From Editor’s Desk
Greetings and a warm welcome to the first issue of ISAJ Newsletter in 2025! Our apologies for the delay.
In this issue, we bring you a new feature “From Counsellor’s Desk,” in which Dr. Yashawant Dev Panwar, Counsellor (S&T), Embassy of India in Tokyo, briefs us on important developments in the field of science and education between India and Japan. We present you with two research articles, as well as an event report and a photo gallery on the ISAJ Hokkaido Symposium 2024 held in December of the last year.
In the Counsellor’s Desk, Dr. Yashawant Dev Panwar updates us on recently forged partnerships between Indian and Japanese institutions, this being the India–Japan Year of Science, Technology & Innovation Exchange (2025–26). The Research Spotlight is on novel nonlinear optical phenomena in quantum materials. The Research Highlight is on a Ni superalloy Inconel 718 used in jet engines.
In a first, the Hokkaido Chapter organized ISAJ Hokkaido 2024 symposium on December 13, 2024, in the Hokkaido University Sapporo campus. ISAJ again reached a milestone with this symposium. This was a first regional symposium of ISAJ. With rapidly increasing graduate students and young scientists from India, each region can have a one day symposium each year.
From Counsellor’s Desk: India–Japan Year of Science, Technology & Innovation Exchange (2025–26)
By Dr. Yashawant Dev Panwar, Counsellor (S&T), Embassy of India, Tokyo
India, under the transformative vision of Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji during the Amrit Kaal, is taking a major leap toward becoming a developed nation—Viksit Bharat—by 2047. Science, technology, and innovation (STI) have been accorded top priority in recent policy initiatives.
Landmark steps include:
- Rs 1 lakh crore (1 trillion) allocated to Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)
- Launch of BioE3 Policy
- Initiatives in quantum, AI and cyber physical systems
In this context, the India–Japan partnership holds special significance, as the two nations enjoy a “Special Strategic and Global Partnership.” Following the success of the past two years designated as the India–Japan Years of Tourism under the theme #ConnectingHimalayaswithMountFuji, the partnership is now expanding to new frontiers—from the deep ocean to outer space, and even a joint lunar mission.
Launch of the India–Japan STI Exchange Year
On January 19, 2025, H.E. Dr. S. Jaishankar (External Affairs Minister of India) and H.E. Takeshi Iwaya (Foreign Minister of Japan) jointly announced the designation of 2025–26 as the India–Japan Year of Science, Technology and Innovation Exchange. This commemorates the 40th anniversary of the first MoU between India and Japan on S&T cooperation, signed in 1985.
The curtain-raiser event saw participation of:
- H.E. Dr. Jitendra Singh (Minister of State S&T, India)
- H.E. Mr. Sibi George (Ambassador of India to Japan)
- H.E. Mr. Kiuchi Minoru (Minister of State for S&T Policy, Japan)
- H.E. Ms. Toshiko Abe (Minister, MEXT, Japan)
- 170+ delegates including ministry officials and institution presidents
A historic moment was the unveiling of a bust of Nobel Laureate Sir C. V. Raman at Shimane University, highlighting the mutual respect both countries hold for scientific pioneers.
Ongoing and Emerging Collaborations
Continuing Initiatives:
- Indian Beamline at KEK
- LUPEX space collaboration
- DST–JSPS and ICSSR–JSPS research programs
- DST–JST Joint Labs
New Collaborative Avenues:
- DST–ICMR and Japan’s AMED health sciences partnerships
- IIT Bombay-Tohoku University Joint Institute of Excellence (JIE)
- IIT Hyderabad-Shimane University Joint Research Centre
Japanese Programs for Indian Researchers:
- JST’s LOTUS Program: Hosting 300 Indian researchers for up to one year
- SAKURA Science Program
- NIMS, AIST, RIKEN, JAMSTEC postdoctoral opportunities
Indian Reciprocal Programs:
- DST and Ministry of Education inviting Japanese students for S&T ecosystem exposure visits
Call for Action
As members of the scientific communities in India and Japan, we all have a vital role to play in operationalizing these ambitious efforts. By connecting researchers, catalyzing innovation, and fostering co-creation, we can ensure that this landmark year delivers lasting, measurable impact.
Let us collectively commit to making the India–Japan Year of Science, Technology and Innovation Exchange truly historic, with both planning and action.
Research Spotlight: Exploring Nonlinear Optical Phenomena in Quantum Materials
By Dr. Babu Baijnath Prasad, ISSP, University of Tokyo
Introduction
Quantum materials are substances that exhibit unusual phenomena such as:
- Superconductivity (flowing electricity without resistance)
- Topological phases (conducting electricity only on surfaces/edges)
- Strong electron correlations (novel effects from electron interactions)
When exposed to intense light, these materials generate electric polarization (P) or current (J = dP/dt) that becomes nonlinear—depending on the electric field in complex ways (E², E³, etc.).
Second-Order Nonlinear Effects
My research focuses on two key phenomena at the lowest nonlinear order (E²):
Second Harmonic Generation (SHG): Material emits light at twice the frequency of incoming light
Bulk Photovoltaic Effect (BPVE): Light generates electric current without p-n junction, unlike conventional solar cells
These effects are sensitive to quantum geometry—how electrons are arranged and their wave-like behavior in materials. This “quantum geometry” includes subtle features like how electronic states twist and spread out, which influence material behavior.
Methodology
I employ first-principles simulations based on density functional theory (DFT) using:
Bloch Functions: Describe periodic electron behavior in crystals
- ψₙₖ(r) = exp(ik·r)uₙₖ(r)
- Global picture of electron behavior
Wannier Functions: Localized functions for specific regions
- wₙ(r-R) = (V/2π³)∫ exp(-ik·R)ψₙₖ(r)d³k
- Reduced computational cost through localization
- Efficient interpolation of electronic properties
BiFeO₃ Case Study
Applied to bismuth ferrite (BiFeO₃), a ferroelectric material with magnetic properties:
Key Findings:
- Magnetism strongly affects nonlinear optical properties
- SHG signal significantly increases and controllable by magnetization direction
- Strong BPVE demonstrated
- Magnetism-induced effects enable detection of internal spin order changes
Applications:
- Highly efficient solar cells
- New types of light-based electronics
- Multiferroic photovoltaics
- Spintronics devices
Future Directions
Nonlinear optical phenomena offer rich opportunities for:
- Faster optical communication systems
- More efficient solar energy technologies through BPVE
- Enhanced imaging techniques in medicine and materials science
By combining first-principles calculations, Wannier interpolation, and quantum geometric analysis, we aim to advance technologies that can transform energy, communication, and sensing industries.
Research Highlight: Life of Inconel 718 Under Cyclic Loading - Experiments and Modelling
By Mohit M. Ludhwani, NIMS/IIT Madras
Introduction
Superalloys are high-temperature materials widely employed in aerospace, oil and gas, chemical, and nuclear industries due to exceptional mechanical strength and superior resistance to oxidation and corrosion.
Inconel 718 (IN718): A nickel-based superalloy used in:
- Jet engine compressor discs
- Turbine blades
- Shafts
Microstructure and Properties
IN718’s excellent high-temperature properties come from complex microstructure:
- γ phase matrix: Face-centered cubic (FCC) crystal
- γ″ precipitates (Ni₃Nb): Disk-shaped, 20-30 nm diameter, 15-20% volume fraction
- γ′ precipitates (Ni₃(Al,Ti)): Spherical strengthening phase
- Additional phases: δ phase, carbides, Laves phase
Fatigue Behavior
During service, jet engine components experience cyclic loading from startup/shutdown cycles. IN718 exhibits:
- Bauschinger effect: Yield stress decrease upon load reversal
- Initial cyclic hardening followed by gradual cyclic softening until failure
Cyclic softening attributed to γ″ precipitate shearing by dislocation movement, resulting in loss of strengthening ability.
Crystal Plasticity Modeling
To overcome limitations of empirical models, crystal plasticity framework employed:
Hutchinson-type equation:
γ̇ᵅ = γ̇₀|τᵅ - χᵅ/gᵅ|ⁿ sgn(τᵅ - χᵅ)
Critical Resolved Shear Stress (CRSS):
gᵅ = gᵅₛₛ + gᵅₕₚ + gᵅᵨ + gᵅₚₚₜ
Where contributions from:
- Solid solution strengthening (gᵅₛₛ)
- Hall-Petch grain size effects (gᵅₕₚ)
- Dislocation density (gᵅᵨ)
- Precipitates (gᵅₚₚₜ)
Representative Volume Element (RVE)
- Small, statistically representative microstructure section
- Generated using DREAM3D with EBSD data
- Each grain assigned crystallographic orientation
- Follows crystal plasticity constitutive laws
Results
Low-cycle fatigue tests performed on IN718:
- Parameters calibrated from 1.6% strain amplitude first cycle
- Model successfully predicts response at 1% and 2% amplitudes
- Good agreement between experimental and simulated hysteresis loops
- Accurate prediction of cyclic softening evolution
Future Work
- Incorporate evolving dislocation-precipitate interactions
- Extend framework to high-temperature applications
- Account for changes in dislocation activity and precipitate stability
- Better understand IN718 performance under realistic service conditions
Event Report: ISAJ Hokkaido Symposium 2024
The Hokkaido Chapter of ISAJ organized ISAJ Hokkaido 2024 Symposium on December 13, 2024, at CRIS Building, Hokkaido University Sapporo campus.
Theme and Organization
Theme: “Collaborative Solutions for a Sustainable World”
Conveners:
- Dr. Amrutha A.S.
- Dr. Shivakumar K.I.
- Dr. Ravindra Raut
Support: Hokkaido University, Research Institute of Electronic Science (RIES), Institute for Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery (ICReDD)
Opening Session
Distinguished speakers included:
- Dr. Aya Takahashi (Vice President, Hokkaido University)
- Dr. Yashawant Dev Panwar (Embassy of India, Tokyo)
- Prof. Kuniharu Ijiro (Director, RIES)
- Dr. Sunil Kaul (ISAJ Chairman)
- Dr. Alok Singh (Vice Chairman, ISAJ)
Scientific Program
- 3 Plenary Lectures
- 3 Invited Talks
- 4 Talks by Young Researchers
- 5 General Oral Presentations
- 24 Poster Presentations
Topics Covered:
- Mechanochemistry (Prof. Hajime Ito)
- High-Energy Physics (Dr. Arindam Das)
- Advanced Materials & Catalysis (Prof. Shin-ichiro Noro, Dr. Nobuya Tsuji)
- Nanomaterials & Computational Chemistry (Prof. Vasudevan Biju, Dr. Pinku Nath, Dr. Kiyonori Takahashi)
Awards
Best Poster Awards:
- Jayaprakash Jayashankar: “Wakame-Based Bioactive Compounds as Anti-Obesity Agents”
- Priya Saha: “Defluorinative Cross Couplings by Copper Photoredox Catalysis”
- Satoshi Matsutani: “Conformational Sampling Method for Transition State Structures”
- Aneesha S.L.: “Interaction Between Phenolic Acids and Bovine Hemoglobin”
Best Oral Presentation Awards:
- Nazmul Shaikh: “Co single site atom doped ZrO₂ for selective CO₂ conversion”
- Aravind Kandaswamy: “Shortwave-infrared cyanine fluorescent probes for deep tissue imaging”
Impact
This symposium, held shortly after ISAJ’s 15th Annual Symposium, highlights the rapidly growing community of Indian researchers in every region of Japan. With continued support from Hokkaido University and the Indian diplomatic mission, the event affirmed the mutual vision of nurturing sustainable science through collaboration.
Announcement: ISAJ 16th Annual Symposium 2025
Dates: November 28-29, 2025
Location: Shizuoka City
Watch for announcements on the website and mailing list at https://isaj.jp
