Sabbatical Leave Report (used in 2nd Semester, 2012-2013)

Purpose: I used 6 month sabbatical leave during Jan and july, 2013 to work in three Institutes: Universite de Rennes1 (France), Institute of Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republik, Prague (Czech Republic), and Laboratori Nazionali de Frascati (LNF) of INFN (Italy). These visits were in connection with the International Network on MsNano (A MULTIPLE-SCATTERING COMPUTING PLATFORM FOR (NANO) MATERIALS) funded by European Commission. At present, this Network consists of 8 Institutes from Europe and Asia including BITS, Pilani. I led the research activity related to Work Package 7 (WP7) on “Impact spectroscopy techniques within multiple scattering” during my visit.

Report

As mentioned above, I am representing BITS, Pilani in the International collaborative Network on “A MULTIPLE-SCATTERING COMPUTING PLATFORM FOR (NANO) MATERIALS (MsNano)”, which is funded by the European Commission for the period 2012-2016 under the Marie Curie International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES) of its 7th Framework Programme (FP7). The network consists of 8 Institutes from France, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, Russia, China, Japan and India (BITS, Pilani). As a member of this Network, I spent 6 months in the above mentioned Institutes as a Marie Curie Researcher. Here I led the research related to the WP7 as a WP Leader (see above). I also assisted in developing the Work Package-2 (WP2) on “Microscopies and resonant spectroscopies within multiple scattering” under the Leadership of Dr. Didier Sebilleau (University of Rennes 1 (CNRS researcher)). Dr. Sebilleau is also coordinator of this network. I present a brief summary of my stay at different Institutes as per follows:

1. Stay at Universite de Rennes1, Rennes:

I spent first three months in Rennes (France) with the group led by Dr. Sebilleau. I presented my recent research activities to his group in a seminar on the (e, 3e) processes on atoms at relativistic and non-relativistic energy regime. He also delivered few talks to explain the code MsSpec-1.01, which was developed under his leadership. I got accquaintance with the various aspects of the code. We also discussed about the theoretical formalism which we would use for the computation of the differential cross sections for the electron impact ionization of atoms, clusters and solid targets. We have developed the formalism using impact parameter method for the computation of the T-matrix element at high energy. We surveyed many seminal papers of Nuclear Physics for the extension of this formalism to Condensed Matter Physics. In order to get better understanding of the Multiple Scattering formalism, I read many review articles written by Didier and his collaboraters. During my stay at Rennes, I interacted many other Scientists and Professors working there. I visited the Laboratories developed by Dr. Pascal and his collaboraters. I also interacted with the Italian collaborator Dr. Keisku, Tunisian student Ms. Aida Sousi and Moraccan student Mr. Mohamed Zanouni who have been hosted by Dr. Sebilleau during my stay at Rennes. In a nut shell, I was very happy during my stay at Rennes which provided me a truly an international exposure.

2. Stay at Institute of Physics of Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republik at Prague (Czech Republic)

Then I moved to the Institute of Physics of Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republik at Prague (Czech Republic) to work with another collaborator of MsNano, Dr. Ondrej Sipr. I stayed there for two months (April to June, 2013). During my stay in Prague, we discussed our research work. I was interested in his work on Real-space multiple-scattering approach for the calculation of electronic structure of solids and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES and NEXAFS, XMCD), especially of the non-crystalline solid. During my stay, I also continued my research work on the relativistic (e, 3e) processes on atoms and published in J. Phys. B (an IOP, London Journal with impact factor 2.03). I got the important inputs from Dr. Sipr for this contribution, especially about his suggestions on the structure and presentation of the paper.

3. Stay at LNF (INFN), Frascati (Italy)

After completing my two months stay in Prague, I moved to LNF, Frascati (Italy) for another month to work with Prof. C. R. Natoli's group. Prof. Natoli is an accomplished veteran researcher on the various spectroscopic studies on condensed matter systems. Myself and Prof. Natoli developed a code for the computation of the T-matrix element using the multipole expansion of the operator exp(iK.r), where K is the momentum transfer to the target. This type of formalism is suitable for the high energy electron impact coincidence spectroscopy in which we are interested. He also helped me in calculating the T-matrix in the impact parameter formalism. I was also amazed to visit this Institute who took the leadership in building the first particle-antiparticle collider (electron-positron collider), the precursor of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) which is being used to mimic the big bang condition to reveal the deepest mystries of the early state universe. After completing one month in Italy, I returned back to India on 12th July, 2013.

Future prospects: Research and Institutional development

My stay during the sabbatical leave was in connection with my secondment from Pilani to Europe in the International collaborative Network on MsNano. I gained enough experience to extend and flourish my work on the Work Package on “Impact spectroscopy techniques within multiple scattering”, led by me in the MsNano network. Dr. Didier Sebilleau visited BITS Pilani for two months during August-September, 2013 and February-March, 2014 (one month time in each visit) in connection with the same network. Dr. Sebilleau and myself did further work on the WP7. We have made good progress and expect to write the code on the spectroscopies related to the WP7 in near future. Apart from this collaborative work, Dr. Sebilleau also interacted the Physics Department of Pilani campus which resulted in further expansion of the present network to more researcher. Dr. S. Gangoupdhaya from Physics Department has been included in the collaborative work and is invited to Rennes for one month during summer. Dr. Sebilleau has also contributed to the Department and the Institute by giving (i) lecture series on Multiple Scattering to our faculty and the research student, (ii) a talk on the possibility of funding from European Commission for Faculty and the Student and (iii) a talk on the application of spectroscopies to various disciplines in the Condensed Matter Workshop, organized by the Physics Department duing March, 2014.

In the same network, I will again spend two more months at Rennes during this summer. This will be useful for my present research for further advancement. Dr. Didier and his collaborators will also visit Pilani for one to two months in the next two years which will be certainly beneficial for the Department and the Institute. In conclusion, my sebbatical leave was not only fruitful for my professional development but also fruitful for the Physics Department and the Institute for its future development in research.

Acknowledgements: I am grateful to BITS, Pilani for granting me the sabbatical leave for my research work. I also acknowledge the finacial support from European Commission through FP7-IRSES-MsNano grant. I am also thankful to Physics Department of Pilani Campus for sharing the additional teaching load which was due to my sabbatical leave. Last but not the least, I am grateful to Dr. Sebilleau, Dr. Sipr and Prof. Natoli for hosting me at their respective Institutes without any difficulty.