Padmanabhan Krishnagopalan Iyengar
Former Director,
neutron scattering
barc
India
Biography
Dr. P.K. Iyengar and Dr. Ramanna pioneered the neutron scattering programme at Trombay. They recognized the importance of Neutron beam research, as a fertile training ground for Scientists, in the broader context of mastering reactor and nuclear technologies. They put India firmly on the World map in studying condensed matter with neutrons. Following the 1964 IAEA meeting, a programme for introducing neutron scattering at nuclear reactors in South-East Asian countries was initiated by IAEA, at the suggestion of Dr. Ramanna and Dr. Iyengar was also involved in the development of the fast reactor assembly, (Purnima-1). Subsequently, Purnima-2 was also built; a critical assembly with a solution of uranyl nitrate as the core. Dr. Iyengar’s training at Italy and USSR on pulsed neutron sources, was instrumental in his leadership role, in the planning of new accelerators at VECC, RRCATand TIFR.
Research Interest
neutron scattering
