In the past, I have worked on both Equilibrium and non-equilibrium Statistical Mechanics. I worked on models for explaining the flow of particles in fluids that have an inherent gaussian white noise associated with the motion. These systems are usually in Equilibrium. However, if we assume that the particles were actually self-propelled (e.g. Bacteria in water), the system would deviate from equilibrium and studying the time-dependent auto correlation function of the "partice field's" position x gives a decay with two time constants. One represents the Brownian-like, Equilibrium decay while the other, a much longer time-scale represents something that can be thought of to be Cooperative motion among bacteria. This leads to interesting experimental and therotical deductions. I carried out this work with Dr. Y. Hatwalne at the Raman Research Institute
At the Indian Institute of Technology, I worked with Dr. Sudhanshu S. Jha in determining the theoretical limit on the sensitivity of photodetectors when detecting signals from a thermal source. We showed that the Noise Equivalent Power, which determines the limit on the lowest signal power that can be measured, is much higher in frequency regions that were not taken into account for earlier. Earlier estimates just approximated the value at those frequency regions.
Currently, I'm looking at (zero-temperature) quantum systems and working in either the spin space or the number operator space which are both discrete spaces, so that exact diagnolization of the Hamiltonian is one way of obtaining the energy spectrum. We use this technique for various physical systems that make use of lattice models like the Hubbard Model. Future directions lie in Physics of ultracold atoms on lattices, Quantum Magnetism, inverse problems for Adaptive Quantum Design of devices and so on.
Fall 2004: Physics 100 LAB, Astronomy 100 LAB
Spring 2005: Physics 151 LAB
Fall 2005: Physics 151 LAB
Spring 2006: No labs!
