National Science Day is celebrated to honour the contributions of scientists to the nation's progress and to inspire future generations. Observed every year on February 28, this day marks the significant discovery made by physicist Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman (CV Raman) in 1928, which led to the development of the 'Raman Effect' in the field of spectroscopy. For this groundbreaking discovery, CV Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930. Let’s explore what the 'Raman Effect' is all about.

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Raman Effect

The 'Raman Effect' refers to the scattering of light, also known as Raman scattering, which involves a change in the wavelength of light. Simply put, when a ray of light passes through a transparent sample of a chemical compound, the light undergoes a deflection. As a result, the wavelength of a small portion of the light changes, differing from the wavelength of the original light ray. This phenomenon is what we call the Raman Effect.

Nobel Prize for the 'Raman Effect'

For his groundbreaking discovery of the 'Raman Effect,' scientist CV Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930. He became the first person from Asia to receive this prestigious honour. In recognition of his exceptional contributions to science, the Government of India conferred upon him the 'Bharat Ratna' in 1954.

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CV Raman's Discovery

In addition to the Raman Effect, CV Raman, along with Suri Bhagavantam, made another significant discovery in 1932, the quantum photon spin. This discovery further reinforced the quantum nature of light. Raman was not only a pioneer in the study of light but also made notable contributions to acoustics. He was the first scientist to explore the harmonic nature of Indian musical instruments, such as the tabla and mridangam.