Vandna Gokhroo

My research is related to atomic physics, quantum optics, lasers, and optical nanofiber. I have worked with room temperature, cold and ultracold atoms and used them to understand the fundamental and applied areas of physics.

• Ph.D. in Physics: Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai (2011) Thesis Title: Deep-cooled fermionic and bosonic potassium atoms in a multi-species laser-cooling and trapping set-up. Advisor: Prof. C. S. UnnikrishnanIn my thesis work, bosonic and fermionic isotopes of potassium atoms were laser-cooled in a compact 2D-3D magneto-optical trap setup. Further special sub-Doppler cooling technique, namely polarization gradient cooling was implemented to cool both the isotopes to tens of micro Kelvin. Temperatures obtained for the 39K using polarization gradient cooling were among the very first lowest temperatures reported.

• Dr. Vandna Gokhroo is an Assistant Professor at École Centrale School of Engineering, Mahindra University.

• Staff Scientist: OIST Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan (2019-2021)
  Research work in the group of Prof. Síle Nic Chormaic: Experiments using laser-cooled Rb atoms near an optical nanofiber.

• Postdoctoral Research Associate: Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA (2015-2018)
  Research work in the group of Prof. Peter Engels: Experiments using Bose-Einstein condensates to understand condensed matter phenomena and hydrodynamics.

• Postdoctoral Scholar: OIST Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan (2012-2015)
  Research work in the group of Prof. Síle Nic Chormaic: Experiments using laser-cooled Rb atoms and optical nanofiber.

• Visiting Scientist (2012): Raman Research Institute, Bangalore, India
  Research work in the group of Prof. Hema Ramachandran: Experiments using laser-cooled Rb atoms.

• Her research area is based on experiments with laser-cooled atoms to understand fundamental aspects of physics, such as atom-light interactions.
• Atoms at room temperature move with mean speeds of a few hundred meters per second. These high velocities result in frequent collisions with walls and other atoms, as well as spectral line broadening. Using laser beams of appropriate frequencies, the motion or temperature of atoms can be reduced to the sub-milliKelvin regime or even lower. Such slow atoms are extremely useful for exploring quantum optics, precision measurements, and related areas.
• She has also worked on experiments involving laser-cooled atoms near a sub-wavelength diameter fiber, namely an optical nanofiber. This system offers unique advantages for studying a variety of atomic physics experiments at ultralow powers and has promising future applications in quantum technologies.