AMU Celebrates 50 Years of Landmark Contributions to Neutrino Physics
Aligarh, November 29: Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) marked a distinguished milestone as the Department of Physics completed five decades of pioneering research in neutrino physics—an achievement now honoured by the prestigious Springer journal. Recognising AMU’s sustained global impact in the field, The European Physical Journal Special Topics commissioned an invited article titled “50 Years of Neutrino Physics at Aligarh Muslim University”, authored by Prof. S. K. Singh and Prof. M. Sajjad Athar.
Neutrinos—among the most abundant yet least understood particles in the universe—were first postulated by Wolfgang Pauli in 1930 and detected experimentally in 1956. Their elusive nature has made them central to major breakthroughs in particle physics, with nearly a dozen Nobel Prizes awarded for discoveries directly involving neutrinos or their associated phenomena. These ghost-like particles hold the key to understanding stellar processes, the creation of elements in the universe, and even the internal composition of Earth.
AMU’s journey in neutrino physics began 50 years ago when Prof. S. K. Singh, freshly returned from completing his Ph.D. under the legendary Prof. Lincoln Wolfenstein at Carnegie Mellon University, laid the foundation for a dedicated theoretical research programme at the Department of Physics. Since then, the university has sustained a globally recognised tradition of scholarship, with several theoretical results influencing and advancing international experimental studies.
Prof. M. Sajjad Athar has played an instrumental role in taking AMU’s expertise to the global stage. He has contributed to major international collaborations such as the MINERνA experiment at Fermilab and is an active member of the next-generation DUNE experiment. Research scholars from AMU have participated in cutting-edge projects and produced more than 120 high-impact research papers (besides collaboration-based publications) in leading international journals. The group has also delivered over fifty invited and plenary talks at renowned global conferences, further cementing AMU’s academic leadership.
Adding to its scholarly distinction, the AMU neutrino group authored the advanced textbook “The Physics of Neutrino Interactions”, published by Cambridge University Press, widely recommended in universities worldwide.
Prof. Athar serves as a voice in global neutrino governance. He is the only representative from the Indian subcontinent on the executive committees of NUSTEC and the IUPAP Neutrino Panel. His contributions extend to the U.S. Snowmass long-term planning strategy and the European Long Range Plan for Nuclear Physics. Nationally, he is a member of the Expert Panel for the “Indian Mega Science Vision (MSV)-2035 Report in Nuclear Physics,” nominated by the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India.
The AMU neutrino group has been closely associated with the NuInt international conference series since its inception in 2001, consistently contributing as members of its International Advisory and Organising Committees. In collaboration with globally renowned scientists, including Nobel Laureate T. Kajita and M. Honda from the Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, Japan, Prof. Athar has conducted extensive studies on atmospheric neutrino fluxes at experimental sites such as Super-Kamiokande, the South Pole, and Pyhäsalmi.
As AMU celebrates this extraordinary legacy, the invited publication stands as a proud testament to the Department of Physics’ contributions to fundamental science.
For Details: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1140/epjs/s11734-025-01498-y
