Physicist of Pakistani Origin Wins 2024 DOPS Prize in Denmark

Dansk Optisk Selskab (DOPS), also known as the Danish Optical Society, is a professional organization dedicated to promoting optics and photonics in Denmark. Founded in 1996, DOPS serves as a hub for researchers, educators, and industry professionals interested in the field of optics.

Paul Michael Petersen , the editor of a white book called Optics in Denmark, wrote in the 1999 issue, "In all sincerity, I hope that this issue of “Optics in Denmark” will stimulate collaboration between the optical community in Denmark and optical communities in other countries."

A quarter century later, in February 2024, the Danish Optical Society's honorary award, the DOPS Prize, was presented to Ali Nawaz Babar , an international in Denmark from Pakistan. According to their website, the purpose of the DOPS prize is to give recognition to a person who, in recent years, has distinguished themselves by producing results of special quality and importance for optics in Denmark.

The official press release from DOPS pointed out that:

"Ali is an inspiration for aspiring researchers and an example of cutting-edge research in the Danish optics community and a reminder of how much we have yet to discover about our field."

"I am grateful to the Danish Optical Society (DOPS) for recognizing our work with the 2024 DOPS Prize. DOPS, a longstanding organization, plays a vital role in promoting optics and photonics in Denmark, supporting students through initiatives like free conference access. My nomination for this award was based on my resume, including co-authored publications, with our recent paper being a significant factor," Ali explained when asked for this reaction.

I caught up with Ali earlier in June, right before the summer break began in Copenhagen. We discussed his formative years in Pakistan, moving abroad, living in Copenhagen, and the world's smallest light-trapping silicon cavity. To those readers who love history and a good story, read until the end to learn more about Denmark's Rich Legacy in Physics.

The World’s Smallest Dielectric Nanocavity

Nature is a renowned weekly international journal that publishes the finest peer-reviewed research in all fields of science and technology. It is celebrated for its originality, significance, interdisciplinary appeal, and timely, accessible content that often presents elegant and surprising conclusions. Known for its high impact factor , Nature is one of the most prestigious and widely cited scientific journals, making it a premier choice for scientists aiming to publish groundbreaking research.

In December 2023, Ali was cited as the first author of a paper titled 'Self-assembled photonic cavities with atomic-scale confinement' published in the Nature journal.

When asked about the contents of the paper, he said,

"Our main objective was to confine light, and in our recent paper, we demonstrated a novel process involving self-assembly at the nanoscale. This process mimics the natural self-assembly seen in DNA and proteins. We designed a device that could self-assemble, creating tiny dimensions to trap light effectively. The project was challenging, involving numerous experiments and characterizing thousands of devices for reproducibility and accuracy. Despite the difficulties, it was an exciting experience."

A cavity, in its simplest form, is two mirrors facing each other, trapping light in between them. By confining photons within materials, significant advancements can be made in quantum computing, telecommunications and beyond. However, capturing light requires creating nanoscale cavities, which pose a manufacturing challenge.

According to a report by DTU - Technical University of Denmark , researchers including PhD student Ali Nawaz Babar, postdoc Guillermo Arregui, and Associate Professor S?ren Stobbe developed photonic cavities that trap photons in extremely small air gaps. These gaps are so minute that their precise measurements cannot be determined, even with the use of a transmission electron microscope.

"I am immensely grateful to my colleagues and supervisor at DTU, especially those at NanoPhoton - Center for Nanophotonics , where I conducted my PhD research. The collaborative environment and the facilities provided were crucial to our success. During my PhD, I realised the importance of collaboration; achieving excellence in research requires diverse expertise and perspectives. I am thankful to my co-authors and colleagues who contributed to the published paper, as their input and ideas were invaluable to our work."

"Compromise for your dream, but never compromise on your dream"

Ali admits that this quote by ex-Pakistani cricketer and ex-Prime Minister, Imran Khan is one of his favourites. The 32-year-old researcher's journey into photonics began with a broad interest in engineering and a particular fascination with light and optics, inspired by everyday phenomena like rainbows and prisms.

In Pakistan, he pursued a multidisciplinary engineering degree from Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology , which exposed him to various fields, including electronics, photonics, and optoelectronics. Despite limited job prospects in photonics in Pakistan and no initial plans to study abroad, his curiosity led him to specialize in lasers and optoelectronics—a field less chosen by peers due to its niche nature.

His interest deepened during his bachelor’s thesis on dye-sensitized solar cells, which involved aspects of nanotechnology and optics. After working in FMCGs, including a stint at 联合利华 , he felt unfulfilled in roles that were more management-oriented than scientific. This realization prompted him to pursue further studies in optics and photonics, ultimately choosing Germany for its strong reputation in engineering and supportive academic environment.

Ali confesses that "one of the reasons for going to Germany was because of a strong support system for students." His application to a master's programme was accepted at the Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) specialising in optics and photonics.

Between 2017-2020, he also completed a year-long research project at the 英国剑桥大学 in the UK. Following the completion of his master's program, which lasted around three years in total, he relocated to Denmark to further his career.

Why is Denmark a special place to work as a physicist?

Ali believes, that Denmark, particularly Copenhagen, is positioning itself as a leader in the quantum industry fields within Europe, a vision supported by significant investments from the Danish government and private companies. This includes initiatives to attract investors and support startups in developing innovative technologies.

He emphasized the critical role of the DTU - Technical University of Denmark in this ecosystem, particularly its state-of-the-art laboratories and cleanroom facilities, which are among the best in the Nordic region.

"These facilities are not only available to DTU researchers but also to companies, fostering collaboration and innovation."

DTU's strong research culture, particularly in photonics and quantum photonics, is further supported by substantial funding from organizations like the Danmarks Grundforskningsfond / The Danish National Research Foundation . He also praised the international and inclusive environment at DTU, where the use of English as a common language helps newcomers integrate smoothly. He thinks that this supportive environment, along with the university's recent rise in global rankings, makes DTU an attractive place for research and development in cutting-edge technologies in physics.

It is all about meeting in the middle. Expanding on this point, Ali mentions that, " DTU and Denmark stand to gain significantly from embracing international perspectives. Newcomers bring diverse experiences and fresh ideas, which can offer innovative solutions to existing problems.

Moreover, working with limited resources—whether it's equipment, funding, or other means—can be a powerful driver of success. Developing the ability to achieve goals despite constraints is an important skill. Effective resource management can lead to greater accomplishments and innovation."

On living in Copenhagen

Ali will celebrate his 4th anniversary of moving to Denmark a few days from now, in August 2024. Although living in Germany and the U.K. gave him an insight into what to expect in Europe, Denmark still caught him off guard.

"What surprised me most about Denmark was the widespread use of English. Whether interacting with university staff, grocery store employees, or elderly locals, English is commonly spoken—a contrast to my experiences in other countries.

Additionally, I was struck by Denmark's egalitarian culture. Unlike in other cultures, where formal titles like "Professor Doctor" are used, here it’s common to address professors by their first names. As a PhD student, I felt heard and respected during meetings, which was both motivating and encouraging. These aspects have significantly contributed to my desire to stay."

Despite Denmark's advancements in extending the job-seeking visa period for graduates, there are still significant challenges for internationals from non-EU backgrounds like Ali.

• The requirement to learn Danish within five years, with financial penalties for non-compliance, is a major challenge, especially for PhD students balancing research and family duties.
• Securing permanent residency is challenging due to job stability concerns; losing a job can be particularly stressful for highly specialized professionals, impacting both employment prospects and family stability.
• The lack of a local support network is a significant issue for internationals, especially during illness or emergencies, leading to burnout from managing work, study, and childcare without family assistance.

“I feel a strong obligation to give back to the Danish community, especially after completing my PhD on public money. My wife and I both want to make a positive contribution and if things were made a bit easier for us, we could contribute even more to society.", Ali reveals.

Message to Fellow Internationals: Don't live as outsiders, try to integrate

"I'm not saying forget your culture. Integrate into Danish society by understanding and embracing its norms while retaining your own culture. Strive to be open-minded and proactive in solving real-world problems, particularly in fields like science and green energy.

Denmark offers great opportunities, and by working hard and staying passionate about addressing pressing issues, you can achieve your goals and make meaningful contributions. Embrace your purpose and engage fully with the community to enrich both your own experience and the society around you.

Ali has recently joined ConScience AB as a Nanofabrication specialist and will be leading their technical activities in Denmark using the cleanroom facilities provided by DTU Nanolab . He has submitted his PhD thesis in Photonics Engineering at DTU - Technical University of Denmark and is waiting to defend his submissions.

Denmark's Rich Legacy in Physics: A Celebrated History

The Kingdom of Denmark has achieved recognition with 14 Nobel Prize laureates, starting with Niels Ryberg Finsen in 1903 and most recently including Professor Morten Meldal from the University of Copenhagen in 2022. 10 of the 14 prize winners were awarded the Nobel Prize for their work in medicine, chemistry and physics.

Abraham Pais (1918-2000), a renowned theoretical physicist and scientific historian, said while addressing the audience on March 6, 1996, on the occasion of the 75th Anniversary of the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen

"Two men have done more than anyone else to raise physics in Denmark to its current world-class stature: ?rsted in the nineteenth, and Niels Bohr (1885-1962) in the twentieth century."

Pais worked with Einstein, Oppenheimer, Dirac and Feynman, among many others. In his honour, the American Physical Society recognizes outstanding scholarly achievements in the history of physics with the Abraham Pais Prize for History of Physics .

Who was Ludvig Valentin Lorenz?

Danish historian of science and Professor Emeritus at the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Helge Stjernholm Kragh, was recognised for his influential contributions to the history of physics with the Abraham Pais Prize in May 2019 .

Only a few months before winning the prize, Kragh published the first-ever scientific biography of the Danish physicist Ludvig Valentin Lorenz (1829-1891) in October 2018, describing him as Denmark's first theoretical physicist of international recognition. Though often regarded as a secondary figure in the history of science, Kragh highlights that Lorenz made significant contributions across various fields, including materials science, optics, and electrodynamics.

Today, his legacy is preserved in terms like the Lorenz gauge, the Lorenz-Lorentz formula, the Lorenz-Mie theory, and the Lorenz number, which bear his name. For more information on the book and to download the PDF version, visit this link at Det Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskab , The Royal Danish Academy of Sciences And Letters.

Ludvig Lorenz: A Nineteenth-Century Theoretical Physicist

According to Pantheon World, a project that uses biographical data to expose patterns of human collective memory, Ludvig Lorenz is the 4th most famous Danish Physicist only behind Hans Christian ?rsted (1777 - 1851), Niels Bohr (1885 - 1962) and Aage Bohr (1922 - 2009).

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