Scientific Calendar Event



Description Physics Without Frontiers, Active Learning in Optics (ALO) Group in collaboration with OPTICA Student Chapter and ICO territory Pakistan based at Department of Physics Quaid-i-Azam University are organizing two schools/ workshops in remote areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). This project is supported by two partner institutions located in remote and underserved regions of KPK, Pakistan. Both universities primarily serve first-generation female students and have expressed strong interest in strengthening their capacity in optics, photonics, and quantum science.

Women universities in KPK have limited access to experimental physics and emerging fields such as quantum electronics and quantum optics. This project introduces affordable hands-on activities and crash courses in introductory and advanced optics and quantum optics to strengthen practical skills and conceptual understanding. Using the Active Learning in Optics (ALO) approach, the program builds local capacity, boosts student confidence, and prepares young women for advanced studies and future opportunities in photonics, quantum science, and high-technology sectors.

The activity at Women University Mardan will include a course on Quantum optics (master's level), with a pre-requisite course Electromagnetic theory I.  The following  subjects will be included:

Review of quantum mechanics: wave mechanics, Dirac notation, two-level quantum systems, quantum pictures: Schrodinger, Heisenberg, and interaction pictures, density matrix formalism: ensemble description of quantum systems, atom-field interaction: semi-classical approach, quantization of electromagnetic field, number and coherent states of radiation field, quantum theory of atom-field interaction, minimal coupling Hamiltonian, Jaynes-Cummings model, advanced topics in quantum optics.

The school will also include demonstration and hand-on optics experiments.  

Registration link:  https://forms.gle/j8RnAH6rhYt7gzr47

Project coordinator: Dr. Imrana Ashraf, Department of Physics, Quaid-i-Azam University 
Local organisers: Dr. Ambreen Ayub, Ms. Sadia Saleem, Ms. Kalsoom Iqbal, Department of Physics, Women University Mardan, Mardan, KPK 

Speakers:
 Dr. Imrana Ashraf, Department of Physics Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad Pakistan
 Dr. Raheel Ali, Department of Physics Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad Pakistan
 Dr. Mohammad Zahid, Department of Physics Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad Pakistan
 Prof. John Dudley, Université Marie et Louis Pasteur
 Prof. Joseph Niemela, ICTP

Tutors/facilitators:
Mr. Masad Qayyum, Department of Physics Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
Raja Sanwal, Department of Physics Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad Pakistan
Mr. Zeeshan Ali, Department of Physics Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad Pakistan
Ms. Nimra Ghazanfar, Department of Physics Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan
Ms. Hamna Shoaib, Department of Physics Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad
Ms. Syeda Hamna, Department of Physics Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad
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Go to day
  • Monday, 30 March 2026
    • 07:30 - 10:30 DAY 1 - Foundations of Quantum Optics - Morning Session
      • 07:30 Inauguration 30' ( Lecture Hall, Mardan University )
        Chief Guest
        Speaker: Prof. Razia Sultana (Mardan University)
      • 08:00 Lecture 1: Review of Quantum Mechanics 1h30' ( Lecture Hall, Mardan University )
        Wave mechanics; Dirac notation; Two-level quantum systems
        Speaker: Dr. Imrana Ashraf (ICTP/Quaid-i-Azam University)
      • 09:30 Lunch Break 1h0'
    • 10:30 - 12:15 DAY 1 - Foundations of Quantum Optics - Afternoon Session
      • 10:30 Lecture 2: General Talk 45' ( Lecture Hall, Mardan University )
        Special Lecture
        Speaker: Prof. Joe Niemela (ICTP)
      • 11:15 Lecture 3: Quantum Pictures 1h0' ( Lecture Hall, Mardan University )
        Schrödinger picture; Heisenberg picture; Interaction picture
        Speaker: Dr. Imrana Ashraf (ICTP/Quaid-i-Azam University)
  • Tuesday, 31 March 2026
    • 06:00 - 10:15 DAY 2 - Quantum Statistical Description - Morning Session
      • 06:00 Lecture 4: Density Matrix Formalism 1h30' ( Lecture Hall, Mardan University )
        Pure vs mixed states; Ensemble description; Decoherence concepts
        Speaker: Dr. Imrana Ashraf (ICTP/Quaid-i-Azam University)
      • 07:30 Coffee Break 15'
      • 07:45 Lecture 5: Atom-Field Interaction (Semi-Classical Approach) 1h30' ( Lecture Hall, Mardan University )
        Online; Rabi model; Optical Bloch equations; Spontaneous emission
        Speaker: Dr. Raheel Ali (Quaid-i-Azam University)
      • 09:15 Lunch Break 1h0'
    • 10:15 - 12:15 DAY 2 - Quantum Statistical Description - Afternoon Session
      • 10:15 Lecture 6: Quantization of Electromagnetic Field 1h0' ( Lecture Hall, Mardan University )
        Mode expansion; Creation and annihilation operators; Vacuum fluctuations
        Speaker: Dr. Imrana Ashraf (ICTP/Quaid-i-Azam University)
      • 11:15 Hands-On Optics I 1h0' ( Lecture Hall, Mardan University )
        Speaker: Masad, Sanwal and Nimra (Quaid-i-Azam University)
  • Wednesday, 1 April 2026
    • 06:00 - 10:00 DAY 3 - Fully Quantum Interaction - Morning Session
      • 06:00 Lecture 7: States of Quantized Field 1h30' ( Lecture Hall, Mardan University )
        Fock states; Coherent states; Photon statistics
        Speaker: Dr. Imrana Ashraf (ICTP/Quaid-i-Azam University)
      • 07:30 Tea Break 15'
      • 07:45 Lecture 8: Quantum Theory of Atom-Field Interaction 1h30' ( Lecture Hall, Mardan University )
        In person; Minimal coupling Hamiltonian; Dipole approximation; RWA; Jaynes-Cummings model
        Speaker: Dr. Raheel Ali (Quaid-i-Azam University)
      • 09:15 Lunch Break 45'
    • 10:00 - 12:00 DAY 3 - Fully Quantum Interaction - Afternoon Session
      • 10:00 Special Lecture: "Light, Lasers and the Nobel Prize" 1h0' ( Lecture Hall, Mardan University )
        Special Lecture
        Speaker: Prof. John Dudley
      • 11:00 Demonstration Session 1h0' ( Lecture Hall, Mardan University )
        Speaker: Zeeshan Ali and Hamna Shoaib (Quaid-i-Azam University)
  • Thursday, 2 April 2026
    • 06:00 - 12:30 DAY 4 - Hands-On Session - Morning Session
      • 06:00 Hands-On Session II 1h30' ( Lecture Hall, Mardan University )
        Speaker: Masad, Sanwal and Nimra (Quaid-i-Azam University)
      • 07:30 Tea Break 15'
        TEA BREAK
      • 07:45 MCQs Session 1h45' ( Lecture Hall, Mardan University )
        Speaker: Masad, Sanwal and Nimra (Quaid-i-Azam University)
      • 09:30 Lunch Break 1h0'
    • 10:30 - 12:30 DAY 4 - Hands-On Session - Afternoon Session
      • 10:30 TBD 1h0'
      • 11:30 Concluding Remarks and Certificate Distribution 1h0' ( Lecture Hall, Mardan University )
        Speaker: Dr. Imrana Ashraf (ICTP/Quaid-i-Azam University)