Condensed Matter Physics with Optical tools and sensors
Welcome to our Laboratory page
We are an experimental condensed matter physics group engaged in exploring different aspects related to magnetism, superconductivity, strong correlations, topology, and the role of low dimensionality in the physics of condensed matter systems. Typically at any point in time, we function as a closely knit group of 6 to 7 members. Our goal is to investigate, try and comprehend some of the rich, diverse, and complex phenomena and issues at play in condensed matter systems and also attempt to search for unifying themes. Our lab's overarching goal is to attempt to consistently push the limits of the sensitivity and capability of our instruments and techniques in order to probe deeper into the secrets held by nature. Our lab's guiding principles are to innovate, search, understand and communicate with the outside as well as learn from each other constantly. Some of our journey is often challenging, often difficult, sometimes time-consuming, often frustrating, and also sometimes exhilarating. However, these are the flavours that motivate us to keep returning to our lab every day.
A short biography about myself and our current research directions
I spent my early years in the suburbs of Mumbai, and I completed my Bachelors of science in Physics in 1992 from St. Xavier’s Mumbai and my Masters in Physics from University of Mumbai. Thereafter in 2000 I completed my Ph.D. from the Department of Condensed Matter Physics and Material Science at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai. From 2000 to 2004 I was a Feinberg postdoctoral fellow at the Weizmann Institute of Science Israel. From 2004 I have been a faculty member of the Department of Physics at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK), India, where I am holding the position of Professor in the department since 2012.
At IIT Kanpur, I have managed to set up a state-of-the-art high sensitivity magneto-optical laboratory which is capable of imaging the spatial distribution of weak local magnetic fields distributed across various materials. Recently in my group we have developed a powerful technique which enables us to image the distribution of small electric currents flowing in across different condensed matter systems. My current research interest is in the area of emergent phenomena in Quantum materials and exploring strong correlation-driven physics. Some of these studies include the study of topological insulators, topological and conventional superconductors, low dimensional magnetic materials and heterostructures. My work also involves studying areas related to non – equilibrium physics like exploring instabilities generated in superconductors driven from equilibrium and discovery of novel non-equilibrium phases of the soft vortex matter state like the Jammed vortex state discovered for the first time in his lab. Recently my lab has also branched out into application areas, which aim to develop novel devices using Quantum materials. We have recently also successfully developed a unique and innovative prototype of a smart superconducting fault current limiter. This newly developed ultra low dissipation high current switch will find application for developing energy efficient and fast ways of protecting power grids from failure due to large current surges. Some of this work has received a significant exposure in popular media. Within my roles, I am also a teacher and have taught different courses ranging from undergraduate to graduate courses. With time I have realized that I find it interesting, motivating as well as challenging to find new ways to most effectively engage and communicate concepts most effectively to students.
My lab has till now run been through the support of IIT Kanpur and 11 high-value research grants from different Indian Government Funding agencies, for which we are always grateful. Currently our research output includes 86 publications in international peer-reviewed journals and 27 papers in international and national conference proceedings. Notably, some of the publications include 6 Physical Review Letters, 23 Phys. Rev B/Phys Rev. Applied/Phys Rev Research/Phys Rev. E. Our lab also has patents granted, which includes 2 national and 4 international patents and three more patents have been filed. Currently, 11 Ph.D. students have graduated from this lab, one has submitted and 5 are working towards PhD (two of whom are seniors). I have been fortunate to have been awarded the INSA medal for Young Scientist Presidents (2002), Young Achiever’s award awarded by the Department of Atomic energy (2007), NASI-Scopus Young Scientist award for Physics (2012), P. K. Kelkar Young Faculty Research Fellowship Award, IIT Kanpur (2012 -2015) and Poonam and Prabhu Goyal Chair Professor, IIT Kanpur (2017-2020). Apart from having had the opportunity to serve IIT Kanpur as convenor of different important central facilities and also in some administrative roles, I have also served on different national committees in different capacities and as a referee for different international journals.
Openings Announcements : Keep seeing this space for upcoming announcements for project opportunities in our lab.
Our location and contact details:
Satyajit Banerjee
Department of Physics,
Southern Labs - 110,
IIT Kanpur, Kanpur - 208016,
Uttar Pradesh
Our Contact phone number: (0091)-(0)512-679 7948
Our coordinates: 26.5112933, 80.2348532 or 26°30'40.7"N 80°14'05.5"E
or click the image below to see directions on google map