V. Parameswaran; Paranjape, Aseem (7 October 2021). "The Life and Science of Thanu Padmanabhan". arXiv:2110.03208 [physics.hist-ph].
  15. ↑ "padmanabhan_cv.dvi" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  16. ↑ "Kerala's prestigious science honor for M S Swaminathan and Thanu Padmanabhan". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  17. ↑ "Physics scientist Thanu Padmanabhan receives M P Birla Memorial Award in cosmology- Technology News, Firstpost". 30 September 2019. Archived from the original on 17 October 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  18. ↑ "Indian Physics Association". Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  19. ↑ "Announcement of TWAS Prize in Physics (2011)". Archived from the original on 10 November 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  20. ↑ "List of Laureates – Infosys Prize 2009". Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  21. ↑ "J.C. Bose Fellowship". Science and Engineering Research Board. 2021. Archived from the original on 28 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  22. ↑ Khanna, Monnit (17 September 2021). "World-Renowned Physicist Prof Thanu Padmanabhan Dies From Heart Attack At 64". India Times. Archived from the original on 20 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  23. ↑ List of Recipients of INSA Medals Archived 4 April 2014 at Archive.today
  24. ↑ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  25. ↑ "Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize: Profile of the Awardee". Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  26. ↑ "List of B. M. Birla Science Prizes". Archived from the original on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  27. ↑ "List of recipients of INSA medal for young scientists 1974-2014". Retrieved 4 February 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  28. ↑ "Gravity : An Emergent Perspective". Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  29. ↑ Ioannidis, John P. A.; Boyack, Kevin W.; Baas, Jeroen (2020). "Updated science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators". PLOS Biology. 18 (10): e3000918. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.3000918. PMC 7567353. PMID 33064726.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: article number as page number (link)
  30. ↑ "Explained: Why Stanford University has a list of the top 2 per cent scientists". The Indian Express. 19 November 2020. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  31. ↑ Padmanabhan, T. (July 2003). "Cosmological constant—the weight of the vacuum". Physics Reports. 380 (5–6): 235–320. arXiv:hep-th/0212290. Bibcode:2003PhR...380..235P. doi:10.1016/S0370-1573(03)00120-0. S2CID 119440437. Archived from the original on 27 May 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  32. ↑ [1]
  33. ↑ Padmanabhan, T. (2010). "Thermodynamical aspects of gravity: New insights". Reports on Progress in Physics. 73 (4): 046901. arXiv:0911.5004. Bibcode:2010RPPh...73d6901P. doi:10.1088/0034-4885/73/4/046901.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: article number as page number (link)
  34. ↑ Padmanabhan, T. (2014). "General relativity from a thermodynamic perspective". General Relativity and Gravitation. 46 (3): 1673. arXiv:1312.3253. Bibcode:2014GReGr..46.1673P. doi:10.1007/s10714-014-1673-7. S2CID 119177380.
  35. ↑ Padmanabhan, Thanu (2011). "Lessons from classical gravity about the quantum structure of spacetime". Journal of Physics: Conference Series. 306 (1): 012001. arXiv:1012.4476. Bibcode:2011JPhCS.306a2001P. doi:10.1088/1742-6596/306/1/012001. S2CID 119249958.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: article number as page number (link)
  36. ↑ Padmanabhan, T.; Padmanabhan, Hamsa (2014). "Cosmological Constant from the Emergent Gravity Perspective". International Journal of Modern Physics D. 23 (6): 1430011. arXiv:1404.2284. Bibcode:2014IJMPD..2330011P. doi:10.1142/S0218271814300110. S2CID 119181469.
  37. ↑ "Video : Cosmological constants – Part 1 (Thanu Padmanabhan)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 25 April 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  38. ↑ "Video : Cosmological constants – Part 2 (Thanu Padmanabhan)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 23 April 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  39. ↑ Article : Scientific American (India)
  40. ↑ Padmanabhan, T. (November 1985). "Physical significance of planck length". Annals of Physics. 165 (1): 38–58. Bibcode:1985AnPhy.165...38P. doi:10.1016/S0003-4916(85)80004-X. Archived from the original on 18 September 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  41. ↑ Padmanabhan, T. (1987). "Limitations on the operational definition of spacetime events and quantum gravity". Classical and Quantum Gravity. 4 (4): L107–L113. Bibcode:1987CQGra...4L.107P. doi:10.1088/0264-9381/4/4/007.
  42. ↑ Srinivasan, K.; Padmanabhan, T. (1999). "Particle production and complex path analysis". Physical Review D. 60 (2): 024007. arXiv:gr-qc/9812028. Bibcode:1999PhRvD..60b4007S. doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.60.024007. S2CID 53450120.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: article number as page number (link)
  43. ↑ Padmanabhan, T. (April 1990). "Statistical mechanics of gravitating systems". Physics Reports. 188 (5): 285–362. Bibcode:1990PhR...188..285P. doi:10.1016/0370-1573(90)90051-3. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  44. ↑ Padmanabhan, Thanu (2002). "Statistical Mechanics of Gravitating Systems in Static and Cosmological Backgrounds". Dynamics and Thermodynamics of Systems with Long-Range Interactions. Lecture Notes in Physics. Vol. 602. pp. 165–207. arXiv:astro-ph/0206131. doi:10.1007/3-540-45835-2_7. ISBN 978-3-540-44315-5.
  45. ↑ Padmanabhan, Thanu (2017). "Do We really Understand the Cosmos?". Comptes Rendus Physique. 18 (3–4): 275–291. arXiv:1611.03505. Bibcode:2017CRPhy..18..275P. doi:10.1016/j.crhy.2017.02.001. S2CID 119214901.
  46. ↑ Staff (15 November 2016). "Research shows paradigm shift in understanding of gravity". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  47. ↑ Padmanabhan, T.; Padmanabhan, Hamsa (10 October 2017). "Cosmic information, the cosmological constant and the amplitude of primordial perturbations". Physics Letters B. 773: 81–85. arXiv:1703.06144. Bibcode:2017PhLB..773...81P. doi:10.1016/j.physletb.2017.07.066. S2CID 118886523. Archived from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  48. ↑ "The Universe Began with a Big Melt, Not a Big Bang". 5 October 2017. Archived from the original on 21 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020.

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