One of the leading theories for the origin of the largest structures we see in the universe in the form of galaxy clusters and superclusters is that these structures were seeded by quantum fluctuations in the very early universe. There had to be a transition in the early universe from quantum fluctuations to classical before structure formation could take place. This is hypothesized to happen via decoherence. These fluctuations were stretched out to cosmic scales by a period of exponential expansion known as cosmic inflation. Research groups here working on applying tools of open quantum systems to understand the process of decoherence. Using qft and quantum information techniques studies are going on the subsequent evolution of quantum fluctuations in various inflationary models.
Faculty involved- Dr. Nirmalya Kajuri and Dr. Krishna Mohan Parattu

21cm cosmology is a branch of astrophysics focusing on the study of the hyperfine structure transition of neutral hydrogen atoms, occurring at a wavelength of 21 centimeters. This transition provides a unique window into the early universe, as it allows astronomers to probe the distribution of neutral hydrogen gas and map out large-scale structures such as galaxies and cosmic filaments. Current research in 21cm cosmology involves designing and deploying radio telescopes with unprecedented sensitivity and resolution to detect faint 21cm signals, aiming to unlock mysteries about the formation and evolution of the cosmos, including the epoch of reionization and the cosmic dawn.
Faculty involved:- Dr. Nirmalya Kajuri, Dr. Rahul Kothari and Dr. Krishna Mohan Parattu