Mr. Ramakant R. Mahajan
Scientist/Engineer-SF,
Planetary Sciences Division, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, 380009.
email: ramakant[AT]prl.res.in
Telephone : +91-79-26314411
PLAS MetMeSS-21 MetMeSS-22 MetMeSS-2023 Physical Research Laboratory

Research Interests
Meteorites : chondrites and achondrites :: How to identify a meteorite ?
Noble gas and nitrogen isotopes [see: Noble Gas Mass Spectrometer Lab.]
Returned Sample analysis
Cosmic ray exposure history of meteorites

Courses Teaching to JRF students
Exploration of Solar system
Isotopes in planetary Science
Instrumentation : mass spectrometer and vacuum system
Cosmochemistry and meteorites

Papers :
  1. "Chondrules from the ordinary chondrite Itawa Bhopji (L3-5): Noble gases and nitrogen", R. R. Mahajan Planetary and Space Science 2024.

  2. "Nitrogen isotopic ratio and abundance in selected ordinary chondrites: clues for their formation in proto-planetary disk", R. R. Mahajan Astrophysics and Space Science Vol. 368, 101, 2023.

  3. "Investigating noble gases and nitrogen in Zag (H3-6) and ALH 77216 (L3.7-3.9): The ordinary chondrites with solar type neon and argon", R. R. Mahajan Polar Science Vol. 37, 100966, 2023.

  4. "Bulk and in-situ chemical analysis of meteorite Berduc, an L6 chondrite", A. B. Sarbadhikari, G. Arora, M. E. Varela and R. R. Mahajan Journal of Earth System Science Vol. 132, 21, 2023.

  5. "The Diyodar meteorite fall in India",Y. Srivastava et al. Current Science Vol. 124, No.2, 152-154, 2023

  6. "Noble gases, cosmic ray exposure and radiogenic ages in selected ordinary chondrites", R. R. Mahajan Advances in Space Research Vol. 70, 2112-2132, 2022

  7. "Cosmogenic records and noble gases in Mukundpura CM2.0 carbonaceous chondrite", R. R. Mahajan, D. Raychaudhuri, A. Dutta, A. D. Shukla Planetary and Space Science Vol. 215, 105465, 2022.

  8. "Neon in interior of the asteroid Vesta and comparison with the terrestrial planets" , S. Jaiswal, R. R. Mahajan, M. Ngangom Journal of Asian Earth Sciences : X vol.7, 100084, 2022.

  9. "Noble gases and nitrogen in CV3 chondrite Bukhara" , R. R. Mahajan , S. A. Ehgamberdiev and S. Naik Planetary and Space Science Vol. 207, 105334, 2021.

  10. "Laser microprobe noble gases and nitrogen analysis of chondrules from the Dhajala chondrite", R. R. Mahajan, Meteoritics & Planetary Science 55, 2141-2156, 2020.

  11. "Noble gases and nitrogen in metal from the ordinary chondrites Katol (L6), Itawa Bhopji (L3-5) and Portales Valley (H6)", R. R. Mahajan , Astrophysics and Space Science 2020

  12. "Exposure ages, noble gases and nitrogen in the ordinary chondrite Karimati (L5)" , R. R. Mahajan , Earth, Moon, and Planets 2020

  13. "Noble gas, nitrogen composition and cosmic ray exposure history of two eucrites Vissannapeta, Piplia Kalan and one howardite Lohawat", R. R. Mahajan, Amit Basu Sarbadhikari and M. S. Sisodia Planetay and Space Science Vol. 165, p. 23-30, 2019.

  14. "Noble gases, nitrogen, cosmic ray exposure history and mineralogy of Beni M'hira (L6) chondrite", R. R. Mahajan, Laridhi Ouazaa Nejia, D. Ray and Sekhar Naik Planetary and Space Science v. 152, pp. 136-141, 2018.

  15. "Annama H chondrite - mineralogy, physical properties, cosmic ray exposure, and parent body history", T. Kohout, J. Haloda, P. Halodova, M. M. M. Meier, C. Maden, H. Busemann, M. Laubenstein, M. W. Caffee, K. C. Welten, J. Hopp, M. Trieloff, R. R. Mahajan, S. Naik, J. M. Trigo-Rodriguez, C. E. Moyano-Cambero, M. I. Oshtrakh, A. A. Maksimova, A. V. Chukin, V. A. Semionkin, M. S. Karabanalov , I. Felner, E. V., Petrova, E. V. Brusnitsyna, V. I. Grokhovsky, G. A. Yakovlev, M. Gritsevich, E. Lyytinen, J. Moilanen, N. A. Kruglikov and A. V. Ishchenko. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, V. 52, 1525-1541, 2017

  16. "Petrology, classification, noble gases and cosmogenic records of Kamargaon (L6) meteorite: the latest fall in India", D. Ray, R. R. Mahajan, A. D. Shukla, T. K. Goswami and S. Chakraborty Meteoritics & Planetary Science V. 52, p. 1744-1753, 2017

  17. "Noble gases, nitrogen and cosmic ray exposure age of the Sulagiri chondrite", R. R. Mahajan Geoscience Frontiers, 8, 205-210, 2017.

  18. "Santa Lucia (2008) (L6) Chondrite, a recent fall: composition, noble gases, nitrogen and cosmic ray exposure age", R. R. Mahajan M. E. Varela and J. L. Joron, Earth, Moon and Planets Vol.117, 65-76, 2016.

  19. "Lunar meteorite Yamato - 983885: Noble gases, nitrogen and cosmic ray exposure history", R. R. Mahajan, Planetary and Space Science ,Vol. 117, 24-34, 2015.

  20. "Stable carbon isotopes in dissolved inorganic carbon : extraction and implications for quantifying the contributions from silicate and carbonate weathering in the Krishna river system during peak discharge", A. H. Lakshar, N. Gandhi, K. Thirumalai, M. G. Yadava, R. Ramesh, R. R. Mahajan , Dharmendra kumar Isotopes in Environmental & Health studies 50, 156-168, 2014.

  21. "Noble gases and nitrogen in the Almahata sitta ureilite", S. V. S. Murty, R. R. Mahajan , P. Jenniskens, M. H. Shaddad and B. Eldien Meteoritics & Planetary Science 45, 1751-1764, 2010.

  22. "Kaprada L(5/6) chondrite: chemistry, petrography, noble gases and nuclear tracks", N. Bhandari, S. V. S. Murty, R. R. Mahajan , G. Parthasarthy, P. N. Shukla, M. S Sisodia, V. K. Rai Planetary and Space sciences 57, 2048-2052, 2009

  23. "Aradki (L5) chondrite: The first meteorite find in Thar desert of India", N. Bhandari, S. V. S. Murty, P. N. Shukla, R. R. Mahajan , A. D. Shukla, G. Lakshkari, M. S. Sisodia, R. P. Tripathi , G. Parthasarathy, H. C. Verma and I. A. Franchi Meteoritics & Planetary Science 43, 761-770, 2008

  24. "Bhawad LL6 chondrite: Chemistry, petrology, noble gases, nuclear tracks and cosmogenic radionuclide", N. Bhandari, S. V. S. Murty, P. N. Shukla, R. R. Mahajan A. D. Shukla, K. M. Suthar, G. Parthasarathy, and B. S. Paliwal Meteoritics & Planetary Science 40, 1015-1021, 2005

  25. "Spectacular fall of the Kendrapara H5 chondrite", D. Dhingra, N. Bhandari, P. N. Shukla, S. V. S. Murty, R. R. Mahajan, G. M. Ballabh, G. Lakshkari, A. D. Shukla and G. Parthasarathy Meteoritics & Planetary Science 37, A121-A132, 2004

  26. "Laser microprobe for the study of noble gases and nitrogen in single grains : A case study of individual chondrules from Dhajala meteorite", R. R. Mahajan and S. V. S. Murty Proc. Indian Academy of Sciences (Earth Planet Sci.) 112, 113-127, (now Journal of Earth system sciences), 2003.

  27. "Itawa Bhopji (L3-5) chondrite regolith breccia : Fall, classification and cosmogenic records", N. Bhandari, S. V. S. Murty, P. N. Shukla, A. D. Shukla, R. R. Mahajan, M. M. Sarin, G Srinivasan, K. M. Suthar, M. S. Sisodia, S. Jha and A. Bischoff, Meteoritics & Planetary Science 37, 549-563, 2002.

  28. "Fall, classifications and cosmogenic records of the Sabrum (LL6) chondrite", S. Ghosh, S. V. S. Murty, P. N. Shukla, A. D. Shukla, R. R. Mahajan, N Bhandari, N. C. Pant, J. B. Ghosh and S. Shome" Meteoritics & Planetary Science 37, 439-448, 2002

  29. "The Lohawat howardite: Mineralogy, chemistry and cosmogenic effects", M. S. Sisodia, A. D. Shukla, K. M. Suthar, R. R. Mahajan, S. V. S. Murty, P. N. Shukla, N. Bhandari and R. Natarajan Meteoritics & Planetary Science 36, 1457-1466, 2001.

  30. "chemical and isotopic characteristic of Didwana-Rajod (H5) chondrite", B. S. Paliwal, R. R. Mahajan, S. V. S. Murty, A. D. Shukla, P. N. Shukla, N. Bhandari, R. Natarajan, R. Hutchison, S. Russel and I. A. Franchi Meteoritics & Planetary Science 36, 1249-1256, 2001

  31. "Solar and galactic cosmic ray records of the Fermo (H) chondrite regolith breccia", G. Bonino, N. Bhandari, S. V. S. Murty, R. R. Mahajan, K. M. Suthar, A. D. Shukla, P. N. Shukla, G. Cini Castaganoli and C. Tarico Meteoritics & Planetary Science 36, 831-839, 2001

Abstracts :
  1. "Argon and nitrogen signatures in metal separates from Portales Valley (H6) chondrite" R. R. Mahajan The 14th Symposium on Polar Science, NIPR, Japan 2023

  2. "Krypton and xenon isotopes in individual chondrules of Parsa (EH3) and Chainpur (LL3.4) chondrites" R. R. Mahajan 54th LPSC 2023

  3. "Trapped Ar, Kr, and Xe in ordinary chondrites" R. R. Mahajan The 13th Symposium on Polar Science NIPR, Japan, Abstract # OAp6, 2022

  4. "Lohawat howardite: trapped noble gases and nitrogen isotopic signature" R. R. Mahajan The 13th Symposium on Polar Science NIPR, Japan, Abstract # OAp3, 2022

  5. "Indian Sample Curation and processing facility" R. R. Mahajan et al. 2nd Indian Planetary Science Conference PRL, Ahmedabad, India, 2021

  6. "Nitrogen and noble gases in Martian meteorite Tissint" R. R. Mahajan 52nd LPSC 2021

  7. "Ordinary chondrites: nitrogen systematics" R. R. Mahajan The 11th Symposium on Polar Science NIPR, Japan, Abstract # OA_Mahajan_00012_01, 2020

  8. "Meteorites from Indian subcontient, a brief" R. R. Mahajan XLVIII LPSC 2017

  9. "Martian rocks that reaches to Earth were ejected in 10 possible ejection events" R. R. Mahajan 46th LPSC 2015

Instruments :
Noble Gas Mass Spectrometer Laboratory
 
Other articles
  1. "Katol meteorite shower",
    R. R. Mahajan, and S. V. S. Murty, PLANEX newsletter, vol 2, 2012

  2. "Meteorites archeives of solar system history",
    S. Goel, R. R. Mahajan and S. V. S. Murty. ICPS-Virat Surya (The Indian Planetary Society) Vol Jan-Apr, pp 27-30, 2009
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