Ritesh Ghosh

Current position:
Alexander von Humboldt Fellow

Address:
Institut für Kernphysik, T. U. Darmstadt

Schlossgartenstraße 2, S02/11

D-64289 Darmstadt, Germany.

Publications:
INSPIRE-HEP, ResearchGate, Google Scholar

References:
1. Quarks and gluons at high temperatures and densities, J. Cleymans, R.V. Gavai, E. Suhonen, Physics Reports (Volume 130, Pages 217-292).
2. From hadrons to quarks in neutron stars: a review, Gordon Baym et. al., Rept.Prog.Phys. 81 (2018) 5, 056902, e-Print: 1707.04966 [astro-ph.HE].
3. Quantum field theory in a magnetic field: From quantum chromodynamics to graphene and Dirac semimetals, Vladimir A. Miransky, Igor A. Shovkovy, Phys.Rept. 576 (2015) 1-209, e-Print: 1503.00732 [hep-ph]
4. Polarization and Vorticity in the Quark–Gluon Plasma, Francesco Becattini, Michael A. Lisa, Ann. Rev.Nucl.Part.Sci. 70 (2020) 395-423, e-Print: 2003.03640 [nucl-ex].
5. Foundations and applications of quantum kinetic theory, Yoshimasa Hidaka, Shi Pu, Qun Wang, Di-Lun Yang, Prog.Part.Nucl.Phys. 127 (2022) 103989, e-Print: 2201.07644 [hep-ph].
6. Hard Thermal Loop - theory and applications, Najmul Haque, Munshi G. Mustafa, Prog.Part.Nucl.Phys. 140 (2025) 104136, e-Print: 2404.08734 [hep-ph].

Introduction:

Understanding the nature of matter under extreme conditions is a fundamental challenge in modern physics. My research focuses on strongly interacting matter in intense magnetic fields, high temperatures, and dense environments, which are relevant to neutron stars, the early universe, and heavy-ion collisions. These studies deepen our understanding of quantum chromodynamics (QCD) in extreme environments and have significant implications for astrophysics, nuclear physics, and condensed matter physics.

Since beginning my PhD, I have worked on different aspects of high-energy nuclear and particle physics and have demonstrable skills in both analytical and numerical calculations in field theories. My research experience so far includes various aspects of QCD thermodynamics, transport properties of quark-gluon plasma (QGP), electromagnetic responses of the strongly interacting medium, hard probes such as heavy quarks, various computational techniques with state-of-the-art models on heavy-ion collision physics, and so on.

My research focuses on QCD/QED phenomena in extreme environments, conducted in collaboration with colleagues across institutions.

I have contributed to various studies on anisotropic pressure, shear viscosity, heavy quark potential, and charge transport in magnetized QCD media, with publications in Physical Review D, European Physical Journal C, Journal of High Energy Physics, The Astrophysical Journal, and International Journal of Modern Physics E. My work aims to advance our theoretical understanding of QCD and its implications for fundamental physics.

PhD Tenure: For my PhD thesis, my primary focus was on the properties of strongly interacting matter in extreme conditions, such as high temperature, density, and magnetic fields, using quantum field theory and effective models to explore transport, thermodynamic, and spectral phenomena in QCD matter. Specifically, I explored the QCD EoS in a magnetic field, Chiral susceptibility in a dense thermomagnetic QCD medium, the photon damping rate, transport coefficients of a magnetized medium, and so on. As part of my PhD thesis, I independently performed the extensive and technically challenging calculations required for the research. Main observations have been published in peer-reviewed high-impact factor journals, and the PhD thesis received the Outstanding Doctoral Student Award 2023 in Physical Sciences from Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai.

Postdoctoral Research Summary:

At NISER, India, I studied the impact of chirality and magnetic fields on parton momentum evolution and extended this framework to a Gribov-Zwanziger plasma using effective field theory. Our results, published in Physical Review D Letters, highlighted the strong influence of non-perturbative effects on parton energy loss.

At Arizona State University, USA, my research focuses on the transport and spectral properties of magnetized QCD matter, which are relevant to heavy-ion collisions and neutron stars. I investigated anisotropic electrical conductivities using first-principles QFT methods, revealing distinct mechanisms in charge transport. Additionally, I studied neutrino emission asymmetries in magnetized quark matter (and pulsar kicks) and computed viscosities in a pure gluonic system using an effective matrix model.

At Academia Sinica, I am working on chiral and spin transport.

Currently, as an Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellow at the Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany, my research focuses on the properties and dynamics of strongly interacting matter under extreme conditions, with applications to neutron stars and relativistic heavy-ion collisions.

I have actively contributed to the peer-review process as a referee for several journals, including Physical Review X, Physical Review D, EPJC, Scientific Reports, Elsevier journals, and MDPI journals.

For more information, please visit my publications, research, achievements, and presentations section on this site.

Research experience:

Aug 2026-present: Alexander von Humboldt Fellow, Institut für Kernphysik, Technische Universität Darmstadt.
Host Supervisor / Mentor: Prof. Dr. Guy D. Moore
Nov 2025-July 2026: Academia Sinica Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Taiwan.
Host Supervisor / Mentor: Prof. Di-Lun Yang

Nov 2023-Nov 2025: Postdoctoral research scholar, Arizona State University, USA.
Host Supervisor / Mentor: Prof. Igor A. Shovkovy
Sep 2022-Nov 2023: Postdoctoral fellow, National Institute of Science Education and Research, India.
Host Supervisor / Mentor: Prof. Najmul Haque

Education:
Aug 2017-Dec 2022: Ph.D. in physics, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata
Title of PhD thesis: A study on some aspects of hot and dense QCD matter
PhD Supervisor: Munshi G. Mustafa

2015-2017: Master of Science in Physics, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, 2017

2012-2015: Bachelor of Science in Physics, Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira, Belur Math, 2015

Academic visit:

April 1-16, 2026: Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics (YITP), Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan, for research and collaboration work.
February 2020: National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar, Jatni, India, for research and collaboration work.
December 2021: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, for research and collaboration work.

Skill and expertise:

Theoretical Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics, High Energy Physics, Heavy Ion Physics, Perturbation Theory, Quantum Field Theory, Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), quantum electrodynamics (QED), Quark-Gluon Plasma, Thermodynamics, Quantum Mechanics, finite temperature field theory, kinetic/transport theory, fluid dynamics, statistical mechanics, Mathematical Physics, astroparticle Physics, Magnetic Properties etc.

Why does fundamental research matter?

Fundamental research is valuable because not all important discoveries have immediate applications. Many technologies that shape modern life originated from research that was once considered purely theoretical, with practical benefits emerging decades later. Research also expands our understanding of nature, develops new ideas and methods, and trains people to solve complex problems. Governments support such work because a society that invests in knowledge builds the foundation for future scientific and technological advances that cannot always be predicted in advance. Even when a particular study has no direct impact on everyday life, it contributes to the collective effort to understand the world and expand the boundaries of human knowledge.

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