Astronomy & Astrophysics Division

 

Chairman : Prof. Abhijit Chakraborty

Overview
The Research in the Astronomy and Astrophysics Division involves investigations in the optical, infrared, X-ray and the radio wavelength bands to understand some of the outstanding problems related to galactic and extragalactic cosmic phenomena, such as star formation, stellar evolution, interstellar medium, binary stars, pulsars, active galactic nuclei and giant radio galaxies. Solar activity and its impact on space weather are also being studied using radio techniques.
 
Research Programmes 
The research activities in Optical and Infrared Astronomy optimally blend the capability of a moderately sized telescope (1.2m) with state-of-the-art instruments.


Some of the key research areas of the division include,

  • Infrared photometric and spectroscopic studies on Novae and Nova-like Stellar Phenomena,
  • Infrared photometric imaging studies of Massive Star Forming Regions in our galaxy for investigating the star formation processes,
  • Monitoring of short time (hour-day) variability of Active Galactic Nuclei.
  • High angular resolution studies (in the infrared bands) of the atmospheres of Cool Giant Stars to resolve the structure of Dust Shells,
  • Spatio-kinematic studies of Planetary Nebulae of different morphologies
  • Detection of   extrasolar planetary systems. 
  • Numerical modelling of Solar wind Turbulence, Space weather and coronal heating.
  • Studies of extremely low density, low velocity, non-radial solar wind outflows known as solar wind disappearance events 
  • Investigation of high-z Quasars and Giant Radio Galaxies 
  • Timing and spectral studies of accretion powered X-ray binary pulsars
  • Understanding the emission mechanisms in stellar mass black holes
  • Atmospheres modelling of very low mass stars, brown dwarfs and extrasolar planets
  • Multiwavelength studies of Galactic and extra-galactic compact sources and Design and fabrication of related instrumentation

 Facilities 


1.2 m telescope

The Division operates the Mt. Abu Observatory with the 1.2m Infrared Telescope having the back-end instruments, NICMOS and NICS Infrared Camera and Spectrograph, Imaging Fabry-Perot Spectrometer, Optical Polarimeter and PARAS Echelle spectrograph. The data from the observatory has resulted in several Ph D theses and a large number of research publications in refereed journals.

 

Occasionally, collaborative observations are being made using larger telescopes at national and international observatories at Hanle, Hawaii, La Palma, South Africa and Chile. Telescopes in space like Spitzer IR telescope are also used for observations. The Radio Astronomy programmes utilize the national facility Giant Metre Wave Radio Telescope and Ooty Radio Telescope of TIFR. A new high resolution optical spectrometer is being built for detecting extrasolar planets by the radial velocity technique.

 

Observation schedule of PRL's Mount Abu 1.2 m telescope can be accessed here.

 

 

2.5 m telescope


Mount Abu Observatory has recently introduced a state-of-the-art 2.5-meter telescope, now in its testing phase. Additional details about this newly


installed telescope can be found below.

Primary Mirror:

Diameter: 2500 mm

Thickness: 120 mm

Hyperbolic Concave

 

Secondary Mirror:

Diameter: 820 mm

Thickness: 85 mm

Hyperbolic Convex

 

Mounting: Alt-Azimuth

Type:  Cassegrain type in Ritchey –Chretien Configuration

Dimensions: Approx. 9 m Length, maximum diameter: Approx. 6.5m (fork floor)

Operating Wavelength: 370nm to 4000 nm

Focal Length: 20 m

Effective Focal Ratio: F/8

Felid of View (FOV): 25 arcmin diameter (unvignetted)

Slew Rate: 2 degree/sec

Guide rate: 10 arcsec/sec

One main port and Two side ports

  

S No

Parameters

Requirement as per contract

Obtained results

Pointing Accuracy 

1

Absolute

2 arcsec RMS

1.88 arcsec RMS

2

Differential

0.5 arcsec RMS

0.446 arcsec RMS

Tracking Accuracy

3

Open-Loop 1 min

0.2 arcsec RMS

0.134 arcsec RMS

4

Open-Loop 10 min

0.5 arcsec RMS

0.135 arcsec RMS

5

Closed-Loop 60 min

0.2 arcsec RMS

0.185 arcsec RMS

Image Quality

 6

Wave Front Error

70 nm RMS + Seeing degradation

64 nm RMS with Shack Hartmann WFS

 7

Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM)

0.35 arcsec RMS + seeing degradation

0.18 arcsec (Lucky Imaging)

 

                    Table Site Acceptance Test (SAT) results of the PRL 2.5m telescope

 

 



Solar X-ray Monitor (XSM)


The Solar X-ray Monitor (XSM) onboard Chandrayaan2 is an X-ray spectrometer. Its unprecedented sensitivity and spectral resolution make it one of the best X-ray spectrometers observing the Sun. So far, it has produced exciting results about the quiet X-ray Sun and its elemental abundances. It has also observed several sub-A class flares. Elemental abundance study of multiple B class flares also reveals how abundances of certain elements evolve during these flares. 

Ph.D. Courses Offered

  • Astronomy & Astrophysics
  • Radio Astronomy
  • Solar Physics and Space Weather
  • Astronomical Instrumentation and Data Processing Techniques

 

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Research Interests of faculty members

  • Exosolar Planet
  • High Energy Astrophysics and related instrumentation
  • High Energy Astrophysics & Astronomy, Infrared Astronomy
  • Astronomical Instrumentation, Multiwavelength Astronomy
  • Magnetohydrodynamic simulation, Solar physics
  • Astronomical Instrumentation, Optical/Infrared Astronomy
  • Massive Stars and Young Clusters: formation, evolution, feedback effects, and associated interstellar medium.
  • Active Galactic Nuclei and Galaxy Evolution
  • Massive Star Formation, Multi-wavelength study of Galactic star-forming regions, Polarization study of star-forming regions
  • Low Mass Stars and Brown Dwarfs
  • Near-Infrared/Optical studies of Novae, Supernovae and transients, Automated analysis in Astronomy