Santanu Pradhan
PhD Researcher in Physics
Department of Physics • Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
"From black-hole perturbations to atomic coherence, I study how physical systems respond to disturbances—and how those responses can be calculated and measured."
My current experimental work in buffer-gas physics examines atomic coherence and diffusion in thermal vapor cells. My earlier research explored black-hole perturbations, quasinormal modes, and tidal Love numbers in modified gravity. Optical magnetometry, cold atoms, graphene optomechanics, and quantum information are future research directions.
Research Directions & Institutional Affiliations
Quantum Measurement & Buffer Gas Physics
Buffer Gas Physics (Current Project)
Experimental vapor cell dynamics & coherence preservation
Investigating collisional decoherence suppression, atomic spatial diffusion, and spin-polarization lifetimes in thermal alkali vapor cells through experimental spectroscopy and numerical transport modeling.
Optical Magnetometry & Quantum Sensing
Upcoming doctoral research in precision atomic sensing
Developing atomic vapor magnetometers operating in the Spin-Exchange Relaxation-Free (SERF) regime and exploring quantum noise limits for field-deployable magnetic sensors under India's National Quantum Mission.
Laser-Cooled Cold Atoms & Optical Trapping
Upcoming doctoral direction in ultra-cold atomic ensembles
Investigating laser-cooled atoms in Magneto-Optical Traps (MOTs), structured optical tweezers, atom-light interactions, and spin-fluctuation spectroscopy in coherently driven cold atomic ensembles.
Graphene & 2D Quantum Optomechanics
Upcoming research in hybrid nano-mechanical resonators
Exploring mechanical and optomechanical properties of graphene/SiNx hybrid resonators as quantum-limited motion transducers, non-linear amplifiers, and platforms for non-equilibrium steady states.
Quantum Information Theory & Weak Measurements
Upcoming direction in precision quantum metrology
Applying weak measurement protocols (Aharonov-Albert-Vaidman weak values), quantum state estimation, and quantum tomography to explore fundamental measurement limits and amplification.
Gravitation, Black Holes & Compact Objects
Earlier doctoral and master's research foundations
Exploration of general relativity, Fermi normal coordinates, tidal forces in black-hole spacetimes, and surface-regularized tidal Love numbers of white dwarfs in Eddington-inspired Born-Infeld (EiBI) modified gravity.
Computational Physics & Numerical Methods
Cross-cutting methodological stack
Developing and utilizing numerical differential equation solvers, scientific programming (Python, MATLAB, C++), Mathematica symbolic calculus, and data analysis pipelines across atomic and gravitational physics.
Key Manuscripts & Theses
Surface Regularized Tidal Love Numbers of White Dwarfs in Eddington-Inspired Born-Infeld Gravity
Surface Regularized Tidal Love Numbers of White Dwarfs in Eddington-Inspired Born-Infeld Gravity
Santanu Pradhan, Tapobrata Sarkar
AdS/CFT Introduction & Properties of Anti-de Sitter Black Holes: Quasi Normal Mode Calculation in Various Black Hole Models
AdS/CFT Introduction & Properties of Anti-de Sitter Black Holes: Quasi Normal Mode Calculation in Various Black Hole Models
Santanu Pradhan, Manavendra Mahato
Current & Recent Inquiries
Buffer Gas Physics & Atomic Vapor Coherence
Current Doctoral Experimental Project — Quantum Measurement Lab — Role: PhD Researcher
Conducting an experimental project investigating buffer-gas dynamics in thermal alkali vapor cells. The work focuses on analyzing collisional decoherence suppression, spatial diffusion rates, and optical pumping optimization to prolong atomic spin-coherence lifetimes.
Surface Regularized Tidal Love Numbers of White Dwarfs in Eddington-Inspired Born-Infeld Gravity
Previous Doctoral Research Project — Manuscript in Preparation — Role: PhD Researcher
Investigated the tidal deformability and surface-regularized tidal Love numbers of white dwarf stars in Eddington-inspired Born-Infeld (EiBI) gravity, analyzing modified gravity constraints on compact objects.
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