India, France to collaborate in research on particle physics

Plans afoot to launch 'laboratory without walls'

India and France will soon launch an International Associated Laboratory (laboratory without walls) to collaborate in research on “theoretical high energy physics.”

Under the proposed International Associated Laboratory project, the particle physicists will join hands to unravel mysteries of nature like dark matter, the dominance of matter over anti-matter and the like. They will work together to advance understanding of new physics beyond the standard model, Higgs Boson and the dark matter.

The project hopes to bring together a network of laboratories, human and material resources of both the nations for jointly-planned research programme. 

Dr Rohini Godbole, a professor of High Energy Physics at IISc and one of the coordinators of the proposed laboratory, said, “This important step in Indo-French collaborative effort is based on 20 years of scientific collaboration at different levels among Indian and French particle physicists. The conference has set the ball rolling for the International Associated Laboratory and also for the high impact CEFIPRA research network between
the Indian and French Laboratories.”

Dr Jenifer Clark, Scientific Attaché based at the French Consulate in Bengaluru, said, “We are very proud to have a strong and sustained collaboration with IISc. Indeed, IISc is France’s first scientific partner in India. Similarly, France is also IISc’s top collaborating country with regard to joint grants. I hope this new International Associated Laboratory acts as a catalyst for more mutually beneficial long-standing research cooperation between France and India.”

“The International Associated Laboratory provides an exciting platform for young students for in-depth training and obtaining expertise from world-class investigators in state-of-the-art laboratories,” said Dr Srini Kaveri, the director of CNRS in India.

Indian institutions in IAL

Four institutions in India will participate with France under the International Associated Laboratory (IAL): Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru (Indian coordinator); Harish-Chandra Research Institute (HRI), Allahabad; Department of Theoretical Physics (DTP), TIFR, Mumbai, and Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (SINP), Kolkata.