Ishfaq Ahmad
Encyclopedia
Ishfaq Ahmad D.Sc.
, Minister of State
, SI
, HI
, NI, FPAS, (born 3 November, 1930) is a Pakistani nuclear physicist, and well-known educationist and academic from Pakistan. A versatile theoretical physicist, Ahmad made significant contributions in nuclear, particle and quantum electrodynamics
, Ahmad played an important role in establishing research institute
s in Nuclear sciences in Pakistan. During 1970s, Ahmad was the head of the Nuclear Physics Division at the secret Pinstech Institute
which developed the first designs of atomic bombs. There, he played an influential role in leading the physics calculations in the critical mass
of the weapons, and did theoretical work on the implosion method used in the weapons.
Prior to 1960s, he also led the Reactor technology government projects in different countries
, and served as lead project coordinator on behalf of International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA).
He is currently Science adviser to the Prime minister
on Strategic
and Scientific programs, with the status of Federal Minister
. A scientist and physicist
by profession, Ahmad was the chairman of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
(PAEC) from 1991–2001 when he replaced his lifelong friend Munir Ahmad Khan
as chairman in 1991.
One of the top and leading scientist of Pakistan, Ahmad played an important, pioneering, and a central figurative role in both Nuclear weapons research program and the Nuclear power generation program
. Having headed the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
(PAEC), Ahmad rose to international fame in May of 1998 when he headed PAEC as a chairman while conducted the country's successful nuclear tests
in Balochistan Province.
, Punjab
British India. After the Indian Partition
, Ahmad and the majority of his family migrated to Lahore
, West-Pakistan
. Motivated and passionate
to study Physics, Ahmad attended Punjab University
where he received his B.Sc.
in Physics
in 1949, followed M.Sc.
in Physics in 1951. His master thesis were entitled, "Nuclear Energy and its Physics" from the same institution. He was also awarded Honours diploma
with his Master's degree in science
. His Undergraduate
and Postgraduate education
was supervised
by renowned nuclear physicist dr. Tahir Hussain
. On his mentor's advise, Ahmad traveled to Canada
to attend world's prestigious university known for its nuclear technology research.
In 1954, he went to Quebec
, Canada
under a Columbo Plan Fellowship
program to pursue graduate studies in Nuclear physics at the Université de Montréal
. He did a two year long course in Particle physics
under the supervision of dr. John Cockcroft
in 1957. In 1959, he was awarded a D.Sc.
in Nuclear Physics
where his doctoral dissertation dealt with on "The Atom bombardment in Nuclear fission
and Pseudo-vector meson
's physics". His thesis were written on fluent French
and English language, and reluctantly returned to Pakistan under the terms of Colombo Plan contract.
During his doctoral studies, Ahmad joined the Montreal Laboratory
and served there as lead senior scientist. At the laboratory, he gained expertise, under the supervision of numerous scientists who previously had work on Manhattan Project
, to the fields of Thermonuclear fission
, Thermonuclear fusion technology
, Reactor Technology and Physics
. Upon his return to Pakistan, he joined the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
(PAEC) as a senior scientist.
. The same year, he joined Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
as a senior scientific officer
. He kept his position till 1966. In 1961, he went to Copenhagen
, Denmark
, where he become a visiting post-doctorals fellow at the Niels Bohr Institute for Theoretical Physics. In 1962, Ahmad joined European Organization for Nuclear Research or CERN
as both a post-doctoral fellow and nuclear physicist. As a senior research scientist at the CERN, Ahmad extensively carried out his research at Compact Muon Solenoid
(CMS). Ahmad led the designing of ISC
and Synchrocyclotron
collider during his stay in CERN. From 1963–1964, Ahmad traveled to Canada
and joined his Alma mater, Université de Montréal
and University of Ottawa
as a post doctoral research fellow. There, he began to carried out his research in the field of nuclear physics at the Montreal Laboratory
. Prior to 1960s, he also performed experiments at Risø DTU National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy
of Denmark
and the Meuse/Haute Marne Underground Research Laboratory
of France
.
. However, on the Abdus Salam
's request, he came back to Pakistan where he was as appointed a director of Pakistan Atomic Energy Center (PAEC-L) Lahore. In Lahore, Ahmad carried out his work in the theory of proton decay
under Abdus Salam. Ahmad applied the Path integral formulation
to analyzed the hypothetical smaller decay emitted by the protons. Ahmad introduced the Chiral anomaly
to calculate the pion decays in his work. Under Salam, Ahmad also pioneered in theory of beta decay
where he successfully converted the proton, via weak force, into neutron
. Ahmad presented his work to Abdus Salam, for which, he impressed Salam about his discovery. Ahmad later contributed in P-P chain reaction, and built the first Ion track along with Naeem Ahmad Khan and Noor Muhammad Butt.
In 1971, with the support of Abdus Salam, Ahmad was appointed as a director of Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology
(PINSTECH). He served as director of the institution till 1976. Ahmad eye-witnessed the Indo-Pak War of 1971 and was one of the scientist who attended the Multan meeing in 1972. Fearing, since India
also tested its nuclear device in 1974, the Indian nukes will be a major threat to his country. Ishfaq Ahmad led the group of reputed nuclear physicists and chemist
s who discovered the sustainable process of nuclear chain reaction
for the Pakistan's atomic weapon. Under Chairman of PAEC, Munir Ahmad Khan
, Ishfaq Ahmad, along with the noted nuclear physicists, began to work on a nuclear device. He was made director-general
of the "Nuclear Physics Division (NPD)" which was mandated to calculate the Critical mass
of the 235U
and the multiplications of nuclear fission
in an exploding of an atomic weapon. In 1976, the "Nuclear Physics Group" under the leadership of Ishfaq Ahmad, successfully produced the 10 kilograms of Yellowcake
at the "PINSTECH's New Labs". The NPG also enriched the isotopes 235U
and successfully made the UF
6. The NPG at the PINSTECH's Laboratories, produced the 239Pu
, the weapon grade plutonium at the PINSTECH Atomic Research Reactors
in 1983 which was later tested with the nuclear device.
At Pinstech Laboratory, Ahmad produces the first Photographic plate
to identify the fissle latter in natural uranium when it is explored.However due to its classified research, the knowledge of such detector is completely classified. The NPD developed the Thermoluminescent Dosimeter
to measure the detection of alpha particles emitted in the decay of radon and thoron gases. Ahmad collaborating with Hameed Ahmad Khan —director of Radiation Physics Division — in the development of CR-39
, a type of particle detector. Ahmad is renowned for his research and contribution to the theory of nuclear emulsion. Ahmad spent his career studying and pioneering the work in the field nuclear emulsion
s. At Pinstech Laboratory, Ahmad developed a classified nuclear emulsion that provided information about the mass, charge and velocity of the particles producing the track.
As a scientist, he was heavily involved with the magnetic rings that were installed with the oscillators that triggered the nuclear fission
reflectors
in the atomic bomb. He played a crucial role in a Ionizing radiation
and DU
(oxide
, metal and uranium hexafluoride
(or UF
6) gas production complex at Dera Ghazi Khan, which provides the crucial feedstock for uranium enrichment at Kahuta; and other classified projects of PAEC. As chairman of PAEC, he saw the culmination of the nuclear weapons programme, begun under Munir Ahmad Khan
, from "covert to overt" status at the time of the Chaghi tests in 1998.
When PAEC under Munir Ahmad Khan
conducted the first cold test
of nuclear weapon design, using His Majesty Explosives (HMX), on 11 March 1983, Ishfaq Ahmad led the team of scientists and engineers at the test site. The cold test of a nuclear device, codename Kirana-I, was witnessed by the PAEC
Chairman Mr. Munir Ahmad Khan
and other senior civilian
and military
officials. Furthermore, Ahmad and his team of physicists, under the leadership of Munir Ahmad Khan
continued cold testing different models of nuclear weapons from 1983 to 1993. In 1998, Ahmad was the head of a team of nuclear physicists at Kharan desert
and Chagai Hills
, where he set up a nuclear physics
and nuclear implosion device research labs.
In 1991, Ahmad was named as Chairman of PAEC, after he replaced his lifelong friend Munir Ahmad Khan
. Ahmad supervised the second commercial nuclear power plant, CHASNUPP-I, built with assistance with People's Republic of China
. However, Ahmad came to international prominence when he headed PAEC to conduct country's nuclear tests, codename Chagai-I
and Chagai-II, in May of 1998. By the time India tested its nuclear devices under a codename Pokhran-II
, Ahmad was visiting at Montreal Laboratory
with fellow other nuclear physicists. Following the Indian tests, Ahmad left Canada
and immediately returned to Pakistan where he took participation in nuclear tests.
After an immediate return, Ahmad received a call from Pakistan Army Combatant General Headquarters (GHQ) to report to Prime Minister Secretariat. Ahmad attended several meeting with Prime Minister of Pakistan
, Nawaz Sharif
where he briefed Prime minister on the status and capability of Pakistan's nuclear weapon test. After Ahmad's briefing, the Prime minister gave verbal authorization to PAEC order to conduct the Pakistan's first known nuclear tests at the Ras Koh Hills of the Chagai Hills District
on May 28th. This operation was named Chagai-I
, and fission weapons were evidently made from the HEU, came from the KRL. On May 30th, the PAEC scientists eye-witnessed another test, codename Chagai-II at Kharan Desert, and it was reported to be a fission made from weapon grade plutonium. The total yield
was reported to be 40kt of nuclear force
released by the nuclear weapons at the Ras Koh Hills.
to the United Nation to the Board of Governors
of International Atomic Energy Agency and the General Conference of the United Nations.
(late), visited People's Republic of China
where PAEC reached a civil nuclear technology agreement with China. Later, he, along with his fellow Chinese nuclear scientists, helped Pakistan and China to form a joint-nuclear company which is known as Sino-Pak Nuclear Technology Consortium
and IAEA in which IAEA allowed Pakistan to construct and build its nuclear power plant for civil purposes.
in Engineering
by the Punjab University of Engineering and Technology
. In the same year, he was elected a Fellow of the International Nuclear Energy Academy
. He is the recipient of the three highest official awards in Pakistan namely Sitara-i-Imtiaz
, the Hilal-i-Imtiaz
and the Nishan-i-Imitiaz, the last of which was awarded to him in 1998. Dr. Ishfaq Ahmed is consider one of the prominent nuclear physicist in Pakistan.
as a PAEC chairman. Since then Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad struggled to reach a contract between CERN and PAEC. In 1997, Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad headed PAEC to reach a contract between PAEC and CERN after elaborate discussions an in-kind contribution worth one million Swiss francs for the construction of eight magnet supports for the CMS
detector. In 1998, Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad, as PAEC chairman, reached another contract with CERN. The signing of the agreement was followed by the Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad and dr. Christopher Llewellyn Smith's visit to Pakistan in 1998. The agreement provided an entry point for Pakistani scientists and engineers into the CMS collaboration.
In 2000, dr. Ishfaq Ahmad reached another agreement between PAEC and CERN during the official visit of Luciano Maiani
to Pakistan
. This new agreement covered the construction of the resistive plate chambers required for the CMS muon
system. Recently, a protocol has been signed enhancing Pakistan's total contribution to the LHC
programme to $10 million. In Press Conference with Luciano Maiani
, Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad said "I very much hope and wish that these developments may eventually lead to Pakistan becoming an observer state at CERN".
; scientific manpower training, establishment of Research and development
facilities, indigenous production of nuclear materials, peaceful uses of nuclear technology as well as classified applications of nuclear technology. Ahmad has been an administrative presidential figure and encouraged physics and mathematics talent test programmes in Pakistan leading to participation in Physics Olympiad. Since 2001, Ahmad is currently serving as emeritus professor of nuclear
and particle physics
as well as teaching advanced courses in Nuclear engineering
. In 2004, Ahmad joined Physics Department of Quaid-e-Azam University and taught advanced courses on Particle physics. He continued his research at Institute of Physics of Qau and, since 2001, Ahmad has been instrumental for the establishment of the National Center for Nuclear Physics (NCP) at Quaid-e-Azam University and has served as chair of its board of governors.
is developing cooperation with the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), an environmental and mathematical research institute
based on Laxenburg
. He is serving as a Council Member of IIASA which specialization in mathematical modeling and simulation. Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad has been a great advocate for the strengthening of mathematics
in the universities and research organizations.
is being undertaken in Pakistan. GCISC serves as the Secretariat of the Prime Minister
’s Committee on Climate Change. After the 2005 Kashmir earthquake
, the Government has decided to establish a Center for Earthquake studies in Islamabad, under the technical direction of Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad.
He is also the recipient of:
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
, Minister of State
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
, SI
Sitara-i-Imtiaz
The Sitara-i-Imtiaz , is the third highest honour and civilian award in the State of Pakistan. It recognizes the individuals who made an "especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of Pakistan, world peace, cultural or other significant public endeavors"...
, HI
Hilal-i-Imtiaz
The Hilal-i-Imtiaz, English: Crescent of Excellence, Urdu: هلال ا متيا ز , is the second highest civilian award and honor given to both civilians and military officers of the State of Pakistan|Pakistan armed forces by the Government of Pakistan...
, NI, FPAS, (born 3 November, 1930) is a Pakistani nuclear physicist, and well-known educationist and academic from Pakistan. A versatile theoretical physicist, Ahmad made significant contributions in nuclear, particle and quantum electrodynamics
Quantum electrodynamics
Quantum electrodynamics is the relativistic quantum field theory of electrodynamics. In essence, it describes how light and matter interact and is the first theory where full agreement between quantum mechanics and special relativity is achieved...
, Ahmad played an important role in establishing research institute
Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences
The Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences , formerly known as the Center for Nuclear Studies , is a public and co-educational research university located in the Islamabad Capital Territory, near the remote town of Nilore. It was established by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission...
s in Nuclear sciences in Pakistan. During 1970s, Ahmad was the head of the Nuclear Physics Division at the secret Pinstech Institute
Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology
The Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, or commonly known as "PINSTECH", is a multi-program science and technology national research institute managed by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission. The PINSTECH offers a post-graduate and post-doctoral research in the field of nuclear...
which developed the first designs of atomic bombs. There, he played an influential role in leading the physics calculations in the critical mass
Critical mass
A critical mass is the smallest amount of fissile material needed for a sustained nuclear chain reaction. The critical mass of a fissionable material depends upon its nuclear properties A critical mass is the smallest amount of fissile material needed for a sustained nuclear chain reaction. The...
of the weapons, and did theoretical work on the implosion method used in the weapons.
Prior to 1960s, he also led the Reactor technology government projects in different countries
IAEA Areas
The Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency defines eight areas from which candidate governments for election to the IAEA Board of Governors are chosen...
, and served as lead project coordinator on behalf of International Atomic Energy Agency
International Atomic Energy Agency
The International Atomic Energy Agency is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. The IAEA was established as an autonomous organization on 29 July 1957...
(IAEA).
He is currently Science adviser to the Prime minister
Prime Minister of Pakistan
The Prime Minister of Pakistan , is the Head of Government of Pakistan who is designated to exercise as the country's Chief Executive. By the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan has the parliamentary democratic system of government...
on Strategic
Pakistan and weapons of mass destruction
Pakistan began focusing on nuclear weapons development in January 1972 under the leadership of Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who delegated the program to the Chairman of PAEC Munir Ahmad Khan...
and Scientific programs, with the status of Federal Minister
Cabinet of Pakistan
The Cabinet of Pakistan is headed by Prime Minister and plays an important role in the Government of Pakistan, in accordance with the Westminster System....
. A scientist and physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
by profession, Ahmad was the chairman of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, , is an administrative governmental and autonomous science and technology governmental department of Pakistan, responsible for development of nuclear energy and development of nuclear power sector in Pakistan...
(PAEC) from 1991–2001 when he replaced his lifelong friend Munir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan , HI, was a Pakistani nuclear engineer and a scientist who served as the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission from 1972 to 1991...
as chairman in 1991.
One of the top and leading scientist of Pakistan, Ahmad played an important, pioneering, and a central figurative role in both Nuclear weapons research program and the Nuclear power generation program
Nuclear power in Pakistan
As of 2009, nuclear power in Pakistan is provided by 3 licensed-commercial nuclear power plants. Pakistan is the first Muslim country in the world to construct and operate civil nuclear power plants. The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission , the scientific and nuclear governmental agency, is solely...
. Having headed the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, , is an administrative governmental and autonomous science and technology governmental department of Pakistan, responsible for development of nuclear energy and development of nuclear power sector in Pakistan...
(PAEC), Ahmad rose to international fame in May of 1998 when he headed PAEC as a chairman while conducted the country's successful nuclear tests
Chagai-I
The Chagai-I was a codename referring to the five underground nuclear tests conducted by Pakistan at 15:15hrs in 28th May of 1998. It was named Chagai-I, as the tests were conducted in the Chagai District...
in Balochistan Province.
Education
Ahmad received his early education from GurdaspurGurdaspur
Gurdaspur is a city in the state of Punjab, situated in the northwest part of the Republic of India. It is located in the center of and is the administrative head of Gurdaspur District. It was the location of a fort which was famous for the siege it sustained in 1712 from the Mughals...
, Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
British India. After the Indian Partition
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
, Ahmad and the majority of his family migrated to Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, West-Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. Motivated and passionate
Passion (emotion)
Passion is a term applied to a very strong feeling about a person or thing. Passion is an intense emotion compelling feeling, enthusiasm, or desire for something....
to study Physics, Ahmad attended Punjab University
University of the Punjab
University of the Punjab , colloquially known as Punjab University, is located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The University of the Punjab is the oldest and biggest University of Pakistan. The University of the Punjab was formally established with the convening of the first meeting of its...
where he received his B.Sc.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
in 1949, followed M.Sc.
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in Physics in 1951. His master thesis were entitled, "Nuclear Energy and its Physics" from the same institution. He was also awarded Honours diploma
Honors student
An honors student is a person recognized for achieving high grades or high marks in their course work.Honors students may refer to# Students recognized for their academic achievement on lists published periodically throughout the school year, known as honor rolls, varying from school to school, and...
with his Master's degree in science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
. His Undergraduate
Undergraduate education
Undergraduate education is an education level taken prior to gaining a first degree . Hence, in many subjects in many educational systems, undergraduate education is post-secondary education up to the level of a bachelor's degree, such as in the United States, where a university entry level is...
and Postgraduate education
Postgraduate education
Postgraduate education involves learning and studying for degrees or other qualifications for which a first or Bachelor's degree generally is required, and is normally considered to be part of higher education...
was supervised
Supervisor
A supervisor, foreperson, team leader, overseer, cell coach, facilitator, or area coordinator is a manager in a position of trust in business...
by renowned nuclear physicist dr. Tahir Hussain
Tahir Hussain (physicist)
Dr. Prof. Tahir Hussain was a Pakistani nuclear physicist and a emeritus professor of nuclear physics at the Government College University whose research was engaged in Long-lived fission product and Electrostatic nuclear accelerators...
. On his mentor's advise, Ahmad traveled to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to attend world's prestigious university known for its nuclear technology research.
In 1954, he went to Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
under a Columbo Plan Fellowship
Colombo Plan
The Colombo Plan is a regional organization that embodies the concept of collective inter-governmental effort to strengthen economic and social development of member countries in the Asia-Pacific Region...
program to pursue graduate studies in Nuclear physics at the Université de Montréal
Université de Montréal
The Université de Montréal is a public francophone research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It comprises thirteen faculties, more than sixty departments and two affiliated schools: the École Polytechnique and HEC Montréal...
. He did a two year long course in Particle physics
Particle physics
Particle physics is a branch of physics that studies the existence and interactions of particles that are the constituents of what is usually referred to as matter or radiation. In current understanding, particles are excitations of quantum fields and interact following their dynamics...
under the supervision of dr. John Cockcroft
John Cockcroft
Sir John Douglas Cockcroft OM KCB CBE FRS was a British physicist. He shared the Nobel Prize in Physics for splitting the atomic nucleus with Ernest Walton, and was instrumental in the development of nuclear power....
in 1957. In 1959, he was awarded a D.Sc.
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
in Nuclear Physics
Nuclear physics
Nuclear physics is the field of physics that studies the building blocks and interactions of atomic nuclei. The most commonly known applications of nuclear physics are nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons technology, but the research has provided application in many fields, including those...
where his doctoral dissertation dealt with on "The Atom bombardment in Nuclear fission
Nucleon pair breaking in fission
Nucleon pair breaking in fission has been an important topic in nuclear physics for decades.The most measured quantities in research on nuclear fission are the charge and mass fragments yields for uranium 235 and other transuranics...
and Pseudo-vector meson
Pseudovector meson
In high energy physics, a pseudovector meson or axial vector meson is a meson with total spin 1 and even parity . Compare to a vector meson, which has a total spin 1 and odd parity....
's physics". His thesis were written on fluent French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and English language, and reluctantly returned to Pakistan under the terms of Colombo Plan contract.
During his doctoral studies, Ahmad joined the Montreal Laboratory
Montreal Laboratory
The Montreal Laboratory in Montreal, Quebec, Canada was established by the National Research Council of Canada to undertake nuclear research, and to take over some of the scientists and projects from the Tube Alloys nuclear project in Britain...
and served there as lead senior scientist. At the laboratory, he gained expertise, under the supervision of numerous scientists who previously had work on Manhattan Project
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...
, to the fields of Thermonuclear fission
Nuclear fission
In nuclear physics and nuclear chemistry, nuclear fission is a nuclear reaction in which the nucleus of an atom splits into smaller parts , often producing free neutrons and photons , and releasing a tremendous amount of energy...
, Thermonuclear fusion technology
Nuclear fusion
Nuclear fusion is the process by which two or more atomic nuclei join together, or "fuse", to form a single heavier nucleus. This is usually accompanied by the release or absorption of large quantities of energy...
, Reactor Technology and Physics
Nuclear reactor physics
Nuclear reactor physics is the branch of science that deals with the study and application of chain reaction to induce controlled rate of fission for energy in reactors....
. Upon his return to Pakistan, he joined the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, , is an administrative governmental and autonomous science and technology governmental department of Pakistan, responsible for development of nuclear energy and development of nuclear power sector in Pakistan...
(PAEC) as a senior scientist.
European Organization for Nuclear Research
From 1952 to 1960, Ahmad served as a visiting professor of nuclear physics at the Government College UniversityGovernment College University
Government College University, Lahore is a co-educational public university located on The Mall in Lahore, Pakistan...
. The same year, he joined Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, , is an administrative governmental and autonomous science and technology governmental department of Pakistan, responsible for development of nuclear energy and development of nuclear power sector in Pakistan...
as a senior scientific officer
Chief science officer
Chief Science Officer is a position at the head of scientific research operations at companies performing significant scientific research projects....
. He kept his position till 1966. In 1961, he went to Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, where he become a visiting post-doctorals fellow at the Niels Bohr Institute for Theoretical Physics. In 1962, Ahmad joined European Organization for Nuclear Research or CERN
CERN
The European Organization for Nuclear Research , known as CERN , is an international organization whose purpose is to operate the world's largest particle physics laboratory, which is situated in the northwest suburbs of Geneva on the Franco–Swiss border...
as both a post-doctoral fellow and nuclear physicist. As a senior research scientist at the CERN, Ahmad extensively carried out his research at Compact Muon Solenoid
Compact Muon Solenoid
The Compact Muon Solenoid experiment is one of two large general-purpose particle physics detectors built on the proton-proton Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Switzerland and France. Approximately 3,600 people from 183 scientific institutes, representing 38 countries form the CMS collaboration...
(CMS). Ahmad led the designing of ISC
Intersecting Storage Rings
The ISR was a particle accelerator at CERN. It was the world's first hadron collider, and ran from 1971 to 1984, with a maximum center of mass energy of 62 GeV...
and Synchrocyclotron
Synchrocyclotron
A synchrocyclotron is a cyclotron in which the frequency of the driving RF electric field is varied to compensate for relativistic effects as the particles' velocity begins to approach the speed of light...
collider during his stay in CERN. From 1963–1964, Ahmad traveled to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and joined his Alma mater, Université de Montréal
Université de Montréal
The Université de Montréal is a public francophone research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It comprises thirteen faculties, more than sixty departments and two affiliated schools: the École Polytechnique and HEC Montréal...
and University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
as a post doctoral research fellow. There, he began to carried out his research in the field of nuclear physics at the Montreal Laboratory
Montreal Laboratory
The Montreal Laboratory in Montreal, Quebec, Canada was established by the National Research Council of Canada to undertake nuclear research, and to take over some of the scientists and projects from the Tube Alloys nuclear project in Britain...
. Prior to 1960s, he also performed experiments at Risø DTU National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy
Risø DTU National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy
Risø DTU National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy is a scientific research organization north of Roskilde, Denmark. From 1 January 2008 it was made an institute under Technical University of Denmark...
of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and the Meuse/Haute Marne Underground Research Laboratory
Meuse/Haute Marne Underground Research Laboratory
The Meuse/Haute Marne Underground Research Laboratory is a laboratory located 500 metres underground in Bure in the Meuse département. It allows study of the geological formation in order to evaluate its capacity for deep geological repository of high level and long lived medium level radioactive...
of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
He also served as a secretary of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) from 1967–1969. In 1969, he became a post doctoral fellow at the University of ParisUniversity of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
. However, on the Abdus Salam
Abdus Salam
Mohammad Abdus Salam, NI, SPk Mohammad Abdus Salam, NI, SPk Mohammad Abdus Salam, NI, SPk (Urdu: محمد عبد السلام, pronounced , (January 29, 1926– November 21, 1996) was a Pakistani theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate in Physics for his work on the electroweak unification of the...
's request, he came back to Pakistan where he was as appointed a director of Pakistan Atomic Energy Center (PAEC-L) Lahore. In Lahore, Ahmad carried out his work in the theory of proton decay
Proton decay
In particle physics, proton decay is a hypothetical form of radioactive decay in which the proton decays into lighter subatomic particles, such as a neutral pion and a positron...
under Abdus Salam. Ahmad applied the Path integral formulation
Path integral formulation
The path integral formulation of quantum mechanics is a description of quantum theory which generalizes the action principle of classical mechanics...
to analyzed the hypothetical smaller decay emitted by the protons. Ahmad introduced the Chiral anomaly
Chiral anomaly
A chiral anomaly is the anomalous nonconservation of a chiral current. In some theories of fermions with chiral symmetry, the quantization may lead to the breaking of this chiral symmetry. In that case, the charge associated with the chiral symmetry is not conserved.The non-conservation happens...
to calculate the pion decays in his work. Under Salam, Ahmad also pioneered in theory of beta decay
Beta decay
In nuclear physics, beta decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a beta particle is emitted from an atom. There are two types of beta decay: beta minus and beta plus. In the case of beta decay that produces an electron emission, it is referred to as beta minus , while in the case of a...
where he successfully converted the proton, via weak force, into neutron
Neutron
The neutron is a subatomic hadron particle which has the symbol or , no net electric charge and a mass slightly larger than that of a proton. With the exception of hydrogen, nuclei of atoms consist of protons and neutrons, which are therefore collectively referred to as nucleons. The number of...
. Ahmad presented his work to Abdus Salam, for which, he impressed Salam about his discovery. Ahmad later contributed in P-P chain reaction, and built the first Ion track along with Naeem Ahmad Khan and Noor Muhammad Butt.
In 1971, with the support of Abdus Salam, Ahmad was appointed as a director of Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology
Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology
The Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, or commonly known as "PINSTECH", is a multi-program science and technology national research institute managed by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission. The PINSTECH offers a post-graduate and post-doctoral research in the field of nuclear...
(PINSTECH). He served as director of the institution till 1976. Ahmad eye-witnessed the Indo-Pak War of 1971 and was one of the scientist who attended the Multan meeing in 1972. Fearing, since India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
also tested its nuclear device in 1974, the Indian nukes will be a major threat to his country. Ishfaq Ahmad led the group of reputed nuclear physicists and chemist
Nuclear chemistry
Nuclear chemistry is the subfield of chemistry dealing with radioactivity, nuclear processes and nuclear properties.It is the chemistry of radioactive elements such as the actinides, radium and radon together with the chemistry associated with equipment which are designed to perform nuclear...
s who discovered the sustainable process of nuclear chain reaction
Nuclear chain reaction
A nuclear chain reaction occurs when one nuclear reaction causes an average of one or more nuclear reactions, thus leading to a self-propagating number of these reactions. The specific nuclear reaction may be the fission of heavy isotopes or the fusion of light isotopes...
for the Pakistan's atomic weapon. Under Chairman of PAEC, Munir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan , HI, was a Pakistani nuclear engineer and a scientist who served as the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission from 1972 to 1991...
, Ishfaq Ahmad, along with the noted nuclear physicists, began to work on a nuclear device. He was made director-general
Director-general
The term director-general is a title given the highest executive officer within a governmental, statutory, NGO, third sector or not-for-profit institution.-European Union:...
of the "Nuclear Physics Division (NPD)" which was mandated to calculate the Critical mass
Critical mass
A critical mass is the smallest amount of fissile material needed for a sustained nuclear chain reaction. The critical mass of a fissionable material depends upon its nuclear properties A critical mass is the smallest amount of fissile material needed for a sustained nuclear chain reaction. The...
of the 235U
Uranium-235
- References :* .* DOE Fundamentals handbook: Nuclear Physics and Reactor theory , .* A piece of U-235 the size of a grain of rice can produce energy equal to that contained in three tons of coal or fourteen barrels of oil. -External links:* * * one of the earliest articles on U-235 for the...
and the multiplications of nuclear fission
Nuclear fission
In nuclear physics and nuclear chemistry, nuclear fission is a nuclear reaction in which the nucleus of an atom splits into smaller parts , often producing free neutrons and photons , and releasing a tremendous amount of energy...
in an exploding of an atomic weapon. In 1976, the "Nuclear Physics Group" under the leadership of Ishfaq Ahmad, successfully produced the 10 kilograms of Yellowcake
Yellowcake
Yellowcake is a kind of uranium concentrate powder obtained from leach solutions, in an intermediate step in the processing of uranium ores. Yellowcake concentrates are prepared by various extraction and refining methods, depending on the types of ores...
at the "PINSTECH's New Labs". The NPG also enriched the isotopes 235U
Uranium-235
- References :* .* DOE Fundamentals handbook: Nuclear Physics and Reactor theory , .* A piece of U-235 the size of a grain of rice can produce energy equal to that contained in three tons of coal or fourteen barrels of oil. -External links:* * * one of the earliest articles on U-235 for the...
and successfully made the UF
Uranium hexafluoride
Uranium hexafluoride , referred to as "hex" in the nuclear industry, is a compound used in the uranium enrichment process that produces fuel for nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons. It forms solid grey crystals at standard temperature and pressure , is highly toxic, reacts violently with water...
6. The NPG at the PINSTECH's Laboratories, produced the 239Pu
Plutonium-239
Plutonium-239 is an isotope of plutonium. Plutonium-239 is the primary fissile isotope used for the production of nuclear weapons, although uranium-235 has also been used and is currently the secondary isotope. Plutonium-239 is also one of the three main isotopes demonstrated usable as fuel in...
, the weapon grade plutonium at the PINSTECH Atomic Research Reactors
PARR-Reactor
The Pakistan Atomic Research Reactor or , are the three nuclear and two experimental neutron sources located in the PINSTECH Laboratory, Nilore, Islamabad, Pakistan. The PARR Reactor is a graphite-moderated, Gas Cooled, nuclear reactor....
in 1983 which was later tested with the nuclear device.
At Pinstech Laboratory, Ahmad produces the first Photographic plate
Photographic plate
Photographic plates preceded photographic film as a means of photography. A light-sensitive emulsion of silver salts was applied to a glass plate. This form of photographic material largely faded from the consumer market in the early years of the 20th century, as more convenient and less fragile...
to identify the fissle latter in natural uranium when it is explored.However due to its classified research, the knowledge of such detector is completely classified. The NPD developed the Thermoluminescent Dosimeter
Thermoluminescent Dosimeter
A thermoluminescent dosimeter, or TLD, is a type of radiation dosimeter. A TLD measures ionizing radiation exposure by measuring the amount of visible light emitted from a crystal in the detector when the crystal is heated. The amount of light emitted is dependent upon the radiation exposure...
to measure the detection of alpha particles emitted in the decay of radon and thoron gases. Ahmad collaborating with Hameed Ahmad Khan —director of Radiation Physics Division — in the development of CR-39
CR-39
CR-39, or allyl diglycol carbonate , is a plastic polymer commonly used in the manufacture of eyeglass lenses. The abbreviation stands for “Columbia Resin #39,” because it was the 39th formula of a thermosetting plastic developed by the Columbia Resins project in 1940.The first commercial use of...
, a type of particle detector. Ahmad is renowned for his research and contribution to the theory of nuclear emulsion. Ahmad spent his career studying and pioneering the work in the field nuclear emulsion
Nuclear emulsion
In a Particle and Nuclear physics, a nuclear emulsion plate is a photographic plate with a particularly thick emulsion layer and with a very uniform grain size. Like bubble chambers, cloud chambers, and wire chambers nuclear emulsion plates record the tracks of charged particles passing through...
s. At Pinstech Laboratory, Ahmad developed a classified nuclear emulsion that provided information about the mass, charge and velocity of the particles producing the track.
As a scientist, he was heavily involved with the magnetic rings that were installed with the oscillators that triggered the nuclear fission
Nuclear fission
In nuclear physics and nuclear chemistry, nuclear fission is a nuclear reaction in which the nucleus of an atom splits into smaller parts , often producing free neutrons and photons , and releasing a tremendous amount of energy...
reflectors
Neutron reflector
A neutron reflector is any material that reflects neutrons. This refers to elastic scattering rather than to a specular reflection. The material may be graphite, beryllium, steel, and tungsten carbide, or other materials...
in the atomic bomb. He played a crucial role in a Ionizing radiation
Ionizing radiation
Ionizing radiation is radiation composed of particles that individually have sufficient energy to remove an electron from an atom or molecule. This ionization produces free radicals, which are atoms or molecules containing unpaired electrons...
and DU
Depleted uranium
Depleted uranium is uranium with a lower content of the fissile isotope U-235 than natural uranium . Uses of DU take advantage of its very high density of 19.1 g/cm3...
(oxide
Oxide
An oxide is a chemical compound that contains at least one oxygen atom in its chemical formula. Metal oxides typically contain an anion of oxygen in the oxidation state of −2....
, metal and uranium hexafluoride
Uranium hexafluoride
Uranium hexafluoride , referred to as "hex" in the nuclear industry, is a compound used in the uranium enrichment process that produces fuel for nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons. It forms solid grey crystals at standard temperature and pressure , is highly toxic, reacts violently with water...
(or UF
Uranium hexafluoride
Uranium hexafluoride , referred to as "hex" in the nuclear industry, is a compound used in the uranium enrichment process that produces fuel for nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons. It forms solid grey crystals at standard temperature and pressure , is highly toxic, reacts violently with water...
6) gas production complex at Dera Ghazi Khan, which provides the crucial feedstock for uranium enrichment at Kahuta; and other classified projects of PAEC. As chairman of PAEC, he saw the culmination of the nuclear weapons programme, begun under Munir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan , HI, was a Pakistani nuclear engineer and a scientist who served as the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission from 1972 to 1991...
, from "covert to overt" status at the time of the Chaghi tests in 1998.
When PAEC under Munir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan , HI, was a Pakistani nuclear engineer and a scientist who served as the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission from 1972 to 1991...
conducted the first cold test
Cold fission
Cold fission or cold nuclear fission is defined as involving fission events for which fission fragments have such low excitation energy that no neutrons or gammas are emitted....
of nuclear weapon design, using His Majesty Explosives (HMX), on 11 March 1983, Ishfaq Ahmad led the team of scientists and engineers at the test site. The cold test of a nuclear device, codename Kirana-I, was witnessed by the PAEC
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, , is an administrative governmental and autonomous science and technology governmental department of Pakistan, responsible for development of nuclear energy and development of nuclear power sector in Pakistan...
Chairman Mr. Munir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan , HI, was a Pakistani nuclear engineer and a scientist who served as the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission from 1972 to 1991...
and other senior civilian
Civilian
A civilian under international humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her country's armed forces or other militia. Civilians are distinct from combatants. They are afforded a degree of legal protection from the effects of war and military occupation...
and military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
officials. Furthermore, Ahmad and his team of physicists, under the leadership of Munir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan , HI, was a Pakistani nuclear engineer and a scientist who served as the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission from 1972 to 1991...
continued cold testing different models of nuclear weapons from 1983 to 1993. In 1998, Ahmad was the head of a team of nuclear physicists at Kharan desert
Kharan Desert
The Kharan Desert is a sand desert situated in the Balochistan province of Pakistan.Kharan desert is Pakistan's second nuclear test site, and the second nuclear test — Codename Chagai-II — was conducted and supervised by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission in May 30, 1998.The desert is...
and Chagai Hills
Chagai Hills
The Chagai Hills is a range of granite hills in the Chagai District in Pakistan's Balochistan province.-Location:The Chagai Hills lie in a desert area in the northernmost part of Chagai District north of Pakistan's Ras Koh Hills and south of Afghanistan's Helmand and Nimruz provinces.- Topography...
, where he set up a nuclear physics
Nuclear physics
Nuclear physics is the field of physics that studies the building blocks and interactions of atomic nuclei. The most commonly known applications of nuclear physics are nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons technology, but the research has provided application in many fields, including those...
and nuclear implosion device research labs.
In 1991, Ahmad was named as Chairman of PAEC, after he replaced his lifelong friend Munir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan , HI, was a Pakistani nuclear engineer and a scientist who served as the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission from 1972 to 1991...
. Ahmad supervised the second commercial nuclear power plant, CHASNUPP-I, built with assistance with People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. However, Ahmad came to international prominence when he headed PAEC to conduct country's nuclear tests, codename Chagai-I
Chagai-I
The Chagai-I was a codename referring to the five underground nuclear tests conducted by Pakistan at 15:15hrs in 28th May of 1998. It was named Chagai-I, as the tests were conducted in the Chagai District...
and Chagai-II, in May of 1998. By the time India tested its nuclear devices under a codename Pokhran-II
Pokhran-II
Pokharan-II refers to test explosions of five nuclear devices, three on 11 May and two on 13 May 1998, conducted by India at the Pokhran test range. These nuclear tests resulted in a variety of sanctions against India by a number of major states....
, Ahmad was visiting at Montreal Laboratory
Montreal Laboratory
The Montreal Laboratory in Montreal, Quebec, Canada was established by the National Research Council of Canada to undertake nuclear research, and to take over some of the scientists and projects from the Tube Alloys nuclear project in Britain...
with fellow other nuclear physicists. Following the Indian tests, Ahmad left Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and immediately returned to Pakistan where he took participation in nuclear tests.
After an immediate return, Ahmad received a call from Pakistan Army Combatant General Headquarters (GHQ) to report to Prime Minister Secretariat. Ahmad attended several meeting with Prime Minister of Pakistan
Prime Minister of Pakistan
The Prime Minister of Pakistan , is the Head of Government of Pakistan who is designated to exercise as the country's Chief Executive. By the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan has the parliamentary democratic system of government...
, Nawaz Sharif
Nawaz Sharif
Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif is a Pakistani conservative politician and steel magnate who served as 12th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from November 1990 to July 1993, and from February 1997 to October 12, 1999...
where he briefed Prime minister on the status and capability of Pakistan's nuclear weapon test. After Ahmad's briefing, the Prime minister gave verbal authorization to PAEC order to conduct the Pakistan's first known nuclear tests at the Ras Koh Hills of the Chagai Hills District
Chagai Hills
The Chagai Hills is a range of granite hills in the Chagai District in Pakistan's Balochistan province.-Location:The Chagai Hills lie in a desert area in the northernmost part of Chagai District north of Pakistan's Ras Koh Hills and south of Afghanistan's Helmand and Nimruz provinces.- Topography...
on May 28th. This operation was named Chagai-I
Chagai-I
The Chagai-I was a codename referring to the five underground nuclear tests conducted by Pakistan at 15:15hrs in 28th May of 1998. It was named Chagai-I, as the tests were conducted in the Chagai District...
, and fission weapons were evidently made from the HEU, came from the KRL. On May 30th, the PAEC scientists eye-witnessed another test, codename Chagai-II at Kharan Desert, and it was reported to be a fission made from weapon grade plutonium. The total yield
Nuclear weapon yield
The explosive yield of a nuclear weapon is the amount of energy discharged when a nuclear weapon is detonated, expressed usually in the equivalent mass of trinitrotoluene , either in kilotons or megatons , but sometimes also in terajoules...
was reported to be 40kt of nuclear force
Nuclear force
The nuclear force is the force between two or more nucleons. It is responsible for binding of protons and neutrons into atomic nuclei. The energy released causes the masses of nuclei to be less than the total mass of the protons and neutrons which form them...
released by the nuclear weapons at the Ras Koh Hills.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Ahmad has been associated with IAEA since 1960s where he lobbied for Pakistan's peaceful nuclear energy programme. At IAEA, Ahmad is one of the most-senior scientist and advocated for peaceful use of nuclear energy tirelessly. Ahmad was part and led the Pakistan's ddelegationPakistan and the United Nations
Pakistan officially came to join the United Nations on September 30, 1947 just over a month after its independence. Today, it is a charter member and participates in all of the UN's specialised agencies....
to the United Nation to the Board of Governors
Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency
The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency is one of the two policy making bodies of the IAEA, along with the annual General Conference of IAEA members....
of International Atomic Energy Agency and the General Conference of the United Nations.
China-Pakistan Nuclear Power Plant Corporation
In 1986, Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad, led by Munir Ahmad KhanMunir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan , HI, was a Pakistani nuclear engineer and a scientist who served as the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission from 1972 to 1991...
(late), visited People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
where PAEC reached a civil nuclear technology agreement with China. Later, he, along with his fellow Chinese nuclear scientists, helped Pakistan and China to form a joint-nuclear company which is known as Sino-Pak Nuclear Technology Consortium
China-Pakistan Power Plant Corporation
China-Pakistan Power Plant Corporation is a corporation set up by the governments of China and Pakistan to build nuclear power plants in Pakistan and China....
Support for Peaceful use of Nuclear Energy
During the tenure in the Commission, he supervised and developed the peaceful programmes of PAEC for the defence, energy, agriculture, medicine, industry hydrology. Ahmad also advocated for peaceful use of nuclear energy in many international forums. Ahmad, at IAEA, helped Pakistan to lead an agreement between PAECPakistan Atomic Energy Commission
The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, , is an administrative governmental and autonomous science and technology governmental department of Pakistan, responsible for development of nuclear energy and development of nuclear power sector in Pakistan...
and IAEA in which IAEA allowed Pakistan to construct and build its nuclear power plant for civil purposes.
Honors and Recognition
In 2000, he was awarded the Honorary Degree of DoctorateHonorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
in Engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
by the Punjab University of Engineering and Technology
University of the Punjab
University of the Punjab , colloquially known as Punjab University, is located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The University of the Punjab is the oldest and biggest University of Pakistan. The University of the Punjab was formally established with the convening of the first meeting of its...
. In the same year, he was elected a Fellow of the International Nuclear Energy Academy
International Nuclear Information System
The International Nuclear Information System hosts one of the world's largest collections of published information on the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology. It offers online access to a unique collection of non-conventional literature...
. He is the recipient of the three highest official awards in Pakistan namely Sitara-i-Imtiaz
Sitara-i-Imtiaz
The Sitara-i-Imtiaz , is the third highest honour and civilian award in the State of Pakistan. It recognizes the individuals who made an "especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of Pakistan, world peace, cultural or other significant public endeavors"...
, the Hilal-i-Imtiaz
Hilal-i-Imtiaz
The Hilal-i-Imtiaz, English: Crescent of Excellence, Urdu: هلال ا متيا ز , is the second highest civilian award and honor given to both civilians and military officers of the State of Pakistan|Pakistan armed forces by the Government of Pakistan...
and the Nishan-i-Imitiaz, the last of which was awarded to him in 1998. Dr. Ishfaq Ahmed is consider one of the prominent nuclear physicist in Pakistan.
PAEC with CERN
Ishfaq Ahmad worked at European Organization for Nuclear Research as a nuclear physicist in the past. In 1994, dr. Ishfaq Ahmad visited CERNCERN
The European Organization for Nuclear Research , known as CERN , is an international organization whose purpose is to operate the world's largest particle physics laboratory, which is situated in the northwest suburbs of Geneva on the Franco–Swiss border...
as a PAEC chairman. Since then Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad struggled to reach a contract between CERN and PAEC. In 1997, Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad headed PAEC to reach a contract between PAEC and CERN after elaborate discussions an in-kind contribution worth one million Swiss francs for the construction of eight magnet supports for the CMS
Compact Muon Solenoid
The Compact Muon Solenoid experiment is one of two large general-purpose particle physics detectors built on the proton-proton Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Switzerland and France. Approximately 3,600 people from 183 scientific institutes, representing 38 countries form the CMS collaboration...
detector. In 1998, Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad, as PAEC chairman, reached another contract with CERN. The signing of the agreement was followed by the Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad and dr. Christopher Llewellyn Smith's visit to Pakistan in 1998. The agreement provided an entry point for Pakistani scientists and engineers into the CMS collaboration.
In 2000, dr. Ishfaq Ahmad reached another agreement between PAEC and CERN during the official visit of Luciano Maiani
Luciano Maiani
Luciano Maiani is a San Marino citizen physicist best known for his prediction of the charm quark with Sheldon Lee Glashow and John Iliopoulos .-Academic history:...
to Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. This new agreement covered the construction of the resistive plate chambers required for the CMS muon
Muon
The muon |mu]] used to represent it) is an elementary particle similar to the electron, with a unitary negative electric charge and a spin of ½. Together with the electron, the tau, and the three neutrinos, it is classified as a lepton...
system. Recently, a protocol has been signed enhancing Pakistan's total contribution to the LHC
LHC
LHC may refer to:* Large Hadron Collider, a particle accelerator and collider located on the Franco-Swiss border near Geneva, SwitzerlandLHC also may refer to:* La hora Chanante, a Spanish comedy television show...
programme to $10 million. In Press Conference with Luciano Maiani
Luciano Maiani
Luciano Maiani is a San Marino citizen physicist best known for his prediction of the charm quark with Sheldon Lee Glashow and John Iliopoulos .-Academic history:...
, Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad said "I very much hope and wish that these developments may eventually lead to Pakistan becoming an observer state at CERN".
Support for education
Ishfaq Ahmad has played a significant role in the following fields in PakistanPakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
; scientific manpower training, establishment of Research and development
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
facilities, indigenous production of nuclear materials, peaceful uses of nuclear technology as well as classified applications of nuclear technology. Ahmad has been an administrative presidential figure and encouraged physics and mathematics talent test programmes in Pakistan leading to participation in Physics Olympiad. Since 2001, Ahmad is currently serving as emeritus professor of nuclear
Nuclear physics
Nuclear physics is the field of physics that studies the building blocks and interactions of atomic nuclei. The most commonly known applications of nuclear physics are nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons technology, but the research has provided application in many fields, including those...
and particle physics
Particle physics
Particle physics is a branch of physics that studies the existence and interactions of particles that are the constituents of what is usually referred to as matter or radiation. In current understanding, particles are excitations of quantum fields and interact following their dynamics...
as well as teaching advanced courses in Nuclear engineering
Nuclear engineering
Nuclear engineering is the branch of engineering concerned with the application of the breakdown as well as the fusion of atomic nuclei and/or the application of other sub-atomic physics, based on the principles of nuclear physics...
. In 2004, Ahmad joined Physics Department of Quaid-e-Azam University and taught advanced courses on Particle physics. He continued his research at Institute of Physics of Qau and, since 2001, Ahmad has been instrumental for the establishment of the National Center for Nuclear Physics (NCP) at Quaid-e-Azam University and has served as chair of its board of governors.
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)
With dr. Ahmad's initiative and honest efforts, CERNCERN
The European Organization for Nuclear Research , known as CERN , is an international organization whose purpose is to operate the world's largest particle physics laboratory, which is situated in the northwest suburbs of Geneva on the Franco–Swiss border...
is developing cooperation with the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), an environmental and mathematical research institute
Research institute
A research institute is an establishment endowed for doing research. Research institutes may specialize in basic research or may be oriented to applied research...
based on Laxenburg
Laxenburg
Laxenburg is a town in the district of Mödling in the Austrian state of Lower Austria, near Vienna.- History :The place is well-known for its castle, Schloss Laxenburg, which, beside Schönbrunn, was the most important summer seat of the Habsburg dynasty....
. He is serving as a Council Member of IIASA which specialization in mathematical modeling and simulation. Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad has been a great advocate for the strengthening of mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
in the universities and research organizations.
Global Change Impact Studies Centre
Dr Ishfaq Ahmad’s efforts has led to the creation of the Global Change Impact Studies Centre (GCISC) in Islamabad where, for the first time, research on Climatic ChangeClimatic Change
Climatic Change is a scientific journal published by Springer Science+Business Media. It deals with the problems of climatic variability and change...
is being undertaken in Pakistan. GCISC serves as the Secretariat of the Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
’s Committee on Climate Change. After the 2005 Kashmir earthquake
2005 Kashmir earthquake
The 2005 Kashmir earthquake was a major earthquake centered in Pakistan-administered Kashmir known as Azad Kashmir, near the city of Muzaffarabad, affecting Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It occurred at 08:52:37 Pakistan Standard Time on 8 October 2005...
, the Government has decided to establish a Center for Earthquake studies in Islamabad, under the technical direction of Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad.
Awards and honours
- Nishan-i-Imitiaz (1998)
- Hilal-i-ImtiazHilal-i-ImtiazThe Hilal-i-Imtiaz, English: Crescent of Excellence, Urdu: هلال ا متيا ز , is the second highest civilian award and honor given to both civilians and military officers of the State of Pakistan|Pakistan armed forces by the Government of Pakistan...
(1995) - Sitara-i-ImtiazSitara-i-ImtiazThe Sitara-i-Imtiaz , is the third highest honour and civilian award in the State of Pakistan. It recognizes the individuals who made an "especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of Pakistan, world peace, cultural or other significant public endeavors"...
(1989) - Gold MedalGold MedalGold Medal is the sixth studio album by the American hard rock band The Donnas, released in 2004 on Atlantic Records. It was one of the first albums released in the DualDisc format, but was recalled due to a mastering error which resulted in the final track being partially omitted from the CD...
, Pakistan Academy of SciencesPakistan Academy of SciencesThe Pakistan Academy of Sciences The Pakistan Academy of Sciences The Pakistan Academy of Sciences (Urdu: پاکستان اكيڈ مى ﺁف سائس; shortened to PAS, is a learned society for science and technology based in Pakistan. The academy consisted and served as the network of science across the Pakistan as...
(1998) - Gold MedalGold MedalGold Medal is the sixth studio album by the American hard rock band The Donnas, released in 2004 on Atlantic Records. It was one of the first albums released in the DualDisc format, but was recalled due to a mastering error which resulted in the final track being partially omitted from the CD...
, Institute of Leadership & ManagementInstitute of Leadership & ManagementThe Institute of Leadership & Management is an awarding body for leadership and management qualifications in the UK. It is also a professional membership body for leaders and managers in the UK — providing a wide range of career support services to members.- Improving leadership and Management...
(ILM) (1998) - Gold MedalGold MedalGold Medal is the sixth studio album by the American hard rock band The Donnas, released in 2004 on Atlantic Records. It was one of the first albums released in the DualDisc format, but was recalled due to a mastering error which resulted in the final track being partially omitted from the CD...
, Society of Engineering, Materials and Metallurgical Engineering (SEMME), Karachi, (1998) - Gold MedalGold MedalGold Medal is the sixth studio album by the American hard rock band The Donnas, released in 2004 on Atlantic Records. It was one of the first albums released in the DualDisc format, but was recalled due to a mastering error which resulted in the final track being partially omitted from the CD...
, Geological Society of Punjab, (1998) - Doctorate of Science Honoris Causa, UET Lahore, 2000.
- Who's who in atom, American Institute of Physics (1969)
Research Papers
- Managing nuclear knowledge in a developing country: Pakistan's perspective
- Absorptions de Mésons π± Rapides dans les Emulsions Nucléaires. – Revised version 1 / Ahmad, Ishfaq (PAECPakistan Atomic Energy CommissionThe Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, , is an administrative governmental and autonomous science and technology governmental department of Pakistan, responsible for development of nuclear energy and development of nuclear power sector in Pakistan...
; CERNCERNThe European Organization for Nuclear Research , known as CERN , is an international organization whose purpose is to operate the world's largest particle physics laboratory, which is situated in the northwest suburbs of Geneva on the Franco–Swiss border...
Strasbourg-Cronenbourg), printed in 1965. - Absorption of Fast π± Mesons in Nuclear Emulsion, University of OttawaUniversity of OttawaThe University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
, printed in 1965. - Proposal to Study the Interactions of 200 MeV π± -Mesons with Complex Nuclei Proposal to Study the Interactions of 200 MeV π± -Mesons with Complex Nuclei, printed in CERNCERNThe European Organization for Nuclear Research , known as CERN , is an international organization whose purpose is to operate the world's largest particle physics laboratory, which is situated in the northwest suburbs of Geneva on the Franco–Swiss border...
. - Nuclear knowledge management – the role of the IAEA and its Technical Cooperation programme, Ishfaq Ahmad, printed on 10 September 2004 at IAEA
- Energy for sustainable development and science technology for the future of Islamic World.
- Radon/thoron detection properties of a CR-39 plastic track detector by Hameed A. Khan and Ishfaq Ahmad.
- International Journal of Radiation Applications and Instrumentation. Part D. Nuclear Tracks and Radiation Measurements by Hameed A. Khan, Imtinan E. Qureshi, and Ishfaq Ahmad
- Mathematical Modeling and its application in natural disasters, Ishfaq Ahmad, Global Change Impact Studies Centre.
- Mathematical Integrals in Quantum Nature, Ishfaq Ahmad, The Nucleus (1971).
- Resonance Integrals and Resonances in Nucleus. Ishfaq Ahmad, Hans Mes, and Jacques Herbet (1966)
Fellowships
- An elected PresidentPresidentA president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the Pakistan Academy of SciencesPakistan Academy of SciencesThe Pakistan Academy of Sciences The Pakistan Academy of Sciences The Pakistan Academy of Sciences (Urdu: پاکستان اكيڈ مى ﺁف سائس; shortened to PAS, is a learned society for science and technology based in Pakistan. The academy consisted and served as the network of science across the Pakistan as...
(2007) - Board of Directors of the Abdus Salam Center for Solid State Physics, Government College UniversityGovernment College UniversityGovernment College University, Lahore is a co-educational public university located on The Mall in Lahore, Pakistan...
, LahoreLahoreLahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, 2006–present. - Board of Governors of the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and TechnologyGhulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology-See also:* List of universities in Pakistan* GIKI clock tower* Project topi-External links:* * * * *...
(GIKI) (2002) - Chairman and Board of Governors, Riazuddin National Center for PhysicsRiazuddin National Center for PhysicsThe National Centre for Physics, known as NCP, is an academic physics and mathematical sciences national research institute in Islamabad, Pakistan. The NCP was being run by Government of Pakistan till March 2004. However, in April 2004, Government of Pakistan made NCP an autonomous scientific...
, Quaid-i-Azam UniversityQuaid-i-Azam UniversityThe Quaid-i-Azam University is a public, research university in Islamabad Capital Territory of Pakistan. It was initially founded as the "University of Islamabad" in July 1967...
, Islamabad (2001) - Fellow of the Islamic World Academy of SciencesIslamic World Academy of SciencesThe Islamic Academy of Sciences is a non-profit organisation of distinguished scientists and technologists dedicated to the promotion of science and technology in the Muslim world....
(2000) - Fellow of the Nuclear Society of Pakistan (1997)
- An elected fellow of the Pakistan Nuclear Society (1993)
- A Honorary Fellow of the International Academy of Nuclear Energy (1990)
- Board of Governors of the Government College UniversityGovernment College UniversityGovernment College University, Lahore is a co-educational public university located on The Mall in Lahore, Pakistan...
, LahoreLahoreLahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
(1989–1996) - A fellow of the Pakistan Academy of SciencesPakistan Academy of SciencesThe Pakistan Academy of Sciences The Pakistan Academy of Sciences The Pakistan Academy of Sciences (Urdu: پاکستان اكيڈ مى ﺁف سائس; shortened to PAS, is a learned society for science and technology based in Pakistan. The academy consisted and served as the network of science across the Pakistan as...
(1983) - A fellow at Niels Bohr Institute of Theoretical Physics, CopenhagenCopenhagenCopenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, DenmarkDenmarkDenmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
(1961–1962)
He is also the recipient of:
- Member of the Board of Sponsors of The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
- Member of the Board of Physics Olympiad of Pakistan.
- An honorary Council Member of International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA).
See also
- Munir Ahmad KhanMunir Ahmad KhanMunir Ahmad Khan , HI, was a Pakistani nuclear engineer and a scientist who served as the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission from 1972 to 1991...
- Abdus SalamAbdus SalamMohammad Abdus Salam, NI, SPk Mohammad Abdus Salam, NI, SPk Mohammad Abdus Salam, NI, SPk (Urdu: محمد عبد السلام, pronounced , (January 29, 1926– November 21, 1996) was a Pakistani theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate in Physics for his work on the electroweak unification of the...
- European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)
- International Atomic Energy AgencyInternational Atomic Energy AgencyThe International Atomic Energy Agency is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. The IAEA was established as an autonomous organization on 29 July 1957...
(IAEA) - Montreal LaboratoryMontreal LaboratoryThe Montreal Laboratory in Montreal, Quebec, Canada was established by the National Research Council of Canada to undertake nuclear research, and to take over some of the scientists and projects from the Tube Alloys nuclear project in Britain...
External links
- Dr. Ishfaq Ahmed
- Ishfaq Ahmad Minister of State
- http://www.paspk.org/fellow.htm
- http://dbpedia.org/page/Ishfaq_Ahmad
- http://www.pc.gov.pk/mos_profile.htm
- http://www.iaea.org/km/cnkm/presentations/ahmadpakistan.pdf
- http://www.dawn.com/2005/01/14/nat17.htm
- http://www.wosco.org/index.shtml?id_file=75&id_node=1119
- Managing nuclear knowledge in a developing country: Pakistan