Over the past hundred years, Quantum Mechanics (QM) has transformed our understanding of the physical world — from its revolutionary inception in the early 20th century to its profound influence on modern technology and theory. Globally, numerous events have marked this centenary. IMSc joins this celebration with a dedicated five-day programme in September 2025, aimed at reflecting on the past and looking towards the future.
Talks will span the historical development of QM, the resolution of foundational puzzles, and its expansion into diverse areas:
Historical Milestones — tracing the origins of QM and its evolution through multiple formalisms (Hilbert space, phase-space, path integrals, etc.).
Fundamental Questions — exploring unresolved issues and their proposed solutions.
Theoretical Advances — Quantum Field Theory, String Theory, and interfaces with Mathematics.
Quantum Mechanics underpins many branches of contemporary science and technology, and present-day active areas of research include:
Quantum Information Processing — computation, communication, and simulation.
Applications in Atomic-Molecular-Optical Physics, Condensed Matter Physics, Particle Physics, Quantum Chemistry, Quantum Biology, and Quantum Gravity.
Societal impact — from quantum sensors to secure communications.
We strive to make each session accessible to a broad physics audience, including Masters and Ph.D. students, postdocs, and faculty from across Chennai. While speakers will be invited from across India, the programme will be rooted in the local scientific community.
