Theoretical physicist gives presentation to SUBR students, faculty

Theoretical physicist and entrepreneur, Bhagirath Joshi recently spoke to Southern University students on the subject “Excess Neutron Shell Model Nuclei.”

The presentation was part of the weekly seminar of the Timbuktu Academy and the Louis Stokes Louisiana Alliance for Minority Participation or LS-LAMP. Those attending the afternoon session in room 218 of J.B. Moore Hall included Physics and Mathematics faculty members along with graduate students in the Master’s Degree program

Joshi focused on determining the effect of adding neutrons to (or subtracting them from) the nuclei of an element. With clear graphs, Joshi showed that elements with even numbers of protons have more stable isotopes (generally 6-7) while those with an odd number of protons tend to have only one stable isotope. Isotopes are elements that are identical chemically but have different number of neutrons in their nuclei.

Except for hydrogen, Joshi noted, all elements have an optimal number or range of numbers of neutrons. When the number of neutrons is below or above this optimal number or range, the nucleus is unstable.

Dr. Diola Bagayoko, the Chairman of the Department of Physics, said “Mr. Joshi’s presentation is an inspiring one, as it shows how to utilize fundamental principles to reach a deep understanding of phenomena.”  

Joshi plans to develop collaborative research projects with the faculty and students in physics at SUBR, Bagayoko said.

Joshi is a freelance theoretical physicist, an entrepreneur, and a Bollywood film producer.  He earned the MS in Computer Science and completed most of the work for the Ph.D. in Physics at Boston College, Chestnut Hill, and at the University of Massachusetts Lowell from 1975 to 1980, before his urge to create drove him to high technology industries.

Joshi has conducted research on FIR Lasers and Schottky barrier diodes and on the effect of horizontal wave absorption. He has been publishing his research on the properties of stable elements using the “shell model.”  He recently published a paper in Nature magazine.