Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Labs

Astrochemistry Laboratory
Experimental Astrochemistry & Astrobiology. Investigating the chemical changes induced in low temperature astrochemical ices by electrons, ions (single and multiple charged),dust impacts and shockwaves. Infrared (IR) and Vacuum Ultraviolet (VUV) spectroscopy of astrochemical ice analogs.

Simulator for Astromolecules at Low Temperature (SALT) enables us to recreate the cold dust and icy mantle conditions in the interstellar medium.

High Intensity Shock Tube for Astrochemistry (HISTA) enables us to recreate the shock environment experienced in the interstellar medium and the impact induced shock in the solar system objects. 


Simulator for Astro-molecules at Low Temperature (SALT)


High Intensity Shock Tube for Astrochemistry (HISTA)


Discovering a new class of Astrochemical ices that behave very differently with respect to their phase transition.

Synthesized Graphene and quantum dot in Astrochemical Ices

Created Complex structures by Shock Processing of nucleobases


Only Lab in India that is pursuing Astrochemistry from 8 K to 16k K.
Femtosecond Laser Laboratory
Performing Atomic and Molecular Experiments in time domain ranging from picosecond to femtosecond.

We study the ultrafast dynamical processes in atomic and molecular systems
using femtosecond laser pulses. In atoms and molecules, the time scale of
nuclear dynamics ranges from picosecond to femtosecond while it is
attosecond for electron dynamics. We study these ultrafast dynamical
processes with a view to control them during reactions, leading to
formation of new molecules.


1. Femtosecond laser(Carrier Envelope Phase (CEP) stabilized): 800nm,
25fs, 10mJ at 1KHz and 3mJ at 5KHz.

2. Velocity Map Imaging Spectrometer.

3. Spectral Phase Interferometry for Direct Electric-field Reconstruction
(SPIDER) for femtosecond pulse characterization.

4. Grating-eliminated no-nonsense observation of ultrafast incident laser
light e-fields (GRENOUILLE) for pulse characterization.



Equipments are installed on anti-vibration floor isolation area and in cleanroom (ISO 7).
Luminescence Physics and Applications Group
To understand the physics of luminescence process in natural and synthetic materials and use it for radiation dosimetry and study earth surface processes

Luminescence laboratory was started in 1977 by Professor Ashok K. Singhvi. It is the first luminescence dating laboratory of the country which pioneered in understanding the luminescence physics and apply it for geological and archaeological studies. The laboratory assisted in establishing more than 12 laboratories across India. The laboratory is constantly involved in improving the existing methodologies and exploring new domains of application of luminescence.


TL/OSL reader: Risoe TL OSL readers are used for dosimetry.
The TL OSL readers in luminescence lab are equipped with
the facilities as multispectral stimulations (green, blue, violet
and IR) and multispectral detection (UV, red, blue and visible)
along with single grain IR and green stimulation lasers, fine
grain calibration, radioluminescence, time resolved
luminescence.
Magnetic Separator: Frantz Magnetic separator is used to
separate minerals with variable magnetic susceptibility.
Grinder: Pulveriser is used to grind the sample to submicron
size.
Sieve shaker: Sieve shaker is used for separation of particles
based on their size.


  • Pioneered in dating desserts across the world.
  • Applied the technique to estimate cosmic exposure ages of meteorites
  • Pioneered in development of spatially resolved luminescence system
  • Challenged existing theory of human evolution and migration
  • Applied the technique to address geological issues as, desert evolution, palaeoclimate, glaciers advancement, tectonics, tsunami, fulgurites, coastal dunes etc.

  • First luminescence laboratory in India
  • Only laboratory in India equipped with multiple sophisticated instruments having facilities as infrared radiofluorescence, single grain system with IR and green stimulation facility, violet stimulated luminescence, variable stimulation and detection assembly, EMCCD based spatially resolved luminescence system
  • One of the 4 laboratories of world having calibrated alpha irradiation source for luminescence efficiency estimation
  • One of the few laboratories in India capable of executing fine grain luminescence dating.

  • Photonic Sciences Laboratory
    The main objectives of the Photonic Science Lab. are to study the interaction of the spatial structured of the optical beams with nonlinear crystal and generation of new structured optical beam tunable across UV to THz wavelength range in all time scales (continuous-wave to femtosecond). We also work on the generation of high brightness entangled photon source with hybrid and high dimensional entangled states as required for quantum communication.

    We have two 10K class clean rooms under the Photonic Science Lab. The entire lab is divided into five labs involved in five different projects. In principle, we can have 10-15 people working simultaneously using the currently available infrastructure. Unfortunately, the total strength of the group is small. These five labs are dedicated to work on the study of femtosecond structured beams to generate ultrafast structured beams at different wavelengths across the EM spectra, studying the effect of spatial structures of the interacting beams in high harmonic generation process, study the effect of the spatial structure of the pump beam in the near-IR and mid-IR wavelength and transferring to THz wavelength range, the effect of continuous-wave laser beam and design of novel experimental schemes for control transfer of the orbital angular momentum of the pump beam to the generated beams and study of entangled photons, their generation and increase of the dimensionality of the entangled states and hybrid entanglement studies. The Photonic Science lab. stated in the year 2014. To date, we have published more than 37 articles in international peer-reviewed journals of a high standard and three students got their Ph.D. degree working with the existing lab. facilities.


    Various laser systems including High energy Ti: Sapphire laser system, mid-IR ultrafast laser at 2360 nm, femtosecond and continuous-wave fiber lasers at 1064 nm, high coherence length continuous-wave blue laser,

    Various detection systems EMCCD, ICCD, cameras covering UV to THz wavelength range

    Vacuum pumps and vacuum chambers

    Cleanroom facility of class 10K.


    As mentioned before, the Photonic Science lab. stated in the year 2014. To date, we have published more than 37 articles in international peer-reviewed journals of a high standard and three students got their Ph.D. degrees working with the existing lab. facilities. Therefore, it is indeed very difficult to make a list of important results. The notable contributions of the Photonics Sciences are,

    • We have provided the first experimental demonstration of tunable, coherent radiation in Airy intensity profile using optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) at various time scales (continuous-wave to femtosecond). Airy beams are diffraction free beams propagating along curved trajectories in free space and restoring its shape even after obstruction by small objects. Generation of Airy beam using OPO can be considered as a breakthrough in the field of structured optical beams.

    • Using a single vortex beam that carries photons with orbital angular momentum (OAM), we have demonstrated controlled switching of OAM among optical beams at different wavelengths. Since OAM has infinite dimensions, OAM switching is essential in both classical and quantum communications. This is a generic and novel approach and accepted in Optica, one of the finest journals in the field of optics and photonics. 

    • Phenomena of the annihilation of two photons with OAM was demonstrated and it was shown that the annihilation of OAM of two laser beams produces a new laser beam in doughnut-shaped hollow Gaussian intensity profile without OAM not in Gaussian intensity profile. This study shows the possibility of OAM manipulation (addition and subtraction) of the photons, as required for quantum computation and communication. This is the first report on OAM annihilation and a new approach to generate hollow Gaussian beams. It was accepted in Nature Scientific Reports.

    • We have generated optical vortices and “perfect” vortices in the deep ultraviolet (266 nm), and visible wavelengths using nonlinear interaction of ultrafast lasers. While such beams are essential for spectroscopy, optical trapping, and tweezing, this work demonstrates the only technique to produce vortex beams at these wavelengths. As such these experimental demonstrations have started a new field of nonlinear interaction of spatially structured beams at high power/energy levels.

    • It was demonstrated using spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) that the angular spectrum of the entangled photons does not depend on the OAM content of the pump beam but depends on its spatial distribution. This is the first report on SPDC photons generated using perfect vortices. We have established the fact that OAM of the vortices does not play any role in the spatial structure of the single photons.

    • We have also developed a high brightness entangled photon source for long-distance free space and quantum space communication and demonstrated the possibility of generating quantum state directly from a classical state. A hybrid entangled two-photon quantum state through the SPDC of classical non-separable state of pump beam was generated as proof-of-principle. Such hybrid entangled states are used in quantum information science and supersensitive measurement of angular displacement in remote sensing.

    • Some of these results such as the development of compact, high power, structured beam sources are essential for both basic research and technological applications. Similarly, a high brightness entangled photon source could be used for testing of the foundation of quantum optics. We have also developed few advance experiments including optical tweezers to trap micron-sized silica particles, broadband optical cloaking, quantum eraser, speckle interferometer, and coupling of the evanescent wave using optical fiber for outreach activities. Such experiments were demonstrated to more than 10000 students in Gujarat.


    The Photonic Science Lab is a state-of-art laboratory to work on high-end research in the field of nonlinear and quantum optics. This is one of the very few laboratories in India working in the fields of experimental quantum optics. The laboratory also has active collaboration with various groups/labs of India and abroad. The photonic sciences laboratories also help P.hD. students of different Institutes and Universities of India through hands-on experiments.
    Quantum Science and Technology Laboratory
    Primary Objectives are 1. Satellite based quantum communication 2. Study of quantum entanglement 3. Quantum sensing and quantum metrology

    This lab is involved in the study of physics and applications of singular optics i.e. phase singularity and polarization singularity in quantum domain for the purpose of quantum communication and quantum metrology.


    Femtosecond Ti-Sapphire laser, High coherence length diode laser, CW Solid state laser (532 nm, 10 W), Spatial Light Modulators (SLM), EMCCD, Inverted  microscope, External cavity tuneable diode laser and single photon detectors.


    The first and foremost is producing high dimensional entangled state using orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes of light, a manifestation of phase singularity in light. The lab has produced source of twisted single photons and characterized it by studying its photon statistics as well as intensity correlations. It has developed many protocols for efficient quantum key distribution and quantum teleportation using OAM modes of light.


    The lab’s unique selling point is its long experience of working with optical vortex beams or OAM modes of light.