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भौतिक अनुसंधान प्रयोगशाला
Physical Research Laboratory
 

Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics

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Chairperson: Prof. B. K. Sahoo

Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics (AMO-PH) is interdisciplinary in its nature and covers a wide range of topics starting from foundations of quantum mechanics to astrochemistry and luminescence dating. Along with classical and quantum properties of light, we investigate atoms, molecules, molecular clusters or condensed matter systems using a vast range of electromagnetic spectrum and other sources like high energy electrons and charged ions for basic as well as applied research. Also, Accurate knowledge of spectroscopic properties of atomic systems are required in many areas of physics. These data are useful to guide laboratory measurements and analyzing data observed using astrophysical and space-research instruments. Sophisticated many-body methods in the relativistic theory framework are developed to determine a variety of atomic properties very accurately.

 

Atomic Theory Group

Experimental Astrochemistry and Astrobiology Group 

 Photonic Sciences Group

 Laser Plasma Spectroscopy Group
Atomic Theory Group  Astrochemistry thumbnail  PhotonicSciencesLaboratory

LIBS image
Our main research interests lie in studying: Atomic Clocks, Parity and Time-reversal Symmetry Violations in Atomic Systems, Hyperfine Interactions, Plasma Embedded Atomic Structure, Multi-polar Electromagnetic Polarizabilities of Atoms, Isotope Shifts, Development of Relativistic Many-body Methods and Cold Atom Physics

Our main research interests lie in studying: Chemical transformations in astrochemical ices under electron, UV/VUV photon, and ion interactions at low temperatures; shockwave-driven processing of biomolecules and interstellar dust analogs at high temperatures; IR and VUV spectroscopy of astrochemical ice analogs to explore molecular evolution in astrochemistry and astrobiology.

Our main research interests lie in studying: High-brightness entangled and spatially structured single photon sources for quantum applications; quantum sensing, imaging, and communication; nonlinear optical effects and structured beam interactions for advanced photonics research.

Our main research interests lie in studying: Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for elemental analysis of metals; plasma characterization and spectral diagnostics for material identification

 Quantum Science & Technology Group

Ultrafast (Femto-Attosecond) Science Group

Luminescence Physics and Applications Group

 Quantum Materials and Nanophotonics Group

 Quantum Science

  Attosecond Physics Group  Luminescence machine PlasmonicsGroup
 Our main research interests lie in studying: Single photon generation via spontaneous parametric down conversion; heralded twisted photons with orbital angular momentum for enhanced quantum encoding; quantum communication, sensing, and computation utilizing polarization, time-bin, and path degrees of freedom.  We probe the evolution of molecular wave packet using ultrafast laser. In molecules, the electron dynamics is in attosecond time range and nuclear dynamics ranges from picosecond to femtosecond. We probe and control these dynamics at their natural time scales. Our research focuses on the luminescence properties of defects in natural and artificial phosphors, bridging fundamental physics with geochronology and radiation dosimetry. As a pioneering Indian facility, we develop advanced protocols like pVIRSL and EMCCD-based spatial luminescence to explore palaeoclimate shifts, desert evolution, and early human history. Our work extends to quantum tunneling effects, space dosimetry, and novel phosphor development. Using state-of-the-art TL/OSL instrumentation, we integrate experimental physics with Earth surface processes to advance quantitative dating and radiation measurement techniques. Our main research interests lie in studying: Fundamental light-matter interactions at the single atom-single photon level; control and manipulation of quantum interactions; applications in quantum technologies, including sensing, communication, and computation.

 

Experimental Facilities

Theoretical Activities
  • Diode-pumped Solid State Laser - Verdi 10: 10W, 532 nm
  • 50W CW, 1064nm fiber laser
  • Femtosecond fiber laser (~260 fs, Average power 5W)
  • Various lasers having wavelength 405, 532, 632 and 780 nm
  • ArF Excimer laser (400 mJ/pulse, 27 ns, Rep rate 100 Hz)
  • Nikon Inverted Research Microscope ECLIPSE Ti
  • Spatial Light Modulators -- LC-R 2500, x10468-05, x10468-02, BNS P512-532
  • Multichannel Scaler/Averager SR430 - 5 ns multichannel scaler/averager
  • Single Photon Counting Modules (SPCM)
  • Andor iXon3 EMCCD cameras
  • Andor iStar ICCD camera
  • Spin Coating unit
  • Vibration isolation tables
  • FTIR spectrometer
  • Laser porduced plasma spectrometer
  • Cluster source and time of flight mass spectrometer
  • Recoil ion momentum spectrometer
  • Closed cycle liquid He cryostat
  • Electron gun (5 Kev, 1 µA)
  • Thermoluminescence (TL) & Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating systems
  • 10K class clean labs
  • Oscillator strengths, transition probabilities, lifetimes
  • Fine structure splitting, hyperfine interactions
  • Electric moments, magnetic moments, polarizabilities
  • Isotope shifts
  • Relativistic many-body methods
  • Systematic estimations of microwave and optical atomic clocks
  • Magic wavelengths for optical clocks
  • Probing parity, time-reversal and Lorenz symmetry violations
  • CP and T-symmetry violations
  • Plasma spectroscopy

 

  • Optical beams with special properties and their interaction with matter
  • Quantum entanglement studies
  • Second- and third- order nonlinear optical effects
  • Optical parametric sources from visible to far-IR over CW to femtosecond timescales
  • Optical trapping and tweezing
  • Light scattering
  • Molecular synthesis and fragmentation
  • Astro-chemistry
  • Surface imaging of luminescence and its application to meteorites and glacial deposits
  • Photoionisation and Photon Spectroscopy

Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics