Personal
Information
I am a scientist working at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
since 1979. My main fields of interest are high-energy astrophysics, mainly
Cosmic Rays, X-rays and Gamma Rays.
I have been studying them by experiments as well as by modeling.
I have participated in experiments such as Anuradha
that was flown on the Space Shuttle in 1985 and Indian X-ray Astronomy Payload that was
flown on an Indian Satellite in 1996. I have also participated in the Solar X-ray Spectroscopy Experiment
that was launched on India's GSAT 2 satellite in 2003. I am now involved with
the ASTROSAT,
India's most ambitious multi wavelength astronomy satellite.
On phenomenological studies, I have had interests in particle
acceleration in solar and stellar flares. I have also been interested in the
origin of the Gamma Ray
Bursts, which I suspect may be flares on binary stars that are
normally too faint to be seen.
Recently my interests have shifted to the movement of the in the
interstellar medium and acceleration of cosmic rays in the Heliopause. I am
also interested in the origin of solar system.
My latest field of curiosity is the the field of Archaeoastronomy.
Science Popularisation is my hobby and I like creating
programmes as well as giving lectures to students on issues of astronomy as
well as science and society.
More details of my research are
listed here.
I am often asked Why study science and How to study science so my opinion on both these are now
public.
My other
activities
·
I am the National
Co-ordinator for Indian
Astronomy Olympiad Programme.
- I have also been interested in science education and in
the impact of science on society. Contents of talk Physical
Sciences and their impact on Society is left here.
Do you support the introduction of Vedic Mathematics in school
curriculum? Read this article by Professor S.G.
Dani, School of Mathematics, TIFR. A shorter version of the article is also
available here. It clearly shows that what goes on
under the name of Vedic Mathematics is neither Vedic, nor Mathematics!
Other details
Publications
(However, this is rather old - for a more recent list ask: ADS
My favourite lectures
Some of my papers
My full address