BARRY RAMACHANDRA RAO (21 November 1922 - 24 September 2005)
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BARRY RAMACHANDRA RAO (21 November 1922 - 24 September 2005) Biog. Mem. Fell. INSA, N. Delhi 30 181-196 (2006) BARRY RAMACHANDRA RAO (1922-2005) Elected Fellow 1969 FAMILY BACKGROUND AND EARLY EDUCATION ARRY RAMACHANDRA RAO was born on 21 November 1922, to his father BB Satyanarayana and mother, Subhadramma at Yellamanchili in Visakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh (which was then part of the Madras Presidency). His father was employed at the Port Trust. He had his high-school education upto the Intermediate years at the AVN College High School in Visakhapatnam. He then joined the Andhra University and graduated in 1944 with a B.Sc. (Honours) degree in Physics, securing the first rank in the University. Following this, he qualified for the M.Sc. degree in Physics by research in 1945 from the same University. Subsequently, he registered for the doctorate programme in Physics in the field of ultrasonics, under Professor S Bhagavantam, and submitted his thesis titled "Diffraction of Light by High Frequency Ultrasonic Waves", for which he was awarded the degree of D.Sc. in 1949 by the Andhra University. For his academic brilliance, he was awarded 'Sreepathi' and 'Metcalfe' Medals by the University. PROFESSIONAL CAREER AND SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS After completing his doctoral studies, Dr. Rao worked as Senior Scientist in a CSIR Scheme at the Geology Department of the Andhra University during the years 1948- 50. He visited Australia (1951-52) as a Commonwealth Senior Research Fellow, to work with the renowned Ionosphere scientist Professor DF Martyn, before returning to India to join the faculty of the Physics Department of Andhra University as a Reader in Physics in 1953. Here he initiated research work in the field of Ionosphere and established a strong research group in this area. Along with his students, he made many important contributions to the area of Ionospheric drifts, Spread F and Sporadic E. During 1956, he spent 6 months as a Visiting Fellow under India Wheat Loan Exchange Programme in USA. He was promoted as a Professor of Physics in 1958, a position in which he continued till 1976. In that year, he was appointed as Vice- Chairman of the University Grants Commission, New Delhi, a position which he held till his retirement in 1982. Biographical Memoirs RESEARCH CONTRIBUTIONS Dr. Rao had a brilliant and illustrious academic career, carrying out pioneering research work in ultrasonics. He guided research students not only in ultrasonics, but also in the areas of ionospheric physics (now called Space Science) and electronics. He supervised the research work towards doctoral degree for nearly 40 students. He initiated and motivated research students to build their own apparatus for their research work, thereby promoting an attitude of self-reliance amongst them. As an outcome of this approach to research, a large number of instruments for ionospheric and atmospheric research were developed in his laboratory. A striking example is the development of a high power Doppler Meteor Radar to detect, measure and track individual meteor trails in the atmosphere during day and night. Many of the instruments developed in his laboratory are now being put to effective use in several industries. TEACHING CAREER He was considered a teacher par excellence. The students never missed his lectures which were always so very interesting. The students were also greatly impressed with his analytical ability and scientific integrity. He took classes in Solid State Physics, Nuclear Physics, Electricity and Magnetism, Electronics and Crystallography, both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and taught courses in the History and Philosophy of Sciences. He developed instructional materials, teaching aids as well as demonstration-cum-laboratory apparatus for undergraduate colleges. As Professor of Physics in the Andhra University, Dr. Rao directed summer institutes and training programmes for improving the functional capacities of school and college teachers. He also directed a project on 'Physics Apparatus Workshop', to popularize the concept of earning while learning. Under this project, a large number of scientific apparatus were developed and designed by postgraduate and doctoral students, with the know-how transferred to some industries. He also initiated a number of innovative educational reforms in terms of modern curriculum development, examination reforms like the semester system, internal assessment and new methods of teaching. He also took keen interest in the application of Science and Technology for the development of the country. He worked for the development of small-scale industries, Science Education, adult education programmes and International cooperation in science and technology, particularly among the developing countries. He worked steadfastly for the popularization of Science and Rural Development. Barry Ramachandra Rao SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS Ramachandra Rao's research contributions cover a wide range of topics in the fields of ultrasonics, ionospheric physics and electronics. His research career began initially with his doctoral studies involving original contributions in the field of ultrasonics, under the mentorship of Professor S. Bhagavantam. His early contribution in this field was the development of a theory of diffraction of light by high frequency ultrasonic waves. He also made the first time observation of asymmetry in diffraction by superposed ultrasonic waves, and developed a generalised theory to explain the phenomenon. Over the years, his contributions have included developing new methods of determining ultrasonic wave propagation characteristics, as well as determining physical properties of organic and inorganic substances for ultrasonic waves. References to his contributions in ultrasonics can be found in most standard books on ultrasonics. He built a flourishing school of Radiophysics at Andhra University, and carried out extensive research work in many aspects of ionospheric physics. His work on ionospheric drifts has been recopsed as outstanding. His forays into the field of electronics include sipficant contributions to the theory of alloy junction and drift transistors. He has extended the existing theories to cover a wider range of frequencies by taking into consideration recombination effects in the emitter junction and other parameters which are usually neglected in simple theories. Some of Dr. Rao's important research contributions are: Studies on Diffraction of light upto 400 Mc/s. Theory of diffraction of light by superposed waves. New methods of studying ultrasonic velocity, absorption, etc in liquids. Characteristics of horizontal ionospheric drifts over a sun-spot cycle. New and simple methods of measuring some of the physical parameters of diffusion and drift transistors. Theoretical studies of the performance of diffusion and drift transistors. Professor Ramachandra Rao supervised and guided over 40 candidates who have obtained doctorate degrees. The details are as under: 1957 SRI RAMA RAO N Studies on Ionospheric Winds SATYANARAYANA MURTY D Studies on Radio Fading Horizo Ionospheric Drifts Biographical Memoirs SUBBA RAO K Ultrasonic Studies in Solid and Liquid Media by New Methods SATYANARAYANA MURTY J Diffraction of Light by Ultrasonic Waves 1959 BHAGIRATHA RAO E Drifts and Traveling Disturbances in Ionosphere - RAMA RAO HS Ultrasonic Studies in Liquid Media 1960 RAGHAVA RAO Studies on Ionospheric Drift in E Region GOPALA RAO MSV Studies on Spread F at Waltair 1961 PADMINI PRKL Ultrasonic studies in Liquid State RAMANA KVV Studies on Ionospheric Absorption and Horizontal Drifts 1962 SESHAGIRI RAO MG Studies on Ultrasonic Properties of Liquid Solutions ABHIRAMA REDDY C Studies on Polarisation of Downcoming Radio Waves at Waltair KRISHNA MURTY BV Studies on Spread F in the Ionosphere over Waltair BALARAMA RAO P Studies on Drift and Anisotropy of Ionospheric Irregularities RAMANA MURTHY YV Ionospheric Absorption of Short Radiowaves SANYASI RAO A Studies on Horizontal Drift in Ionosphere MUKUNDA RAO M Studies on Sporadic-E and F2 Layers on the Ionosphere SIVARAM BM Studies on Ionospheric Drifts KRISHNAMURTHY C Ultrasonic Absorption in Solutions for Cuprous Lanthanum and Zinc Acetates SITARAMASWAMY P Ultrasonic Studies in Liquid Mixtures VEERAYYA T Ultrasonic Studies in Molten Electrolytes NARAYANA RAO GL Studies on Horizontal Drift and Winter Anomalous Absorption in the Ionosphere JAGATKUMAR V Studies on the phenomenon of Spread F in Ionosphere PS KESAVA RAO Studies on horizontal drifts and fading of radiowaves in the ionosphere at WaItair A SUGUNA MOHANA RAO Studies on short wave ionospheric absorption GR MOHANA RAO GR Physical parameters of alloy junction transisto Barry Ramachandra Rao 187 1969 C JOGULU C Studies on Horizontal drifts and anixotrophy parameters of irregularities in ionosphere - IQBAL AHMAD Studies on Cosmic noise absorption 1970 C RAGHAVA REDDY Studies on ionospheric movement at Waltair using phase path techniques SP MANOHAR RAO Studies on Sporadic-E J SRIRAMA MURTHY Studies of ultrasonic absorption & relaxation in liquid salts 1971 PT SANYASI RAJU Studies on Spread-F irregularities and F2 region anomaly - J HANUMANT SASTRY Studies on drift and anisotrophy of ionospheric irregularities at Waltair 1975 B SURYANARAYANA MURTHY Studies on small scale irregularities and travelling wave disturbance in ionosphere - TSN SOMAYAJI Spaced receiver methods for ionospheric salts 1981 S PATANJALI SASTRY Studies on the nature of ionospheric motions RAMA CHANDRASEKHAR Studies