Institute of Physics Singapore (IPS) Meeting 2024

The Institute of Physics Singapore (IPS) Meeting 2024 continued its tradition of excellence, drawing physicists and researchers from Singapore and beyond for a vibrant exchange of knowledge and innovation. Hosted from 2^nd to 4^th October at the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences of NTU, IPS 2024 offered a dynamic platform for collaboration, networking, and scientific discovery across various fields of physics.

This annual gathering has steadily grown in both scale and significance, attracting over 500 participants and providing a unique opportunity for attendees to connect and collaborate. Across the three days event, 115 technical talks were delivered, covering diverse topics spanning between quantum physics, photonics, electronics, 2D materials, and plasma physics. Each day featured multiple parallel session tracks, ensuring a rich and varied experience for all participants.

The event began with a series of plenary talks led by distinguished scientists who shared their expertise and offered valuable perspectives to the audience. Key highlights include:

• Asst Prof Yijie Shen from the School of Mathematical and Physical Science of NTU opened the event with his enlightening research on "Topological optical skyrmions of free space-time," sharing the latest developments in this groundbreaking area of physics.
• Prof Antonio Helio Castro Neto, from the Centre of Advanced 2D Materials at NUS, discussed the critical challenge of heat management in modern nano-electronics, and presented a novel solution based on carbon thin-film material with record breaking electrical and thermal transport anisotropies.
• Prof Berthold-Georg Englert from Centre for Quantum Technologies at NUS, reviewed the history of uncertainty relations, starting from Heisenberg’s work in 1927, and how all the standard inequalities can be derived from a single fundamental equation.
• Dr Arseniy Kuznetsov, from the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering at A*STAR, highlighted the emergence of metasurfaces as cutting-edge optical devices capable of manipulating light at sub-wavelength scales. He emphasised their potential to replace conventional lenses and their ability to dynamically control light in innovative ways.
• Prof Yi Dong Chong from the School of Mathematical and Physical Science of NTU, explored the rich behaviours of non-Hermitian periodic media, highlighting phenomena such as gain/loss-induced topological states, non-Hermitian Dirac quasiparticles, and bound states forming complex energy continua.
• Assoc Prof Dario Poletti from Science, Mathematics and Technology Cluster of SUTD, examined the thermalization of large quantum systems, highlighting varying dynamics based on symmetries, the emergence of non-equilibrium steady states as prethermal states for experimental studies, and the use of neural network quantum states in simulations.
• Assoc Prof Daniel Leykam from Science, Mathematics and Technology Cluster of SUTD, presented the most recent discoveries in flat band periodic lattices, where vanishing wave group velocity enables perfect wave localisation and enhanced sensitivity to perturbations, leading to intriguing phenomena. 

[Left] Prof Antonio Helio Castro Neto discussing novel carbon thin-film for nano-electronics applications. [Right] Asst Prof Yijie Shen during his plenary talk regarding optical skyrmions as new route for topological and quantum technologies

The poster session held on the second day offered young researchers and students a platform to showcase their work to peers. Preceding the poster exhibition featuring selected posters, a 3-minute pitch session was arranged, enabling each poster author to concisely present their key findings to the audience. The day wrapped up with pizza and drinks, as per tradition.

Annually, IPS honours distinguished researchers and academics for their remarkable contributions to their respective fields. This year, an IPS Award ceremony was conducted during the meeting to celebrate Prof Lui Pao Chuen for “his significant contribution to the Nation, through the advancement of Physics and Technology in Singapore’’. Prof Chuen was appointed as a Distinguished Honorary IPS Fellow, joining the ranks of eminent figures such as former Singapore President Tony Tan and Nobel laureate Zhores Alferov.

Researchers and students presenting their work during technical talk session (Left) and poster exhibition session (Right).  

The IPS meeting was concluded with a whiteboard session organised by Quantum SG, the quantum community of Singapore. The session aimed to strengthen the local quantum ecosystem by facilitating networking and collaboration among members, sharing insights, supporting project development and welcoming new members.

The success of the IPS Meeting 2024 was made possible through the collaboration of various institutional partners, including the Department of Physics and the Department of Materials Sciences at NUS, the School of Physics and Applied Physics at NTU, and several research centres. Supports also came from the Quantum Engineering Programme, the Institute of Advanced Studies at NTU, and A*STAR. 

The IPS Meeting 2024 marked a pivotal event for physicists, researchers, and scientists, providing a forum for the exchange of ideas, the enhancement of diversity and inclusion, and the celebration of significant contributions to the discipline of physics. As participants conclude their attendance and return to their respective institutions and research projects, they leave equipped with valuable insights, potential collaborations, and renewed motivation, fostering an environment conducive to a successful year ahead in the physical sciences.