High temperature materials Materials with very low thermal conductivity and ability to withstand very high temperatures are very important in thermal protection systems in aerospace applications. Carbon and ceramics having high temperature capability need to be processed into highly porous structures to achieve light weight and high thermal insulation. The research at IIST focuses on the development of novel methods for processing of carbon and ceramic foams. We also undertake research on colloidal processing of ceramic powder for fabrication of near-net shape ceramic components

• Hypersonic aerothermodynamics: Aerodynamic shape optimization
• Unsteady gas dynamics/Shock tunnel experiments
• Quantitative laser diagnostics for high enthalpy flows
• Computational fluid dynamics
• Experimental aerodynamics : Aeroacoustic flow instability
• Multi-disciplinary design optimization of aerospace vehicles
• Computational and experimental aerodynamics
• Lunar/interplanetary mission design, Low thrust transfers
• Machine learning for Aeropace applications

• High speed chemically reacting viscous flow with Cartesian mesh on GPU based parallel systems
• Numerical simulation of unsteady supersonic flows (external and internal flows) using higher order methods
• Optimal trajectory design
• Fuel optimum mission design for lunar soft landing at a specified location
• Aircraft system identification using machine learning
• Solving ODE/PDE using ML techniques
• Development of TDLAS sensors for high enthalpy flows
• Unsteady Aerodynamics; Flow instability & control
• Computational aeroacoustics

In applied and adaptive opitcs, the broad research areas are singular optics (optical vortex), high numerical aperture focusing, speckle, coherence & Stokes holography and polarization imaging.

Application of optical weak measurement and correlation techniques for interferometry, polarimetry and spectroscopy with applications to space-based imaging and development of highly sensitive optical sensors and metrology tools.

Research is also being carried out on several aspects of classical optics such as wavefront analysis, phase estimation, and application of matrix methods in classical optics.

The Astronomy & Astrophysics group is comprised of six faculty members interested in a wide spectrum of research areas. The group is engaged in both observational and theoretical research work. Current research programs include infrared and radio observations of Galactic massive star forming regions, the ISM, physics of Accretion around compact objects, astrophysical masers, multiwavelength observations of pulsating variable stars, and UV spectroscopic observations of the intergalactic medium and galaxy halos.

In addition to the individual thrust areas such as (i) star formation, (ii) intergalactic medium, and (iii) compact objects, the Astronomy group plans to join national and international projects like the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), and the South African Large Telescope (SALT). The group is already involved with the ASTROSAT project. In addition, the faculty members plan to make full use of new/upgraded telescope facilities such as the Expanded Very Large Array (EVLA) and the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA).

Vision
To be a leading center of teaching, learning, and research in atmospheric science

Mission
Provide conceptual understanding of the Earth climate system.
Nurture future space scientists, engineers, academicians, and entrepreneurs in the country.

The Atmospheric Science group has three faculty members. The faculty of the group works on the numerical modelling of the atmosphere and measurement and analysis of atmospheric data. The group primarily works on ingesting and assimilating non-conventional data (including satellite data) to improve the mesoscale model performance using sophisticated data assimilation methods. The group members also have experience handling atmospheric boundary layer tower-based instruments and data to realize science objectives. One of the faculty members works on the measurements of aerosols and their role in cloud microphysics and radiation budget in a changing climate. The thrust areas are monsoon climate studies, climate modelling, mesoscale modelling, data assimilation, aerosols and climate change, radiation and climate change, atmospheric boundary layer, unmanned aircraft vehicle (UAV) as a research platform, and development of miniaturized instrumentation for space research. The group has also introduced Machine-Learning (ML) as an important technique in the research areas described above.

In atomic and molecular physics both experimental and theoretical research is being done. The areas include X-ray emission spectroscopy of highly charged ions, molecular photo absorption spectroscopy, mass spectrometry of molecular ions, bio molecules, cluster ions and giant resonances.

Nanostructured materials assume great importance in tissue engineering and drug delivery applications. We work on development of nanofibrous scaffolds based on natural polymers for medical applications such tissue engineering and wound dressing materials.
Polymeric drug conjugates, nanogels and polyelectrolyte complexes are being developed and explored for effective delivery of hydrophobic drugs.

Area focuses on the economic impacts of climate changes on economic development and livelihood of the people. The studies also focus on the relationships between climate variability and economic vulnerability.

In condensed matter physics, experimental research focuses on topics such as atomic layer deposition, thin film electronics, thin film solar cells, semiconductors, metal nanostructures, self-assembly by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), study of low dimensional structures by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS).

Theoretical research is being carried out in quantum many body systems, with particular emphasis on spin systems and topological order. Exactly solvable models such as the Kitaev model and its variants are being studied with a view to understanding the nature of various topological excitations.

The group has 5 faculty members working in various specialized areas of modern analog and digital control system. Major areas of research currently control group is dealing with are:

• Control based Cryptography for secure communication
• Model reduction for uncertain systems: Continuous and Discrete Systems
• Stochastic Control and Optimization.
• Power system control

The group has 3 faculty members working in various specialized areas of modern navigation systems. Major areas of research currently control group is dealing with are:

• Robotics / Rover systems
• Power electronics and drives
• Navigation and sensor systems
• Sensor fusions / object identification

English being the language of globalization is strongly linked to modernization and development. Research in English language teaching puts emphasis on the key skills like, listening, speaking reading and writing through intensive language training programmes. It will look into the theories of language learning and teaching.

We invoke various tools from physics and mathematics to arrive at a mathematical model of a real life system. We make use of the softcomputing algorithms like artificial neural networks, genetic algorithms, fuzzy logic technique for the simulation of various real life systems.

Area focuses on the studies related to the impact of trade distorting measures such as Technical Barriers to Trade (TBTs), sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS), quotas, exports restrictions, distribution restrictions etc to international trade.

Probing interactions of electrons and their elementary excitations close to Fermi level is of fundamental (as well as of practical relevance) interest to understand the electronic properties in strongly correlated electron systems.
We use spectroscopic Imaging Scanning Tunnelling Microscope (SI-STM) to visualize the quantum realm of these electronic structures both in real space(r-space) and momentum space (k-space).

• Aerospace Materials/Composites
• Materials Forming/Powder metallurgy/Welding
• Machining and Precision Manufacturing for Aerospace applications
• Subtractive and Additive manufacturing of Aerospace Materials
• Supply chain management; Cellular manufacturing systems
• Optimization techniques in manufacturing

• Investigation of electro-active shape memory polymer composites for aerospace applications
• Sensitivity studies on the influence of process parameters on thermo-mechanical properties
• and functional performance of ablative composites and improvement efforts
• Experimental studies of Flux bounded Tungsten Arc welding
• Investigations on Fine finishing of surfaces using elastic abrasives
• Minimum damage machining of fiber-reinforced composites using eccentric sleeve grinding
• Stochastic modelling of abrasive processes; Abrasive processing of additive manufactured components.
• Aircraft Landing Problem using a hybrid particle swarm optimization (HPSO) algorithm
• Combined arrival-departure aircraft sequencing and scheduling problem
• Simulation model for determining the feasibility of reduced inter-arrival spacing between aircrafts

The problems of fundamental interest in control theory are that of controllability, observability and optimal control. We investigate these problems by using efficient tools from the theory of Differential equations and Functional Analysis. We deal with both linear and nonlinear problems.

When the thickness of the elastic body is small, lower dimensional theories have been proposed, depending on mechanical and geometrical nature of the body, as approximations of usual three-dimensional theory. But it is not evident which is the model most suited to a particular case in mind. Consequently, before approximating the exact solution of a given lower dimensional model, we should first know whether it is “close enough” to the exact solution of the three-dimensional model it is intended to approximate. Thus one is lead to the question of mathematically justifying lower-dimensional models starting from the three-dimensional model.

Nanocomposites for structural applications Development of high strength toughened epoxy nanocomposite by interphase modification of nanofiller and polymer matrix is under progress. Chemical modification has been carried out on the surface of carbon nanotube and graphene oxide to improve mechanical properties of epoxy composite system.

Development of nanoclay based rubber nanocomposites for improved gas barrier properties have been developed.

Nano-electronics: Charge transport mechanisms through nanostructures and their applications; resistive memory switching in nanostructures; single nanowire transistors.