NMR Lab

Femto-Laser Lab

Ultra-Low Temperature Lab

BEC and Photons Lab
Cosmology

String Theory

General Relativity

Correlated & Disordered

Electron Systems

Nonlinear Dynamics
& Complex Systems

Quantum Computing

Novel Materials Lab

Statistical Physics

Soft Matter Physics

Biophysics
Condensed Matter Physics

Laser Physics

Quantum Thermodynamics

Physical Sciences
IISER Mohali

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 Sinha

27 September 2013

Quantum Information

Dr. Arvind
Professor

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.

Research Interests
Quantum Computing: Quantum computers when
functional, 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 implementations
of 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.

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 nonclassical 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 are
designed 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

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).

Cosmology

Prof. J. S. Bagla

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.

Research Interests
I work on questions related formation of galaxies and large scale structure within the
framework 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 doing
cosmological 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

Computer simulations of galaxy formation allow us to develop strategies for observations that
require a large amount of time. We have used simulations to propose efficient ways to detect
galaxies using emission in the hyperfine transition of neutral Hydrogen at high redshifts.
Contrary to the received wisdom, we were able to demonstrate that direct detection may be
easier than a statistical detection of the large scale structure.

I also work on new probes of the high redshift universe. We have shown that the hyperfine
transition in singly ionized Helium-3 is a potential probe of the inter-galactic medium. Efforts
are underway to observe certain promising regions in the inter-galactic medium at high
redshifts.
Pictures in the top panel show a sequence where galaxy formation leads to reionization of the
inter-galactic medium. The colours show the fraction of gas in the form of singly ionized
Helium. Regions marked in red and orange have almost all the Helium in this form whereas in
the regions marked blue there is little singly ionized Helium: it is either in the neutral or fully
ionized form. These simulations are used to calculate the expected signal in the hyperfine
transition of Helium-3. This work is being done in collaboration with Dr. Benedetta Ciardi,
Dr. James Bolton and others.

Selected Recent Publications

Yadav Jaswant, Bagla J. S. and Khandai Nishikanta, MNRAS 405, 2009 (2010).
Bagla J. S., Khandai Nishikanta and Datta Kanan K., 2010, MNRAS 407, 567 (2010).
Bagla J. S. and Prasad Jayanti 2006, MNRAS 370, 993 (2006).
Bagla J. S., Journal of Astrophysics and Astronomy 23, 185 (2002).
Bagla J. S., Jassal H. K. and Padmanabhan T. 2003, Phys.Rev.D 67, 063504 (2003).

Sta$s$cal
Sta$s$cal
Mechanics
Mechanics

So6
Ma7er
Nonequilibrium
Systems

So7 Ma9er Physics

Dr. Dipanjan Chakraborty

Dr. Dipanjan Chakraborty completed his Ph.D from Indian Associa0on for the Cul0va0on of
Sciences, Kolkata, India. He was an Alexander von Humboldt postdoctoral research fellow at
the University of Leipizig, Germany and a Max-Planck research fellow at the Max-Planck
Ins0tute for Intelligent Sytems in StuKgart.

Research Interests
The broad research interest of Dr. Chakraborty is in the physics
of so6 ma7er and out of equilibrium systems. The realm of so6
ma7er comprises of a mul$tude of systems with important
technological applica$ons, with model examples ranging from
colloidal suspensions, polymer gels and solu$ons, granular
media to more complex systems of biological ma7er. So6
ma7er systems are characterized by the large length and $me
scales (compared to microscopic lengths) and the thermal
uctua$ons governing the dynamics of the cons$tuent
macromolecules. A wide range of collec$ve phenomena,
resul$ng in complex structure and dynamics, emerge at such
mesoscopic length scales. He is also interested in out of
equilibrium systems, specically in the problem of survival
probability in non-sta$onary processes.
Molecualr dyanmics simula0on
snapshot of a heated colloidal
par0cle in a solvent.

10.0

0.50

0.30

Xy\

XVy \

0.006

0.004

0.20
0.15

0.002

1T

10

0.10

0.01

0.1

7.0

PSDHwLPSDH0L

0.008

5.0

3.0
2.0
1.5

1.0

10

-1

tn

tn-1

0.01

100

0.1

wt

1T

Research in pictures: a collage of research interests of Dr. Chakraborty

Large Scale Simula@ons: Microscopic simula$ons of so6 ma7er and out of equilibrium systems
provides a wealth of informa$on as to how macroscopic dynamics emerge from the
microscopic degrees of freedom. With the advent of powerful compu$ng resources, such large
scale par$cle based simula$ons are becoming increasingly popular. The research ac$vi$es of
Dipanjan strongly build on large-scale coarse-grained simula$ons of so6 ma7er systems, with a
goal to understand the rich physics at such mesoscopic length scales.

Selected Recent Publications

D. Chakraborty, Phys. Rev. E 85, 051101 (2012).
D. Rings, D. Chakraborty and K. Kroy, New Journal of Physics 14, 053012 (2012).
D. Chakraborty, M. V. Gnann, D. Rings, J. Glaser, F. Otto, F. Cichos and K. Kroy,
EPL (Europhysics Lett.) 96(6), 60009 (2011).
J. Glaser, D. Chakraborty, K. Kroy, I. Lauter,M. Degawa,N. Kirchgener, B. Hoffmann,
R. Merkel and M. Giesen., Phys. Rev. E 82, 046224 (2010).
D. Chakraborty, Phys. Rev. E 79, 031112 (2009).

Soft and Biological Matter

Dr. Abhishek Chaudhuri

Assistant Professor

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.

Research Interests
The 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.
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.

Selected pictures highlighting research theme of the group

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 transport

properties 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).

NMR group

Dr. Kavita Dorai

Associate Professor

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 IITMadras. She moved to IISER Mohali in August 2007 when the institute was established, and has
set up the NMR Research Facility.
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, both
from Bruker Biospin Switzerland.

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 qubitqutrit 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).

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)

Selected Recent Publications

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).

General Relativity &

Cosmology

Dr. H. K. Jassal
Assist. Professor

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.

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.
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.

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.

Selected Recent Publications

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).
H. K. Jassal Phys. Rev. D 79, 127301 (2009).
H. K. Jassal Phys. Rev. D 78, 123504 (2008).

Quantum Thermodynamics

Dr. Ramandeep S. Johal

Associate Professor

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.

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 relate
to 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.

Maxwells Demon at work

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 obtained
novel 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.

Selected Recent Publications

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).

Statistical Mechanics,
Soft Matter Physics

Dr. Rajeev Kapri

Assistant Professor

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.

Research Interests
His broad research interests are in developing simple models of complex biological processes
and study them by using tools of statistical physics like generating functions, exact transfer
matrix, Brownian Dynamics, Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations.

Pictures gallary from Femto-laser Lab

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.

Selected Recent Publications

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).

Correlated and Disordered

Electron Systems

Dr. Sanjeev Kumar

Asst. Prof. & DST Ramanujan Fellow

Dr. S. Kumar completed his PhD from Harish-Chandra Research InsEtute, Allahabad, India. He
held post-doctoral research posiEons at the University of Augsburg in Germany, Leiden
University in The Netherlands, and IFW Dresden in Germany before joining the insEtute in 2010.
He was awarded the Ramanujan fellowship by DST, India in 2011.

Research Interests
The group is interested in the study of correlated and disordered quantum systems using a
combina7on of theore7cal and computa7ons methods. The specic topics of current interest
are, frustrated i7nerant magne7sm, mul7ferroics, disordered superconductors, and the spin-
orbit coupled systems. Our research theme is the search for unconven7onal ordering of charge,
spin and orbital degrees of freedom in microscopic model Hamiltonians, and their
consequences for macroscopic physical proper7es of the relevant materials.
Currently, the group has two PhD students and two MS students.
Pressure driven high-Tc mul?ferroicty in CuO:
In a recent work, we predict that cupric oxide (CuO)
under pressure can be a room-temperature mul7ferroic
with strong coupling between magne7c and electric
order parameters. The study combines ab-ini7o DFT
calcula7ons, and Monte Carlo simula7ons of the resul7ng
magne7c Hamiltonian. The ferroelectricity in this
material is driven by spin-spiral states. Our calcula7ons
predict that under pressure , the non-collinear magne7c
state is stable to high temperatures, leading to the
ferroelectric behavior. Beyond 40GPa CuO is predicted to
be the rst room-temperature spin-spiral mul7ferroic.

Magneto-electric phase diagram of CuO

Selected pictures highligh7ng research theme of the group

Frustrated iteinerant magnets: In recent studies we have shown
that the compe77on between ferromagne7c double-exchange
and an7ferromagne7c superexchange on geometrically
frustrated laOces stabilizes exo7c magne7c order. For example,
on a 2D checkerboard laOce we nd that magne7c moments
organize in a way that introduces c77ous magne7c elds for the
electrons and leads to a graphene-like electronic dispersion. We
show that a realiza7on of the famous Haldane state in
honeycomb laOce is realized in this system with electrons
coupled to localized magne7c moments on checkerboard laOce. MagneEc ux phase on checkerboard
Disordered superconductors: OSen the most interes7ng electronic
proper7es, such as superconduc7vity, giant magnetoresistance,
anomalous Hall eect etc., appear upon doping some parents
stoichimetric material with electrons or holes. This introduces
disorder in the system arising from the random loca7ons of the
dopant ions. Therefore, understanding the eects of disorder on
various long-range ordering phenomena is a very important and
ac7ve eld of research. We have recently studied the eect of site
and bond disorder on s-wave superconduc7vity using Bogoliubov-
deGennes self-consistent approach, and presently we are studying
the eect of spin-dependent disorder on superconduc7vity.

DistribuEon of pairing amplitudes

Selected Recent Publications

X. Rocquefelte, K. Schwarz, P. Blaha, S. Kumar and J. v. d. Brink, Nature Comm.

(in press).
J. Venderbos, M. Daghofer, J. v. d. Brink and S. Kumar, Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 166405 (2012).
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).
S. Kumar and J. v. d. Brink, Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 216405, (2010).

Condensed Matter Physics

Dr. Goutam Sheet

Ramanujan Fellow

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.

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 the
magnetic
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

Particle ejection from a hard superconductor

due to pulsed laser irradiation

Plasma formed on the surface of copper

target during sputtering in the device lab

Human red blood cell imaged by AFM

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:

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).

Femto-Laser Laboratory

Dr. K. P. Singh
Ramanujan Fellow

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.

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, the
coherent 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

Pictures from Femto-laser Lab

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.
Biophotonics and Biophysics: Applications of the
femtosecond and CW lasers to study biological systems
are 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.

Diffraction by twisted spider silk

Selected Recent Publications

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).

Quantum Research Laboratory

Dr. Mandip Singh
Bose Einstein Condensation & Photons Assist. Professor
Research Interests
Quantum 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 the
topics 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 K. Critical temperature which is of the order of 0.1K
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 not
condensed 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).

Novel Materials Group

Dr. Yogesh Singh

Asst. Prof. & DST Ramanujan Fellow

Dr. Yogesh Singh completed his PhD from Tata Ins<tute of Fundamental Research Mumbai. He
held postdoctaral research posi<ons at the AMES lab, Iowa, USA and the University of
GoeNngen, Germany, before joining the ins<tute in 2011. He was awarded the Ramanujan
Fellowship by DST, India in 2011.

Research Interests:

Single Crystal Growth of correlated materials

Magne7cally frustrated materials
Quantum Spin systems
Unconven7onal Superconduc7vity
Charge/Spin Density Waves

Recent Highlights:

Realiza7on of the Heisenberg-Kitaev model in

honeycomb laFce iridates A2IrO3 (A = Li, Na)

Strong Magne?c Frustra?on

Unconven?onal Zigzag-order for Na2IrO3
Li2IrO3 close to a quantum spin-liquid state

Crystal and magne<c Structure of A2IrO3

Research in pictures

Mul7-gap Superconduc7vity in the layered Boride OsB2

Superconduc?vity below Tc = 2.1 K

Fermi-surface made up of one
tubular and two ellipsoidal sheets

Selected Recent Publications

H. Gretarsson, J. Clancy, X. Liu, J. P. Hill, E. Bozin, Y. Singh et al.,
Phys. Rev. LeL. 110, 076402 (2013).
R. Comin, G. Levy, B. Ludbrook, Z-H. Zhu, C. Veenstra, J. Rosen,
Y. Singh et al., Phys. Rev. LeL. 109, 266406 (2012).
S. Choi, R. Coldea, A. Kolmogorov, T. Lancaster, I. Mazin, S. Blundel, P.
Radaelli, Y. Singh et al., Phys. Rev. LeL. 108, 127204 (2012).
Y. Singh et al., Phys. Rev. LeL. 108, 127203 (2012).
X. Liu, T. Berlijn, W.-G. Yin, W. Ku, A. Tsvelik, Y-J Kim, H. Gretarsson, Y.
Singh et al., Phys. Rev. B 83, 220403 (2011).

Nonlinear Dynamics &

Complex Systems

Dr. Sudeshna Sinha

Fellow, Indian Academy of Science

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
Control of Chaotic Systems: This group is interested in strategies to control the dynamical
behaviour 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.

Space time simulation of complex dynamical networks

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

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.
Current PhD students: Vivek Kohar, Anshul Choudhary
and Ankit Kumar. Postdoc: Soma De
Work on Synthetic Gene Networks as potential
Flexible Parallel Logic Gates: Cover of
Europhysics Letters (2011)

Nano-Scale Mechanical and

Electronic Systems
@ Ultra-low Temperatures

Dr. Ananth Venkatesan

Ramanujan Fellow

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.

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.

What is NEMS ?

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 nanoscale guitar string?

A Super-conducting material
Sample fabricated at
University of Regensburg by the PI. We will
be able to make similar and even more complex
devices at IISER

A 5micron long
180 nm wide Au beam
Data by PI from NottinghamResponse of the beam@ 20 mK

& 600 mK

Image 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
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 temperatures
of 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:

6

250n
m
Width

g (e2/h)

A 250 nm wide
Split gate defines a
ballistic 1-D
Conductor on a 2-DEG

______ B = 0T

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.

______ B =10T

T =200mK

-120

-100

-80

-60

-40

Gate voltage (mV)

The data shows quantized conductance and spin splitting in B fields.
Data by PI when at UBC

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 )

String Theory

Dr. K. P. Yogendran
Assistant Professor

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.

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 some
light on the information paradox in black hole physics.

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

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.

Selected Recent Publications

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).

Physics Faculty by Research Area

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

Dr. Yogendran, K. P.

Nanoscale Mechanical & Electronic systems at ultralow Temperature

String Theory

IISER Physics Faculty