About Me
I received my Bachelors degree from Colgate University, NY in 2008, graduating Summa Cum Laude with High Honors in both Physics and Computer Science. Following this, I received a fellowship from the Physics department at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) to pursue a Ph.D. I received my degree in 2015, having spent two years in experimental Atomic-Molecular-Optical (AMO) physics research and five years at the Institute of Condensed Matter Theory under the auspices of Dr. David Ceperley.
My experience with the two different approaches (viz., experiment and theory), allowed me to appreciate the importance of the different types of tools needed to address frontier questions. So, while my core approach to physics problems is a theoretical one, involving the use of both analytical and computational techniques, I also endeavor to collaborate closely with experiments in order to gain insight into challenging problems.
My dissertation was focused on studying the effects of disorder on quantum phases such as superfluids. Disorder induced phenomena entails some of the most difficult problems in physics and are rife with open questions. Much of my work is focused on understanding novel realizations of such systems with ultra-cold atomic gases. My collaborative effort with Dr. Brian DeMarco's experimental group at UIUC undertook a comprehensive study of the strongly correlated physics in the presence of disorder in a Bosonic system. The project entailed some of the largest Quantum Monte-Carlo simulations to date, which were performed on supercomputers such as Titan.
During my time in Princeton and Caltech, I worked on a number of important areas of physics. The first is in non-equilibrium classical systems. Such systems are ubiquitous in nature, including processes as diverse as heat flow in nanotubes, flocking of birds, chemical kinetics, dynamics of ribosomes on m-RNA, growth of cancer cells, etc. Understanding the properties of such systems via the fluctuations encoded in their dynamics have been a longstanding challenge of physics. My work here involved devising a novel sampling strategy that exploits a connection with quantum mechanics to enable calculations for real systems with unprecedented resolution. Towards this end, I also explored the use of Tensor Networks (TNs) and associated algorithms to study such systems.
The second area of research is in the context of strongly correlated electronic systems such as high temperature superconductors. I extended Density Matrix Embedding Theory (DMET) to tackle models that support superconductivity and symmetry protected topological order.
I am keenly interested in exploring the possibilities of studying the interplay of disorder and strong correlations in electronic systems, using such embedding frameworks.
More recently, I have been exploring applications of Quantum Computing and Machine Learning/AI. Being able to connect these two fields is an exciting frontier and there are many questions to be answered with the potential to change all our lives for the better. I have also been involved in entrepreneurial activities involving technology based innovations. I believe I can use my extensive background in quantum technologies to expand the frontiers.
Apart from fundamental research, I am also interested in computational and other technologies, including neural networks, network security, financial algorithms and so forth. I am always on the look out for fun side projects in different contexts, as I think a hybrid approach towards learning keeps my mind engaged and enables me to think non-linearly and make global connections.
Outside of work, I enjoy socializing and communicating with people from different backgrounds. I particularly enjoy explaining physics and the "quantum-classical connection" to non-experts. I find it very illuminating to work through and adapt to another person's way of thinking in order to convey challenging concepts. Playing with my dog, reading, dancing the Tango, attending music concerts, watching movies, cooking, enjoying food and wine are my immediate avenues of solace and relaxation. I also enjoy traveling and hiking.
Affiliations with Universities (most recent first).
a)
c)
Typical AMO setups: (a) Laser systems needed to create trapping fields for atoms (b) Laser interfered to create optical lattices that mimic materials.
(c) Dysprosium atoms collected in a Magneto-Optical-Trap (MOT).
TITAN supercomputer at Oakridge National Lab.
Driven systems: (A) Dynamics of ribosomes on mRNA in synthesis of proteins. (B) 2D Simple Exclusion Process showing dynamical phase transition and phases.
A
B
(A) Cuprates are examples of strongly correlated materials that exhibit high temperature superconductivity (B) the 2D layered structure of the Cu and O electron orbitals and (C) Actual crystal of YBCO.
C
Hiking Kings Canyon National Park. One of my favorite locations to hike in California. Easy to access from LA and accessible almost throughout the year.