PROFESSOR SUSHANTA DATTAGUPTA

We revisit the Saha ionization equation almost a century after it was written down. The equation, which is considered as the harbinger of modern Astrophysics, is loaded with remarkable insights -- some stated, some implied. We would like to unravel the overt and covert aspects of the equation that straddle a remarkable canvas of interdisciplinary concepts. These include early application of the emerging ideas of the Bohr model of the atom, spectroscopy, yet-to-be formulated theory of chemical reactions, and indeed of deep aspects of equilibrium and non-equilibrium statistical mechanics.