Aligarh, December 6: In a stride toward advancing India’s scientific research ecosystem, the Department of Physics at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) inaugurated its state-of-the-art Quantum Photonics Laboratory, an indigenously developed quantum light characterization facility. The groundbreaking development positions AMU among the select few institutions in the country with such advanced quantum research capability.
The laboratory was inaugurated by Prof. S. K. Singh, former Vice Chancellor of HNB Garhwal University and former dean of the Faculty of Science, in the presence of senior faculty members including Prof. Mohammad Sajjad Athar, Prof. S. S. Z. Ashraf, and Prof. Wasi Khan.
Commending the initiative, Prof. Singh described the facility as a “transformative addition to India’s scientific landscape.” He praised Dr. Faraz Ahmed Inam for his leadership and technical rigor in establishing the high-precision laboratory, stating that such facilities are essential for strengthening the country’s research competitiveness in quantum technologies.
The newly launched facility marks a historic achievement for AMU, making it the first Central or State University in India equipped to perform quantum light characterization, a domain previously restricted to select IITs and premier research institutions.
The initiative received strong institutional support from Prof. Mohammad Sajjad Athar, Chairperson, Department of Physics, who played a key role in securing funding through DST-FIST and facilitating the procurement of sophisticated equipment. The laboratory was assembled and calibrated by PhD researchers Mohammed Ashahar Ahamad, Faisal Ishaq, and Mansoor Ahmed, under the supervision of Dr. Inam.
Designed to support cutting-edge research using advanced quantum light sources such as quantum dots, nanodiamonds, and 2D materials, the lab is expected to catalyze multidisciplinary collaboration in emerging fields including quantum sensing, precision detection and biomedical diagnostics. Future plans include conducting quantum sensing experiments for early-stage cancer and disease detection, positioning AMU at the forefront of impactful translational research.
The inauguration marks AMU’s legacy of scientific excellence and its expanding role in shaping India’s quantum future.
Source : Aligarh Muslim University News