iiser roorke physics

7/25/2019 IISER roorke Physics

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Physical Sciences

IISER Mohali

Soft Matter Physics

Novel Materials Lab

Quantum Thermodynamics

Femto-Laser Lab

Nonlinear Dynamics& Complex Systems

Cosmology

Laser Physics

BEC and Photons Lab

String Theory

NMR Lab

Statistical Physics

Correlated & DisorderedElectron Systems

Ultra-Low Temperature Lab

Condensed Matter Physics

Quantum Computing

Biophysics

General Relativity



The Department of Physical Sciences has witnessed exciting growth in a

short period of six years. This brochure represents, in a nutshell, this young

and vibrant department. Our mission is to contribute to the advancement of

the understanding of our physical world through basic and applied research,

and engage students in the excitement in the world of physics.

Our Department provides a challenging, yet supportive environment, in which

to pursue research and teaching goals, and we have strived to create an

atmosphere of collaboration and collegiality. Research in this Department

covers incredible range, encompassing phenomena spanning length scales

from nanometers to megaparsecs, and time scales from attoseconds to billions

of years! There is great variety in the Department, and we house high

performance computing facilities and many state-of-the-art research

laboratories.

The Department has been pro-active in running a successful teaching

program, and my colleagues are seeking bright and energetic students to

further strengthen and sustain the activities of the research groups, through

the Integrated PhD, PhD and post-doctoral programs. Members of this

Department are part of national bodies, such Programme Advisory

Committees of DST and the National Board of Higher Mathematics, and they

have received significant external funding and awards from several sponsored

projects from DST, DBT and CSIR.

Hope you enjoy this virtual walk through our Department!

Sudeshna Sinha27 September 2013



Quantum Information Dr. ArvindProfessor

Research Interests

Quantum Computing: Quantum computers whenfunctional, are expected to qualitatively outperform

their classical counterparts. Characterising quantum

entanglement and tracing its exact role in quantum

algorithms remains a challenging open problem.

I have worked on issues related to quantum

entanglement in the context of the Deutsch-Jozsa

algorithm and Parity Determining algorithm,

quantum dissipation and its control, optical schemes

for quantum computers and NMR implementationsof quantum information processors. My current

research interests in quantum information include

characterisation of bound state entanglement, role of

entanglement in quantum computation, quantum

crytography and physical implementations of

quantum computers.

Arvind is a theoretical physicist whose research interests span the areas of quantum

information processing, quantum optics, foundations of quantum mechanics and research in

physics education.



Selected Recent Publications

• Ritabrata Sengupta and Arvind, Phys. Rev. A, 87, 012318, (2012).

• Ritabrata Sengupta and Arvind, Phys. Rev. A, 84, 032328, (2011).

• Geetu Narang and Arvind. Phys. Rev. A 75, 032305, (2007).

• Arvind, Gurpreet Kaur and Geetu Narang, J. Opt. Soc. Am. B, 24, 221 (2007).

Foundations of Quantum Mechanics: I have also been working on connection of Bell's

inequalities with non-classicality of states of the radiation field, formulation of Bell's

inequalities for multi-photon sources, geometric phases in quantum mechanics, different

approaches to the quantum measurement problem and in particular understanding weak

measurements. Quantum Optics: My research in quantum optics includes signatures of non-

classical behaviour for the radiation field such as squeezing, sub-Poissonian photon statistics

and antibunching, and application of group theoretic methods in quantum optics.

Physics Education: I am working on building new experiments for physics teaching which aredesigned around a certain conceptual theme. Experiments developed so far include random

sampling of an AC source with a DC meter, a demonstration of Coriolis force, normal modes

and symmetry breaking in a 2D pendulum using a single oscillator, and a quantitative study of

ion diffusion.

Phd students and postdocs working in my group: Ritabrata Sengupta, Debmalya Das, Shruti

Dogra (jointly with Dr Dorai), Harpreet Singh (jointly with Dr Dorai), Dr Roman Sverdlov



Cosmology Prof. J. S. Bagla

Research Interests

I work on questions related formation of galaxies and large scale structure within theframework of the standard cosmological model. It is believed that the large scale structure

forms due to gravitational collapse around over dense regions. This process amplifies tiny

fluctuations in density and leads to formation of highly over dense regions called halos.

Galaxies are believed to form when gas in halos cools and undergoes further collapse to form

stars.

The process of gravitational collapse in an expanding universe is fairly complex and we are

required to simulate this on super computers in order to follow relevant details. My

contribution in this field has been in development of highly optimized methods for doingcosmological N-Body simulations. We have used these simulations to study the process of

gravitational clustering and demonstrate that this process erases differences between

different types of initial fluctuations. Suites of simulations have also been used to point out

deviations from certain strong assumptions

Prof. J. S Bagla completed his PhD from IUCAA, Pune in 1996. He worked as a post-doctoral

research associate at the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge for two years, and

then at the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics for slightly over a year before joining

the Harish-Chandra Research Institute, Allahabad, as a faculty member in 1999. He joined

IISER Mohali in 2010.



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Research InterestsThe aim of our group is to understand the physical properties of biological and soft condensed

matter systems that are driven out of equilibrium. We use both analytical approaches

(Equilibrium and Non-equilibrium Statistical Mechanics, Hydrodynamics) and computational

method (Molecular Dynamics, Brownian Dynamics, Monte Carlo) to investigate the dynamics

of systems ranging from the cell membrane and the cell cytoskeleton to polymers and colloids

in confinement. Currently the group has one PhD student, two MS students and one BS

student.

Dr. A. Chaudhuri completed his PhD from S. N. Bose National Center for Basic Sciences, India in

Soft Condensed Matter Physics. He has done postdocs at University of Oxford and University of

Sheffield, UK, Raman Research Institute and Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India. He

joined the institute in 2012.

The cell is an active dynamical medium, constantly generating and dissipating energy to sustain

the various life processes. It is subject to active stresses arising from a meshwork of filaments

(cell cytoskeleton), which is driven out of equilibrium. We use an active hydrodynamics

approach for the coupled dynamics of these filaments and the motor proteins to determine the

organization of molecules on the cell surface. We study the consequences of such organization

on signalling platforms and the uptake of material by the cell. We also study the response of

cytoskeletal filaments to exteternal perturbations.

Soft and Biological MatterDr. Abhishek Chaudhuri

Assistant Professor



In soft condensed matter, our aim is to understand the emergent properties of colloids and

polymers in confinement or otherwise, when they are subjected to time dependent external

drives.

We are also interested in studying transportproperties in general. More specifically we have

been studying the problem of heat transport using

non-equilibrium simulations and direct numerical

evaluations of current given in terms of phonon

Green's function.

Selected Publications

A. Chaudhuri , B. Bhattacharya, K. Gowrishankar, S. Mayor and M. Rao, PNAS 108, 14825 (2011).

A. Chaudhuri , G. Battaglia and R. Golestanian , Phys. Biol. 8, 046002 (2011).

J. Cohen, A. Chaudhuri and R. Golestanian, Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 238102 (2011).

A. Chaudhuri et al , Phys. Rev. B. 81, 064301 (2010).

A. Chaudhuri , S. Sengupta and M. Rao, Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 266103 (2005).

Selected pictures highlighting research theme of the group



NMR group Dr. Kavita Dorai Associate Professor

Research Interests

NMR Quantum Computing : Quantum computers exploit the intrinsic quantum nature of

particles and have the power to solve computational problems intractable on any classical

computer. Our research in this area focuses on demonstrations of entanglement on an NMR

quantum computer and reconstruction of multi-party entanglement from two-qubit

tomographs, implementation of the quantum Fourier transform on qubit and hybrid qubit-

qutrit systems, protection of an entangled subspace using the quantum super-Zeno effect,

and construction of an ensemble witness operator on an NMR quantum information

processor.

NMR Metabolomics: Metabolomics is the new kid on the `omics' block and metabolites can be

used as biomarkers of environmental stress or change. Our research in this area focuses on

plant-pathogen interactions, plant-insect interactions, human diseases such as diabetes and

the impact of aging on immunity, using fruitflies, beetles and plant tissue as model systems.

(Note: Images to be used for NMR Metabolomics: metabolomics.eps,2d-hsqc.jpg).

NMR Research Facility: The Dorai group maintains the NMR Research Facility at IISER Mohali,

which currently houses two high-field FT-NMR spectrometers, 400 MHz and 600 MHz, bothfrom Bruker Biospin Switzerland.

Dr Kavita Dorai is an experimental physicist working on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)spectroscopy, whose research is poised at the interface of Physics and Biology. Her current

research interests include NMR Quantum Computing, NMR Metabolomics and Diffusion Studies

of Nanoparticles in Biomaterials using Gradient NMR. Dr Dorai obtained her PhD from IISc

Bangalore in 2000. After post-doctoral stints at Frankfurt University and Dortmund University

Germany and at Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh USA, she joined the faculty of IIT-

Madras. She moved to IISER Mohali in August 2007 when the institute was established, and has

set up the NMR Research Facility.




• M. Nimbalkar, R. Zeier, J. L. Neves, S. Begam Elavarasi, H. Yuan, N. Khaneja, Kavita Dorai and

S. J. Glaser, Phys. Rev. A 85, 012325 (2012).

• Matsyendranath Shukla and Kavita Dorai, Magn. Reson. Chem. 50, 341 (2012).

• Matsyendranath Shukla and Kavita Dorai, J. Magn. Reson. 213, 69 (2011).

• Amrita Kumari and Kavita Dorai, J. Phys. Chem. A 115, 6543 (2011).

• S. Begam Elavarasi and Kavita Dorai , Chem. Phys. Lett. 489, 248 (2010).

Diffusion NMR: Diffusion NMR has wide-ranging applications in physics, biology and medicine.

Our research in this area focuses on the development of novel 2D and 3D DOSY-based diffusion

pulse sequences to separate individual components of a molecular mixture, to study the

diffusion of gold and silver nanoparticles inside biomembranes such as lipid bilayers, and to

model protein diffusion using a combination of pulsed-field gradient NMR experiments and

molecular dynamics simulations.

Current PhD students:

Shruti Dogra (jointly with Prof. Arvind)

Harpreet Singh (jointly with Prof. Arvind)

Navdeep Gogna (jointly with Dr Prasad)

Satnam Singh

Former PhD students: Begam Elavarasi (now faculty at

Abdur Rahman University, TN India) Amrita Kumari

(now postdoc at Shanghai University, China)

M. Shukla (now postdoc at Glasgow University, Scotland)



General Relativity &

CosmologyDr. H. K. Jassal

Assist. Professor

Research Interests

The observations in the last decade and a half have lead us to believe that the expansion of

our universe is getting faster. To explain this acceleration, we need an exotic form of matter

called the dark energy, the nature of which is unknown (The fractions of the components of the universe are displayed in Fig. 1.). The dark energy component has negative pressure unlike

ordinary matter which is pressureless and radiation which has positive pressure. Many models

for Dark Energy have been proposed, including the cosmological constant. Observations at

present and the ones in the future are expected to throw light on nature of dark energy and in

general on the cosmological parameters.

Dr. H. K. Jassal completed her PhD from Delhi University. She was a postdoctoral fellow at

IUCAA Pune and HRI Allahabad. She joined the institute in 2011.

The universe has only 4% of ordinary matter, the kind we are made of. The rest is composed

of largely unknown types of matter. About 24% of which is Dark Matter, which is pressureless

and interacts only via gravitational forces. The most dominant component of the universe is

the mysterious Dark Energy which drives the acceleration of the universe. I am interested in

using different observations to constrain cosmological parameters, in particular the dark

energy equation of state. The constraints on dark energy parameters using different

observations are shown in Fig. 2.




• H. K. Jassal Phys. Rev. D 86, 043529 (2012).• H. K. Jassal, J. S. Bagla, T. Padmanabhan MNRAS 405, 2639 (2010).

• H. K. Jassal Phys. Rev. D 81, 083513 (2010).



I am also working on implications of dark energy on structures in the universe if dark energy

itself actively contributes. In recent work, I have shown that taking dark energy perturbations

into account is important as these perturbations affect how normal matter perturbations

grow. In particular, the observable effect of these perturbations is in the Integrated Sachs

Wolfe effect, which is zero if the universe is composed only of nonrelativistic matter and in

presence of dark energy has a nonzero value. I show that there are significant differences in

the way structures form (see Fig. 3) for different models and future observations should be

able to rule out some of the many models of dark energy.



Quantum Thermodynamics Dr. Ramandeep S. Johal Associate Professor

Research Interests

The main research interests of the group are in the foundational issues in thermodynamics and

quantum theory. The connection between information-theoretic concepts and

thermodynamics is explored. The current interests include Quantum Thermodynamics and

different formulations of nonequilibrium thermodynamics. Some questions for reflection relateto the nature of probability in physics and the use of Bayesian inference in physical theories.

The past research interests include deformed algebras, generalized statistical mechanics and

long-range interactions.

Quantum Thermodynamics: This rather novel area

refers to the interplay between thermodynamics

and quantum theory. It provides the theoretical

backbone to understand the functioning of miniature

thermal machines and information processing devies.The techniques of quantum systems interacting with

thermal environments provide a useful tool. The

classical thermodynamic processes can be reformulated

for quantum media. We have studied quantum heat

cycles such as Otto cycle, and characterized its efficiency and work extraction. Cycles in finite

time are studied and effect of quantum interactions between the components of the system

are investigated. Dissipation and irreversibility are analysed with friction-like effects in the

quantum regime. Sometimes, we also conduct thought experiments using age-old models like

Szilard engine, exploiting Maxwell's demon to understand the role of information-theoretic

ideas in thermodynamic settings.

Dr. Ramandeep Johal did his PhD in theoretical physics from Panjab University, Chandigarh. He

was Alexander von Humboldt fellow at Technical University of Dresden, Germany. He did a

second post-doc at University of Barcelona, Spain. He joined the institute in 2008.




• P. Aneja and R. S. Johal, J. Phys. A: Math. Theor . 46, 365002 (2013). (2013).

• G. Thomas and R. S. Johal, Phys. Rev. E 83, 031135 (2012)

• G. Thomas and R. S. Johal, Phys. Rev. E 82, 061113 (2010).

• R. S. Johal, A.E. Allahverdyan and G. Mahler , Phys. Rev. E 77, 041118 (2008).

Inference and physical theory: Inference may be regarded

as common-sense reasoning in the face of incomplete

information. The philosophical perspective central to this

investigation is that prior information can play useful role

to characterise uncertainty. Taking thermodynamics as

the substrate physical theory, we estimate the

performance of idealized heat engines with incomplete

information, in terms of their efficiency and obtainednovel correspondence with irreversible finite-time heat

engines. We seek to understand the interplay of

subjective/objective information in the formulation and

interpretation of physical theories, in general. Techniques

like maximum entropy principle, Bayesian statistics and

information-theoretic quantifiers play useful role.

Maxwell’s Demon at work



Statistical Mechanics,

Soft Matter PhysicsDr. Rajeev Kapri

Assistant Professor

Research Interests

His broad research interests are in developing simple models of complex biological processesand study them by using tools of statistical physics like generating functions, exact transfer

matrix, Brownian Dynamics, Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations.

Dr. Rajeev Kapri was a doctoral scholar at Institute of Physics Bhubaneswar and obtained his

Ph.D. in Physics from Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI) Mumbai, India. Before joining the

institute in 2009, he was a visiting fellow at Department of Theoretical Physics, Tata Institute of

Fundamental Research (TIFR) Mumbai.




•Rajeev Kapri, Phys. Rev. E 86, 041906 (2012).

• K. P. Singh, Rajeev Kapri and S. Sinha, Euro Phys. Lett 98, 60004 (2012).

• Rajeev Kapri and D. Dhar, Phys. Rev. E 80, 1051118 (2009).

• Rajeev Kapri, J. Chem. Phys. 130, 14510 (2009).

His recent interests are in exploring: (i) the surface-polymer interaction via external forcing of

the polymer, (ii) the behavior of particles or fluids on a fluctuating membrane, (iii) hysteresis in

DNA, and, (iv) the behavior of polymer in a confined environment.

Pictures gallary from Femto-laser Lab



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• J. Venderbos, M. Daghofer, J. v. d. Brink and S. Kumar , Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 076405 (2011).• G. Giovannetti, S. Kumar et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 106 , 026401 (2011).

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Condensed Matter Physics Dr. Goutam SheetRamanujan Fellow

Research Interests:

The principal research interest of the group is

the investigation of systems exhibiting novel

physical phenomena like superconductivity,

ferroelectricity, ferromagnetism,

multiferroicity etc. using scanning probe

microscopy and transport spectroscopy at low

temperatures and high magnetic fields. In

superconductors, the interest is to study the

nature of the superconducting gap(s) by

point-contact spectroscopy and scanning

tunneling microscopy at low temperatures.

The group also investigates the physics of themagnetic vortices in unconventional

superconductors by magnetic force

microscopy at low temperatures and in

magnetic fields. Using these techniques one

can also probe the ferromagnetic and

ferroelectric materials.

Ferroelectric Lithography on PZT using an

AFM tip

Dr. Goutam Sheet completed his PhD from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai in

condensed matter physics. He has done two postdocs at Northwestern university, Chicago, USA

and Argonne national Laboratory, Argonne, USA. He joined the institute in 2012.

Particle ejection from a hard superconductor

due to pulsed laser irradiation



Selected Recent Publications• L. Fang, Y. Jia, C. Chaparro, G. Sheet , H. Claus, M. A. Kirk, A. E. Koshelev, U. Welp,

G. W. Crabtree, W. K. Kwok et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 101, 012601 (2012).

• Goutam Sheet , Manan Mehta, D. A. Dikin, S. Lee, C. W. Bark, J. Jiang, J. D. Weiss, E. E. Hellstrom,

M. S. Rzchowski, C. B. Eom, and V. Chandrasekhar Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 167003 (2010).

• Goutam Sheet , Alexandra R. Cunliffe, Erik J. Offerman, Chad M. Folkman, Chang-Beom Eom, and

Venkat Chandrasekhar, J. App. Phys. 107, 104309 (2010).

• Goutam Sheet and Pratap Raychaudhuri, Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 259701 (2006).

Plasma formed on the surface of copper

arget during sputtering in the device lab

The lab dedicates significant amount of time developing new measurement techniques. A state of the art scanning tunneling microscope for low temperature and high magnetic field applications is

being designed and fabricated in house. The final design of the STM head is shown below:

Human red blood cell imaged by AFM



Femto-Laser Laboratory Dr. K. P. SinghRamanujan Fellow

Research Interests

The lab houses a state-of-the art femtosecond laser system that produces intense ultra-short IR

pulses with 2mJ energy per pulse at 1 kHz repitition rate. These pulses can be further

compressed to produce phase-stabilized few cycle sub 7fs laser pulses. We study applications

of these pulses in laser-matter interaction, attosecond physics, pump-probe measurements

and in biology. Current PhD students: Bhupesh Kumar, Gopal Verma, Postdoc: Dr. P. Kumar.

Attosecond Physics: We are working to setup an

Attosecond beam line to produce attosecond

XUV pulses of light (1as=10-18s) using high

harmonic generation (HHG). Application of

these coherent XUV pulses for pump-probe

experiments are envisioned. Besides, thecoherent control of electron dynamics is

Theoretically studies by numerically solving

TDSE.

Ultrafast optics: Interaction of fs-pulses with

various materials is an active research

area. We are studying various phenomenon

like time-resolved abalation, nonlinear optics

using intense pulses.

White light filamentation by fs-pulse

Dr. K. P. Singh completed his PhD from University of Rennes1, France in laser Physics. He has

done two postdocs at Max Planck Institute Dresden and JRM Lab. Kansas State University, USA.

He joined the institute in 2009.




• Gopal Verma, James Nair, Kamal P. Singh, Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 079401 (2013).

• Kamal P. Singh, R. Kapri, Sudeshna Sinha, Euro Phys. Lett. 98, 60004 (2012).

• Kamal P. Singh and Sudeshna Sinha, Phys. Rev. E 83,046219 (2011).

• A. Kenfack and Kamal P. Singh, Phys. Rev. E 82, 046224 (2010).

• Kamal P. Singh et al , Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 023001, (2010).

Biophotonics and Biophysics: Applications of the

femtosecond and CW lasers to study biological systemsare explored. We have exploited diffraction based optical

techniques to probe long-range correlations in the

biophotonic architecture of transparent insect wings and

spider silk systems. The interaction of ultrashort laser

pulses to precision abalation biological materials is also

considered.

Pictures from Femto-laser Lab

Diffraction by twisted spider silk

Bending fluid-interfaces with light: Recently, we

demonstrated bending of fluid-fluid and air-fluid

interfaces by radiation pressure in total-internal

reflection geometry. This sheds light onto nature of

light-interface phenomenon that may find potential

applications.



Quantum Research Laboratory

Bose Einstein Condensation & PhotonsDr. Mandip Singh Assist. Professor

Research InterestsQuantum mechanics is a broad subject that explains how photons, atoms, molecules and

subatomic particles work. Modern day technology is based on practical implications of quantum

mechanics. From foundational point of view quantum superposition and entanglement are

counterintuitive aspects of the microscopic world. According to quantum superposition

principle, a particle can be present at more than a one location at a given instant of time.

Entanglement can be considered as a superposition in which constituents can be separated.

When two entangled particles are separated in space their entanglement remains intact. A

measurement performed on the state of one particle results an immediate influence on the

state of other particle – a phenomenon known as nonlocality in quantum mechanics. Quantum

mechanics allows quantum superposition of macroscopic objects and even of living matter as

argued by Schrodinger through a cat paradox. However, no macroscopic object has observed yet

to be present at more than a one place at a given instant of time. Concept of reality, observation

in quantum mechanics and implication of quantum mechanics at macroscopic level are thetopics which are not yet completely explained.

To explore fundamental features of quantum mechanics the realization of two laboratories is in

progress. Equipped with edge cutting research technology the labs will explore the quantum

world through experiments based on Bose Einstein condensation and photons.



Extended cavity diode lasers of line width 100 kHz and mode hop free tuning range

50 GHz for laser cooling of neutral atoms.

Bose Einstein condensation experiment: Bose Einstein condensation occurs when

wave packets of individual bosonic atoms overlap as a result atoms in the condensed state

are governed by a single macroscopic wavefunction. Critical condition for Bose Einstein

condensation implies atomic wavepackets must be overlapped in momentum space as well

as in real space simultaneously.Bose Einstein condensation experiment consists of an ultrahigh vacuum chamber where

condensate will be produced in a magnetic trap. Extended cavity diode lasers will cool atoms

to a mK temperature range in a magneto optical trap, Further cooling below Doppler limit

will be realized through a polarization gradient cooling. Polarization gradient cooling will

produce a temperature of about 40 µK. Critical temperature which is of the order of 0.1µK

will be realized through an evaporative cooling using a radio frequency pulse. Bose Einstein

condensate will be observed through a technique called absorption imaging where a

resonant laser pulse is incident on a free falling condensate and scattered light from the

condensate is imaged with a lens on an EMCCD camera. Those atoms which are notcondensed expand faster during free fall while a Bose Einstein condensate expands much

slower and anisotropically during free fall. Anisotropic expansion of cold atoms is a signature

of Bose Einstein condensate. Temperature of ultracold atoms is calculated from rate of

expansion of atomic cloud during free fall.

Physics Education: Teaching physics through demonstration experiments, symmetries,

analogies, geometry and simplification of a complex phenomenon to root principles are the

key concepts in physics education. Integration of engineering & technology with advanced

experimental techniques of physics is an essential component for research innovations. In

this context, a paper resulting from work on physics education has been communicated to a journal.

Selected Recent Publications:

• J. Kofler, M Singh, M. Ebner, M. Keller, M. Kotyrba & A. Zeilinger, Phys. Rev. A 86, 032115 (2012).

• Mandip Singh, Optics Express. 17 , 2600 (2009).



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Nonlinear Dynamics &

Complex SystemsDr. Sudeshna SinhaFellow, Indian Academy of Science

Control of Chaotic Systems: This group is interested in strategies to control the dynamicalbehaviour of complex systems. In particular we have introduced the method of threshold

control, and demonstrated its success in simulations, such as for the case of neuronal spiking

and smart matter applications. We have also realized the idea in several experiments,

including most recently on time-delayed systems. We have also proposed distributed adaptive

schemes capable of stabilising complex spatio-temporal patterns in extended systems. Lastly,

we have also introduced adaptive “anticontrol” schemes for enhancement and maintenance

of chaos. This has relevance in contexts where enhanced chaos leads to improved

performance, such as mixing flows in chemical reactions.

Synchronization of Complex Networks: We work on problems of synchronization in a wide

variety of dynamical networks, ranging from epidemic spreading models to networks of

neurons and coupled cell pathways. Most recently, we have focused on investigating the

influence of dynamic and quenched random connections, on pattern formation in the

network.

Prof. Sudeshna Sinha completed her PhD from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research,

Mumbai. She has been a member of the physics faculty of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics,

Bangalore (1994-1996) and The Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai (1996-2011). She

joined IISER Mohali in 2009.

Research Interests



Interplay of noise and nonlinearity: The constructive

effect of of noise in enhancing performance is a focus of

recent work. For instance, we find how noise is crucial to

the emergence of robust logic behaviour. This

phenomena, called Logical Stochastic Resonance, is

studied in systems ranging from nano-mechanical

oscillators to electronics circuits.

Dynamics Based Computation: In recent years we have proposed the novel concept of chaos

computing. This paradigm has been realized in many electronic circuit experiments, and forms

the basis of a reconfigurable chip design, which is expected to yield a dynamic computer

architecture more flexible than the current static framework. Currently, we are exploring this

idea in a genetic ring oscillator network with quorum sensing feedback

Space time simulation of complex dynamical networks

Work on Synthetic Gene Networks as potential

Flexible Parallel Logic Gates: Cover of

Europhysics Letters (2011)

Current PhD students: Vivek Kohar, Anshul Choudhary

and Ankit Kumar. Postdoc: Soma De



Nano-Scale Mechanical and

Electronic Systems

@ Ultra-low Temperatures

Dr. Ananth VenkatesanRamanujan Fellow

Research Interests

We study mesoscopic devices like nano-electromechanical systems(NEMS) and 2-D electron

gas systems (2-DEGS) at ultra low temperatures. Out activities revolve around

i) A state of the are Ultra low temperature lab that can reach thermodynamic temperatures

~ 10 mK and

ii) A nano-scale Fabrication facility that includes tools like e-beam lithography, a plasma etch

system.

Currently, the lab. has two PhD students, two MS students and a Post-Doc who is joining us

shortly.

Dr. Ananth Venkatesan completed his PhD in Physics from Northeastern University, Boston

working on 2-D electron systems. He did a Post-Doc un UBC, Canada followed by a Post-Doc at

the University of Nottingham, U.K.

What is NEMS ?

nanoscale guitar string?

Super-conducting material

mple fabricated at

iversity of Regensburg by the PI. We will

able to make similar and even more complex

vices at IISER

Why Study NEMS @ low temp?

At T < 4.2 K almost everything except

Liquid helium freezes. Still a nano-scale beam Shows

a significant change in quality Factor with temp.

Shown below is the time domain Response

of ananoscale gold beam at 20 mK and 600 mK

A 5micron long180 nm wide Au beam

Data by PI from NottinghamResponse of the beam@ 20

& 600 mK



6

5

4

3

2

1

-120 -100 -80 -60 -40

Gate voltage (mV)

g (

e 2 / h )

______ B = 0T

______ B =10T

T =200mK

Selected Recent Publications• K.J Lulla, R B Cousins, A Venkatesan, M J Patton, A D Armour, C J Mellor and

J R Owers-Bradley, New J. Phys. 14 113040 (2012 )

• A. Venkatesan, K. J. Lulla, M. J. Patton, A. D. Armour, C. J. Mellor, and J. R.

Owers-Bradley Phys. Rev. B 81, 073410 ( 2010) .

• S. M. Frolov, A. Venkatesan, W. Yu, J. A. Folk, and W. Wegscheider

Phys . Rev. Lett . 102, 116802 – ( 2009)

• S. Anissimova, A. Venkatesan, A. A. Shashkin, M. R. Sakr, S. V. Kravchenko,

and T. M. Klapwijk Phys . Rev. Lett . 96, 046409 ( 2006 )

mage Gallery from the low temp lab a) Microwave waveguide circuits b)A Vacuum probe (c)The

workhorse of our lab a dilution fridge that reaches 10m K

b C

It is interesting to note that mechanical propeties change significantly below 4.2K. In principle

NEMS Devices vibrate at high frequenices from RF to Microwave regime. The typical temperaturesof 10 mK we can reach in a dilution fridge (like the one if (c) of the gallery in the regime

hw >> KBT one can hope to see macroscopic quantum phenomena. In reality higher frequency

devices have low Q-factor making it difficult to measure anything sensible We try to understand the

low temperature quantum dissipation scenario and also engineer high –Q devices.

2-DEGS & other electronic systems:

250n

m

Width

In 2-DEGS we are specifically

Interested in spin current transport

And also electronic correlations.

We are also interested in piezo

Electric behaviour to produce

Hybrid NEMS devices.

A 250 nm wide

Split gate defines a

ballistic 1-D

Conductor on a 2-DEG

The data shows quantized conductance and spin splitting in B fields.

Data by PI when at UBC



String TheoryDr. K. P. Yogendran

Assistant Professor

Research Interests

In recent years, there has been a flurry of activities in applying ideas originating from string

theory to systems that involve strong interactions, implying that perturbative calculations often

give misleading results. My research has been focused on one system which exhibits

superfluidity due to the spontaneous breaking of a global symmetry. The current objective in

this program is to explore how gapped fermions make their appearance in these systems.

An enduring puzzle in quantum gravity has been to identify the degrees of freedom that

"constitute" a black hole. I am trying to build an analogy in a manner that will hopefully

enlarge the difference between a burning lump of coal and a black hole. An effective

analogy should capture the unitarity of the process of burning coal at the same time as

incorporating the salient features of black hole thermodynamics which might shed somelight on the information paradox in black hole physics.

Dr. K. P. Yogendran completed his PhD from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai.

He has been a postdoctoral fellow at HRI, Allahabad, Cquest Korea and HIP Finlend. He joined

the institute in 2009.




• P. Chingangbam, C. Park, K.P. Yogendran, Rien van de Weygaert, Astrophys. J. 755, 122 (2012).

• V. Keranen, E. Keski-Vakkuri, S. Nowling, K.P. Yogendran, New J.Phys. 13, 065003 (2011).

• V. Keranen, E. Keski-Vakkuri, S. Nowling, K. P. Yogendran Phys.Rev. D 81 126012 (2010) .

• V. Keranen, E. Keski-Vakkuri, S. Nowling, K. P. Yogendran, Phys.Rev. D 81, 126011 (2010).

• V. Keranen, E. Keski-Vakkuri, S. Nowling, K.P. Yogendran, Phys.Rev. D 80, 121901 (2009).

In course of building the analogy, we are led to understand bound states as entangled states

of their multiparticle quantum constituents. We are therefore studying the hydrogen atom

from this perspective at varying levels of sophistication (as part of a student summer project)

which casts some light on the difference between bound and scattering states. A future

direction would be to explore the Kohn Sham theorems from the point of view of

entanglement entropy.

A holographic dark soliton: The soliton seen in the lab is (roughly) the z=0 slice of this picture



Prof. Arvind Quaqntum Information

Prof. Bagla, Jasjeet Cosmology

Dr. Chakraborty, Dipanjan Soft Matter Physics

Dr. Choudhary, Abhishek Soft and Biological Matter

Dr. Dorai, Kavita Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Lab

Dr. Jassal, Harvinder General Relativity and Cosmology

Dr. Johal, Ramandeep Quantum Thermodynamics

Dr. Kapri, Rajeev Statistical Mechanics and Soft Matter Physics

Dr. Sanjeev, Kumar Correlated and Disordered Electron Systems

Prof. Mahajan, C. G. Laser Physics

Dr. Sheet, Goutam Condensed Matter Physics

Dr. Singh, Kamal Femtosecond Laser Lab

Dr. Singh, Mandip Bose Einstein Condensate (BEC) and Photons Lab

Dr. Singh, Yogesh Novel Material Group

Prof. Sinha, Sudeshna Nonlinear Dynamcis and Complex Systems

Dr. Venkatesan, Ananth Nanoscale Mechanical & Electronic systems at ultralow Temperatur

Dr. Yogendran, K. P. String Theory

Physics Faculty by Research Area

iiser roorke physics

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