“Modeling of Crystal Growth Processes (MCGPD-2023)” and “Workshop on Photovoltaics (IJWP-2023)”

I am very glad to share that our SSN Research Centre, Department of Physics, and SSN Institutions in association with the International Organization for Crystal Growth and Indian Association for Crystal Growth had organized the 3rd International Symposium on “Modeling of Crystal Growth Processes and Devices (MCGPD-2023)” during March 06–08, 2023. The 3 days international symposium was highly propitious for the researchers who are working in the field of modeling and simulation of various crystal growth processes, semiconductor devices, NLO, and piezoelectric devices. The goal of the symposium was to give a fundamental understanding of modeling prospects to young researchers in exploring recent and advanced developments. The symposium included 31 Plenary/Keynote/Invited lectures by eminent experts from foreign and Indian institutions. Around 230 posters/oral presentations from the researchers were presented. Professors/Scientists from leading crystal growth countries like the USA, Israel, Japan, Germany, France, Russia, Romania, and Taiwan participated and presented their work in the symposium. In our country, Professors/Scientists, and young researchers from various leading institutes like IITs, IISc, CSIR labs, Central and state universities, and colleges took active participation.

The 3 days symposium was conducted in 12 technical sessions, which were constituted of 25 Keynote lectures, 6 Plenary talks, and 230 post/oral presentations. The symposium started with a welcome address by Prof. P. Ramasamy, President of the Indian Association for Crystal Growth, following that Prof. Umesh V Wgahmare, President, IASc, Banglore, and Prof. Noritaka Usami, Nagoya University, Japan gave Chief Guest addresses. The symposium was inaugurated with the release of the MCGPD-2023 abstract book by Prof. Koichi Kakimoto, President of the International Organization for Crystal Growth, and felicitated by Prof. Kozo Fujiwara, Tohoku University, Japan, and Prof. Jyh-Chen Chen, Vice-President, National Central University Taiwan, etc.,

The main motive of the 2nd Indo-Japan Joint Workshop on Photovoltaics (IJWP-2023) workshop was to bring together eminent researchers from India and Japan to share their ideas and recent developments in the field of photovoltaic technologies. Around 70 abstracts have been submitted to IJWP-2023, of which only high-quality papers are accepted to be presented as posters in this event. The chief highlights of this workshop are the 13 talks delivered by distinguished scientists like Prof. Noritaka Usami, Nagoya University, Prof. Yoshitaka Okada, RCAST, The University of Tokyo, Dr.Kosuke O. Hara, University of Yamanashi, Dr. Kentaro Kutsukake, RIKEN, Nagoya University, Dr.Yutaka Ohno, Tohoku University, Dr.P.Ramasamy, SSN Institutions, Dr. Anil Kottantharayil IIT Bombay, Dr. J. K. Bath IIT Madras, Dr. Vamsi Krishna IIT Delhi, Dr. C.V Kannan, Adani Solar, Dr. Sanjay K. Srivastava NPL, Dr S Sudhakar, CSIR-CEERI, Dr.Kazuhiro Gotoh, Nagoya University, Dr. R. Easwaramoorthi, ARC, Hyderabad.

Based on conference and workshop presentations, we have received 58 Articles for this special issue in which out of 58 articles 24 papers have been published after the peer review process. We thank our international reviewers and editorial committee of Crystal Research and Technology for their valuable work. Especially, on behalf of the MCGPD-2023 and IJWP-2023 organizing committee, I would like to express their gratitude to Marc Zastrow, Editor-in-Chief of Crystal Research and Technology, for his kind acceptance to publish the papers as a special issue.

With Kind Regards

Srinivasan Manickam

Convener, MCGPD-2023 and IJWP-2023