The Department of Physics organised a Department Research Seminar on February 05, 2025, that offered a theoretical expression on Big Bang Nucleosynthesis. The seminar, which unravelled as a theory-experiment dialogue, also delved into interesting topics like Quantum Field Theory and General Relativity. Dr Martin Schaefer, nuclear physicist from the Department of Theoretical Physics Nuclear Physics Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences was the keynote speaker of the session.
The key idea of this session was to understand the means of the Big Bang and the Standard Model Lagrangian Method. Dr Schaefer discussed the nuclear reactions that formed the early universe and had an interaction session with the participating students and scholars.
The workshop was based on ‘Big Bang to Now: Exploring the Origins of the Universe’ with Nuclear Processes during Big Bang Nucleosynthesis. It focused on understanding the universe’s origins and the nuclear processes responsible for its birth during Big Bang nucleosynthesis.
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) refers to the process that occurred roughly 10 seconds after the Big Bang when the temperature of the universe dropped enough for atomic nuclei to form. This has led to the creation of stable elements such as helium and lithium isotopes, which played a crucial role in the evolution of the universe. The specific abundance of these elements provides observable imprints in the universe today, helping scientists validate theories like the Hot Big Bang Model and the Standard Model of particle physics.
The study of BBN allows scientists to understand the fundamental forces and nuclear interactions that governed the early universe. Dr Martine Schaefer provided insightful and educative information by helping scientists test the hot Big Bang theory. The session proved to be an incredible platform for scholars, students, and faculty to collaborate and discuss theoretical and experimental physics.