Institute for Plasma Research is largely involved in theoretical and experimental studies in plasma science including basic plasma physics, magnetically confined hot plasmas and plasma technologies for industrial application.
He was a child prodigy. He completed his PhD at the age of 18 from IIT Delhi. He was a young scientist in his 30s when he founded Institute of Plasma Research (IPR) in 1986, and continued as its director till 2012. In this time, India became a part of the prestigious LIGO project and became a full partner in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project. On Sunday, the affable soft-spoken man and physical science genius, Prof PK Kaw, breathed his last at his home in Ahmedabad at the age of 69.
“It is a national loss,” said Prof Amita Das, his associate of 26 years and a senior professor at IPR. “He was a multi-faceted personality. His passion was physics and plasma research, but his interests included philosophy and understanding consciousness,” Prof Das recalls melancholically.
Prof Kaw had a by-pass surgery recently. Besides, he also suffered from Parkinson’s. Despite his health limitations, Prof Das says he was an active scientist right till the end. “He understood the requirements of an active scientist and created environment for young scientists,” she recalls. He held the post of DST Professor at IPR till the last day.
Institute for Plasma Research is largely involved in theoretical and experimental studies in plasma science including basic plasma physics, magnetically confined hot plasmas and plasma technologies for industrial application.
Among its most significant projects is its participation in the seven member ITER project, which is an international nuclear fusion research and engineering project. It is the world’s largest magnetic confinement plasma physics experiment to generate power with minimal input cost. It is touted as the ultimate clean energy resource.
Professor Kaw is widely respected for his significant contributions to Theoretical Plasma Physics. “India became a part of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) largely due to his efforts,” Prof Das said.
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