Perspectives in Physics (PiP) 2026 | Quantum Science

A two-day lecture series exploring complementary perspectives on the quantum world

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Perspectives in Physics (PiP) is a lecture series that brings together experts to engage faculty members and undergraduate students with important ideas and developments in physics beyond their immediate areas of specialisation. Explore the quantum world through perspectives on the foundations of quantum mechanics, the Quantum Zeno Effect, the origins of quantum mechanics, and quantum materials and measurements.

The theme for PiP 2026 is Quantum Science. This year’s programme features six lectures offering complementary perspectives on the quantum world. The talks will explore the conceptual foundations of quantum mechanics and questions about physical reality, examine fascinating phenomena such as the Quantum Zeno Effect and the role of measurement in quantum dynamics, and, through a two-part lecture series, explore the origins of quantum mechanics and some of the intriguing ideas that shaped its development. The programme will also feature a two-part exploration of quantum materials, their emergent properties, and the experimental techniques used to synthesise, characterise, and measure them.

The lectures are intended primarily for Physics faculty members, undergraduate students, postgraduate students, PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. No specialised background in quantum science is expected. We hope the series will offer new perspectives that enrich teaching and stimulate ideas for courses, projects, and undergraduate research.

Day 1

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Inauguration

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Conceptual Foundations of Quantum Mechanics: What is Real? by Anu Venugopalan

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Tea Break

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Evolution of Quantum Mechanics -Part 1 by Baladitya Suri

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Lunch Break

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Evolution of Quantum Mechanics-Part 2 by Baladitya Suri

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Tea Break

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The Quantum Zeno Effect by Anu Venugopalan

Day 2

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Quantum Materials and Measurements-Part 1 by Dhavala Suri

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Tea Break

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Quantum Materials and Measurements-Part 2 by Dhavala Suri

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Closing remarks

Conceptual Foundations of Quantum Mechanics: What is Real? (Anu Venugopalan)

Quantum mechanics is one of the most successful theories in physics, yet its mathematical formalism, concepts and predictions are counterintuitive and challenge our perception of familiar physical ​‘reality’. This talk will explore its conceptual foundations through its historical development, intriguing ideas and experiments, from waves and particles to quantum states, superposition, measurement, wave-function collapse, Schrödinger’s cat, entanglement, the EPR paradox and decoherence, culminating in the question at the heart of quantum theory: What is real?

The Quantum Zeno effect

The Quantum Zeno effect is an intriguing phenomenon that emerged in the study of quantum systems undergoing repeated observations, echoing the paradoxes posed by Zeno of Elea over two millennia ago. This talk will cover the development of the quantum Zeno effect following the 1977 work of ECG Sudarshan and B Misra, offering insights into the foundational aspects of quantum mechanics and the possibilities of the quantum world. 

Evolution of Quantum Mechanics-Part 1 (Baladitya Suri)

Part 1 of Evolution of Quantum Mechanics will trace the logical and chronological evolution of quantum ideas from classical priors, exploring how familiar classical concepts develop into the ideas of quantum mechanics. 

Evolution of Quantum Mechanics-Part 2 (Baladitya Suri)

Part 2 of Evolution of Quantum Mechanics will build on the ideas developed in the first part, following their further development and exploring how they lead to the distinctive concepts of quantum mechanics. 

Quantum Materials and Measurements-Part 1 (Dhavala Suri)

Part 1 of Quantum Materials and Measurements will explore quantum materials, where interactions among charge, spin, orbital and lattice degrees of freedom give rise to electronic and magnetic phenomena absent in conventional materials. The talk will present an integrated approach spanning thin-film growth, characterization, low-temperature electrical and magnetotransport measurements and device fabrication, with emphasis on superconducting, magnetic, topological and emerging altermagnetic materials.

Quantum Materials and Measurements-Part 2 (Dhavala Suri)

Part 2 of Quantum Materials and Measurements will continue the exploration of quantum materials and the integrated materials-to-measurements approach introduced in Part 1. The talk will continue examination of how interfaces, dimensionality, structural symmetry, disorder and proximity effects influence material properties, and how transport and quantum devices can be used to explore and manipulate phenomena including superconductivity, vortex dynamics, anomalous Hall responses, weak antilocalisation, magnetic anisotropy and interfacial superconductivity.

About the speakers

Anu Venugopalan is a faculty member at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi. Her research interests include the foundations of quantum mechanics, quantum information, quantum optics, decoherence, and quantum measurement.

Baladitya Suri is a faculty member in the Department of Instrumentation and Applied Physics at IISc. His research focuses on quantum information and quantum computation, including superconducting circuits, quantum acoustics, and microwave quantum technologies.

Dhavala Suri is a faculty member at the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, IISc. Her research focuses on quantum materials, including superconducting, topological, magnetic, and interface-engineered materials, with an emphasis on thin-film synthesis and low-temperature measurements.

Contact us

In case of queries, please write to us at pip@​apu.​edu.​in 

Note

  • Participants will have to manage their own travel and accommodation. 
  • The registration fee is non-refundable.
  • The registration fee includes food expenses.