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Scientists are often accused of living in the “Ivory Tower” and not troubling their mind with realities and apart from my association with political movements in my juvenile years, I had lived in the ivory tower up to 1930” – Meghnad Saha
Meghnad Saha was a famous Indian astrophysicist, who revolutionised the way one looks at stars. Meghnad Saha’s thermal ionization theory, also known as Saha’s Ionization Equation, is seen as one of the top ten major discoveries in astronomy and astrophysics since Galileo’s telescope discovery in 1608. His discovery advanced the field of Astrophysics, which explained the conditions of stars. This equation helped astronomers correctly match star types with their real temperatures.
Table of Contents
| Overview of Meghnad Saha | |
| Born | 6th October, 1893 |
| Birth Place | Shaoratoli, Dhaka, Bengal Presidency, British India |
| Father | Jagannath Saha |
| Mother | Bhuvaneshwari Devi |
| University | University of Calcutta |
| Presidency University | |
| Rajabazar Science College | |
| Known for | Thermal ionisation aka Saha ionization equation |
| Awards | Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society of London |
| Fields | Physics, Astrophysics, etc |
| Died | 16th February 1956, New Delhi, India |
Meghnad Saha Biography
Born on 6th October 1893, in undivided India’s Seoratali village in Dhaka district of Bangladesh. His parents were Jagannath Saha and Bhubaneswari Devi, and he came from a low-income family.
Meghnad Saha’s Life and Background
Here is the biography of Meghnad Saha –
| Year | Event |
| Before 1909 | Studied at a collegiate school, suspended with scholarship termination. |
| 1909 | Top scorer in languages and mathematics at Calcutta University. |
| 1911 | Ranked third in ISC exam. |
| After 1911 | Joined University College of Science in Calcutta as a lecturer in Quantum Physics. Collaborated with S. N. Bose on translating German papers on relativity. |
| 1919 | Published groundbreaking research paper on “On Selective Radiation Pressure and its Application”. Developed the “ionisation formula”. |
| 1927 | Conducted research in London and Germany. Elected as a fellow of the Royal Society of London. |
| 1932 | Moved to Allahabad and established Uttar Pradesh Academy of Science. |
| 1938 | Returned to Science College, Calcutta. Developed an interest in Nuclear Physics. |
| 1947 | Founded the Institute of Nuclear Physics (later Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics). |
| 1950 | Established India’s first cyclotron. |
| 1952 | Elected to Parliament as an independent candidate. |
| 1956 | Passed away on February 16 at the age of 71, due to a Heart Attack. |
Also Read – Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay: Biography, Contribution & More
Contributions of Meghnad Saha
| Contribution | Details |
| Physics | Mastery in nuclear physics, spectroscopy, kinetics, and ionosphere. |
| Saha’s Theory of Thermal Ionization | Explains the theory of ‘Ion’, by determining the distances, ingredients and heat intensity of celestial bodies. |
| Other Contributions | New discovery on the specific gravity of light and the Theory of Relativity. |
| Saha-Bose Theory | Collaborated with S.N. Bose on a theory related to gases. |
| Promotion of Science | Advocated for a favourable atmosphere for aspiring scientists. |
| Precursor of modern science in India. | |
| Founders of | President of the Indian Science Congress in 1926. |
| Founder of the Institute of Nuclear Physics. Established several scientific institutions. | |
| Engineering and Planning | Expert knowledge in river valley projects. Architect of the Damodar Valley Project. |
What is Saha’s Theory of Thermal Ionization?
The Saha ionisation equation by Meghnad Saha in 1920 and later by Irving Langmuir in 1923, is an important concept in understanding the spectroscopic conditions of stars. It combines statistical mechanics and quantum physics to explain how atoms at high temperatures can become ionized.
Essentially, it describes how many atoms become ions and electrons in a gas, known as a plasma state. This equation is used to calculate the number of ions at a given temperature, density, and energy level. It works best for weakly ionized plasmas with a large Debye length, where the interaction between ions and electrons is minimal. This means the number of ions and electrons remains constant, leading to a state of equilibrium.
The Saha ionisation equation is particularly useful for calculating the ratio of ionization levels and understanding the equilibrium conditions of chemical potentials.
Also Read – Debendranath Tagore: Life, Contribution & More
Achievements of Meghnad Saha
Here is an achievement of Meghnad Saha –
| Category | Details |
| Field of Expertise | Astronomy |
| Recognition | Honored by the Indian government for his outstanding work in astronomy. |
| Public Service | Appointed chairman of a committee to reform traditional Panchangas (Hindu calendars). |
| Other Achievements | Research on Halley’s Comet, etc |
| Legacy | His work continues to influence astronomical research. |
FAQs
The Saha- ionization equation
This discovery is important for combining quantum mechanics with statistical mechanics.
Applied Mathematics
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