Chandrasekhar Joshi’s visit to TIFR Hyderabad

On December 20, 2024, TIFR Hyderabad welcomed Prof. Chandrashekhar Joshi, a prominent figure in plasma-based particle accelerators and Distinguished Chancellor’s Professor of Electrical Engineering at UCLA. Joshi’s work in plasma wakefield accelerators has played a significant role in the development of next-generation particle colliders and compact light sources.

During his two-day visit, he toured various research facilities at the institute and interacted with faculty members. At the HyPhI Colloquium, he discussed the progress of plasma-based particle accelerators, focusing on the concept of relativistic plasma wakefield acceleration. He explained how these plasma wakes can create much stronger accelerating electric fields than conventional accelerators, potentially reducing their size. He highlighted advancements in generating high-quality electron and positron beams using intense laser pulses or high-current charged-particle beams, offering insights into the future of this technology. With a tour of the Advanced Center of Research for High Energy Materials (ACRHEM), he also engaged with the team working on high-energy materials research.

On December 21, Joshi’s visit continued with sessions focused on Novel Light Sources, Electron Sources, and Nanophotonics. He participated in discussions and shared insights based on his extensive experience in plasma physics. The visit concluded with a roundtable discussion with the TIFR Network of Students (NeSt) where he answered a range of student queries from his early career research to anecdotes from his educational journey and opportunities in the field of plasma physics.

This visit provided an opportunity for researchers and students to engage with a leading expert in the field of plasma physics and accelerators. His interactions highlighted the ongoing work at TIFRH and encouraged further exchange of ideas and knowledge.