Registered Projects for Vacation Students Programme ( 2025 - 2026 )

Duration: May 15, 2025 - April 30, 2026

Each of the projects can be pursued for 1.5 months (continuous) any time
from May 15, 2025 - April 30, 2026 as mentioned under individual project descriptions.
The exact time period will be decided mutually with the selected student and project supervisor.

Sr. No.	Project Details	Name of Supervisor
1.	Title: Exploiting stellar standard candles in the Gaia data Abstract: The Gaia space mission has revolutionised our understanding of the Milky Way by providing precise astrometric data and parallaxes for over a billion stars. This project aims to exploit stellar standard candles such as Cepheid, RR Lyrae, Mira variable stars in the publicly available Gaia space mission's data release three to obtain their luminosity scales with unprecedented precision, which will subsequently improve the accuracy of the extragalactic distance determinations. Prerequisites: Programming (python/IDL/R etc.), data mining and analysis, astrostatistics and machine-learning Project Duration: 01-July-2025 - 31-October-2026	Prof. Anupam Bhardwaj
2.	Title: Stellar Evolution and Pulsation with MESA Abstract: Understanding stellar evolution is crucial to gain insight into the fundamental processes that govern the life cycles of stars. The open-source MESA (Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics) stellar evolution software package is a comprehensive and versatile tool widely employed in the modeling of stellar interiors, and their evolution and pulsation. The project offers a detailed understanding of the different stages of low and intermediate mass stellar evolution, and the impact of composition, mass, luminosity, and other input parameters in MESA. The applicant will also use the radial stellar pulsation module of MESA to probe pulsation in Cepheid and RR Lyrae variable stars. Prerequisites: Programming (python/IDL/R etc.), data analysis, Familiarity with Linux OS and software installation Project Duration: 01-July-2025 - 31-October-2026	Prof. Anupam Bhardwaj
3.	Title: Building an Ytterbium atomic oven Abstract: We have designed an atomic oven to produce a nearly non-diverging ytterbium atomic beam [Ref. L. Sharma, at al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 90, 053202 (2019)]. The required parts have already been fabricated and available with us. The student will have to assemble the system consisting the oven inside of a high vacuum container and test its performance. This exercise will conclude if the present design is ready to use or any modifications are needed. Prerequisites: - Project Duration: 15-May-2025 - 30-April-2026	Prof. Subhadeep De
4.	Title: Building Helical resonator Abstract: Helical resonator is an essential RF device to drive an ion trap. This is used for inductively transferring of the RF from an amplifier to the ion trap, in order to avoid any back reflection. A preliminary design is existing with us [Ref. L. Sharma et al., Scientific Reports 8, 16884 (2018)], which will be fabricated for its testing. The student will have to test and characterize its performance and modify the design, if needed. Prerequisites: Comsol Project Duration: 15-May-2025 - 30-April-2026	Prof. Subhadeep De
5.	Title: Fiber based sensing of seismic vibrations Abstract: Recently we have successfully demonstrated sensing of seismic / acoustic waves using an optical fiber based ultra-sensitive distributed sensor. Now we plan to test few new ideas like source localization, incorporation of ML, correlation measurement and so on. It is understood one student cannot pursue all of these within a short duration. Therefore, we can decide the actual work depending on interest and experience of the student after selection. The student will have to use the system for acquiring data and analyze for a particular case. Prerequisites: AI/ ML or optics Project Duration: 15-May-2025 - 30-April-2026	Prof. Subhadeep De
6.	Title: Assembling Fabry-Perot cavity Abstract: We are developing an ultra-stable Fabry-Perot cavity in our lab to produce nearly monochromatic ultra-stable laser [Ref. S. Banerjee et al., Int. J. Mech. Sci. 250, 108299 (2023)]. For this we already have all the required components. The student will have to assemble the cavity system consisting of the cavity, thermal shield, vacuum and pumping station. Thereafter, testing of the entire assembly. Prerequisites: - Project Duration: 15-May-2025 - 30-April-2026	Prof. Subhadeep De
7.	Title: Building low noise precision temperature controller Abstract: We are developing a laser driver electronics which comprise of current controller, high voltage piezo controller and current controller modules. We have already developed and tested the current and piezo controller modules and yet to develop the temperature controller. The student has to design the circuitry for a low-noise high tuning resolution temperature controller. In addition to that the student have to setup the thermistor calibration system (the required hardware is existing with us but need to setup to make use of it) which will be used as calibrated temperature system. Prerequisites: Analog electronics Project Duration: 15-May-2025 - 30-April-2026	Prof. Subhadeep De
8.	Title: Laser mode characterization setup at 1550 nm Abstract: We are indigenously developing 1550 nm laser systems. For the characterization of our in-house developed laser, we need to develop a dual optical resonator-based characterization tool. The required components are available with us, the student need to assemble them to develop a usable system for the end users. Prerequisites: Knowledge in optics Project Duration: 15-May-2025 - 30-April-2026	Prof. Subhadeep De
9.	Title: Locking a Fabry-Perot Cavity to a stabilised He-Ne Laser using a Real Time controller Abstract: We are indigenously developing 1550 nm laser systems Laser stabilisation is at the heart of all gravitational wave detectors. A frequency stabilised laser is often produced by filtering its mode content by locking it to a non-confocal Fabry-Perot (FP) Cavity such that only the TEM00 mode resonates within the cavity. A simple Fabry-Perot cavity formed by two concave mirrors, one of which is mounted on a piezo-controlled actuator would be set-up. Its length is carefully adjusted so that light from a stabilised single mode He-Ne laser is resonance within the FP cavity. The transmitted light intensity, through the cavity, is sensed with a fast photodetector and sent to a real-time controller such as a cRIO controller. The controller is programmed to adjust the length of the cavity through the piezo-controlled actuator. The goal of the project is to obtain the best possible cavity length stabilisation such that the cavity follows incident laser frequency accurately. Contributing noise sources such as the laser intensity fluctuations may also be investigated. Prerequisites: Knowledge of interferometers, Fabry-Perot interferometer physics, basic electronics and signal analysis, feedback control systems, LabView graphical programming. Project Duration: 15-May-2025 - 30-April-2026	Dr. Suresh Doravari
10.	Title: Signal Extraction from a force-feedback inertial seismic sensor Abstract: Inertial sensors consist of a gently suspended mass, of about 1 kg, whose displacements with respect to the lab are measured by a sensitive displacement sensor. However, the linear range of this sensor is only about 0.2 mm and if we can use the in-built force actuator to hold the mass within this linear range, we could enhance the dynamic range and frequency band-width of the sensor. We have therefore incorporated a Red-Pitaya based controller in the signal conditioning electronics of the sensor, which may be used to provide a force-feedback to hold the sensor at its working point. This project would therefore involve developing the feedback controller and signal processing of the sensor to maximise the signal to noise ratio of this sensor. Prerequisites: Knowledge of basic electronics, opamp circuits, python coding, physics of a damped-driven simple harmonic oscillator Project Duration: 15-May-2025 - 30-April-2026	Dr. Suresh Doravari
11.	Title: Probing the Circumgalactic Medium Abstract: Galaxies are enveloped by an invisible cloak of diffuse gas termed as the circumgalactic medium or CGM. Lying at the interface between a galaxy and its wider environment, the CGM modulates not only the accretion and ejection of material in the galaxy, but also the interaction of the galaxy with the larger-scale environment. Moreover, the CGM is a major reservoir of baryons in the Universe, and plays a key role in the star formation and evolution of galaxies. Due to its low density, the CGM is most effectively probed in absorption against bright background sources such as quasars. This project will involve using absorption lines in quasar spectra to study the connection between galaxies and the CGM. Prerequisites: Python programming skills, data analysis and statistics Project Duration: 01-July-2025 - 30-September-2026	Prof. Rajeshwari Dutta
12.	Title: Exploring EROSITA X-ray Observations of DRAGNs Abstract: Double-lobed Radio-loud Active Galactic Nuclei (DRAGNs) are galaxies hosting off-axis, large-scale (=kpc), bi-polar relativistic jets that are spewing out from the center of galaxies. How these jets are connected with the central engine, i.e., accretion disk and supermassive black hole, is poorly understood. X-ray observations can provide crucial evidence about the accretion properties of these enigmatic AGNs and thus are pivotal to exploring the link between the accretion disk and relativistic jet. In this project, we will utilize the recently released eROSITA-DR1 X-ray source catalog to study the X-ray spectral behavior of DRAGNs identified in the Very Large Array Skey Survey. In particular, we will develop a Python pipeline to automate the data download and subsequent spectral analysis of the targets of interest. Prerequisites: Fluency in Python programming is mandatory, and experience in X-ray spectral analysis software, e.g., using XSPEC, will be considered a plus. Project Duration: 15-May-2025 - 30-April-2026	Prof. Vaidehi Paliya
13.	Title: Comparing analytic solutions of jet evolution with simulations Abstract: Several analytical prescriptions have been introduced in recent years to model the evolution of relativistic jets in to an ambient medium. The different models have different fundamental starting assumptions and outcomes. The validity of these models over a range of jet parameters have not been well callibrated. The project would require the student to run basic 2D simulations of relativistic jets from supermassive black holes and compare the dynamics of the jet and cocoon with the various semi-analytic models described in the literature. Prerequisites: Fluency in basic programming in C/C++, Python. Familiarity with fluid dynamics will be helpful. Project Duration: 01-April-2025 - 30-June-2026	Prof. Dipanjan Mukherjee
14.	Title: 3D spectroscopy with VLT/MUSE Abstract: We are seeking a motivated student for a summer project focused on Integral Field Unit (IFU) spectroscopy with VLT/MUSE to study galaxies and the surrounding gas. The project will involve analyzing MUSE data to investigate the properties of galaxies and the circumgalactic medium (CGM). The student will gain hands-on experience in data reduction, spectral analysis, and interpreting astrophysical processes in galaxy evolution. This project offers an excellent opportunity to work with cutting-edge observational data from one of the world's most advanced telescopes. Prerequisites: Good command in Python Project Duration: 01-May-2025 - 30-November-2026	Prof. Sowgat Muzahid
15.	Title: Non-classical light sources for quantum-enhancement of future gravitational wave detectors Abstract: The sensitivity of ground-based gravitational wave detectors is limited by quantum noise and squeezed light technology allows us to reduce this noise in the high frequency detection band. Injecting squeezed light in to interferometric detectors reduces the vacuum fluctuations and thus reduces the quantum noise in the detector. The squeezed light is generated using optical down conversion in an optical resonator and detected using a balanced homodyne detector. This project we will work on the simulation and design of various components of a squeezed light source for better robustness and enhanced the quantum squeezing levels. Prerequisites: Python programming (numpy, scipy, matplotlib), Preferable - Completed an optics/laser related course and an optics lab as part of course work. Project Duration: 01-May-2025 - 15-July-2026	Dr. Manasadevi Thirugnanasambandam