Research Interests 

My research focuses on the formation and evolution of cosmic dust, a fundamental yet often overlooked component of the universe. Dust plays a critical role in astrophysical processes, influencing star and planet formation, the thermal balance of the interstellar medium (ISM), and the chemistry that leads to complex molecules. I am particularly interested in how dust forms in extreme environments, such as the atmospheres of evolved stars, supernova ejecta, and the early universe, and how it evolves as it interacts with radiation, shocks, and turbulent flows in the ISM. Dust grains, though minuscule, serve as catalysts for molecular formation and as reservoirs of heavy elements, contributing to the chemical enrichment of galaxies and the formation of planetary systems. Understanding the lifecycle of dust, from its creation to its destruction and eventual incorporation into new stars and planets, is central to addressing fundamental questions about the origins of cosmic structures and the conditions necessary for life. By combining observations from facilities like the James Webb Space Telescope with numerical simulations and laboratory experiments, I aim to unravel the processes governing dust grain growth, composition changes, and survival across different cosmic environments. This research not only advances our understanding of the role of dust in shaping the universe but also connects to broader questions about the evolution of galaxies and the interstellar medium, offering insights into the building blocks of stars, planets, and life itself.

Current Projects and Research 

Dust formation in supernovae, based on mass and metallicity.

with Prof. Arkaprabha Sarangi at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru, India

Dust formation in the hostile environments of late-stage massive stars plays a critical role in shaping both the observational properties of the stars and the chemical evolution of galaxies. When massive stars end their lives as supernovae (SNe), large masses of dust are known to form in that ejected stellar matter. I investigate the nature and timescale of dust production in core-collapse SNe, based on their mass and metallicity.

Tracing Dust Formation Before and After Explosion: 

In massive stars, dust may progressively form in the mass-loss winds before the final explosion as supernovae. At the time of explosion, a part of that dust gets destroyed, and a fraction may survive. After the explosion, dust can form in the interaction region between the forward and reverse shock, and it may also form in the metal rich core of the ejecta. It remains unclear where and when dust forms in these three locations. I am modeling the pre- and post- explosion dynamics of two very recent and very nearby core-collapse SNe, namely SN 2023ixf and SN 2024ggi (Jacobson-Galan et al. 2024). Using the approach of Sarangi and Slavin (2022), and all the early time optical data of these two objects (shown in below Figure), I will provide a map of how dust has evolved in these two stars prior to the explosion, and predict the trajectories of dust synthesis in the future. This project is/will be synced with all the current and future JWST observations related to these SNe.

Modeling Dust Mass and Composition as a Function of Progenitor Mass:

Progenitors of core-collapse SNe are massive stars larger than 8 M⊙ at main sequence. The late-stage of evolution of such stars depend widely on the mass, for e.g. a 10 M⊙ star evolves differently than a 20 M⊙ star, and that reflects in their explosion and post-explosion dynamics. I (we) am working on 1-D stellar models as KEPLER (Sukhbold et al. 2016) and MESA (Paxton et al. 2011) to derive a matrix of dust masses, dust compositions (chemical type), grain sizes, and timescales of dust formation in various progenitor masses. Our complete dust nucleation chemistry is based on models by Sarangi et al. 2018, 2022.

Dust Formation and Destruction in Low-Metallicity Stars:

Galactic dust from SNe originates from stars of different metallicities. Low metallicity stars and supernovae are especially important for dust production in the high-z galaxies. The dust formed in SNe are often partly destroyed by reverse shock that encounters the dusty SN ejecta (Micelotta et al. 2018, Slavin et al. 2020). The efficiency of destruction, and mechanism, is widely debated and not understood for low-metallicity scenarios. I will investigate dust formation in pair-instability SNe and subsequent dust destruction in the reverse shock.

Previous Projects and Research 

• Formation of Dark Matte halo in the early universe and its connection to JWST results.

with Prof. Subinoy Das at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru, India

• Reading Project on Cosmology

with Prof.Anshuman Maharana at the Harish-Chandra Research Institute, Allahabad, India

• Lorentz Invariant in Light Cone Gauge

with Prof.Dileep Jatkar at the Harish-Chandra Research Institute, Allahabad, India

• Modelling the Survival of Population III Stars to the Present Day

with Prof.Jayanta Dutta at the Harish-Chandra Research Institute, Allahabad, India