R. Shanker

Biography

Academic Qualifications: S. No. Degree Institution Year 1. B.Sc. Banaras Hindu University 1963 2. M.Sc. Banaras Hindu University 1966 Gold - Medalist 3. Ph. D. Banaras Hindu University 1972 Brief writeup on area of specialization/awards/achievements: A. High Resolution Spectroscopy of Diatomic Molecules: Ph.D. work of Prof. Rama Shanker (1968-72) was mainly involved with studies of the rotational spectra of AsO + and SbF molecules which were recorded by using a 35 feet concave grating spectrograph. His post-doctoral works carried out during 1973-77 at the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, N.B.,Canada and at the Dalhousie University Halifax, Canada have yielded important information on the emission spectra of SiO molecule excited in a chemiluminescent flame and on that of Cl2 molecule excited in a after glow respectively. B. Inner shell excitation in heavy ion-atom collisions: Prof. Shanker served as a Scientist-coworker (1978-84) at the University of Bielefeld, Germany. The main emphasis of his work was on the study of impact parameter dependent excitation probabilities in ion- atom collisions using a 350 kV electrostatic linear accelerator. This work yielded very detailed information on the collision dynamics and provided a stringent test for the available theories. The relevant results were of international repute (see, the list of publications). C. Electron bremsstrahlung, electron backscattering and multiple ionization processes Prof. Shanker developed the First modern Atomic Physics Laboratory in the department of Physics, BHU under an international collaboration between BHU and the University of Bielefeld, Germany supported by the INSA (Indian National Science Academy) and the DFG (Deutscheforschungsgmeinschaft, Germany). This laboratory houses several instruments, such as, a 50 kV electron gun, a 45 degree parallel plate electrostatic analyzer, a time-of-flight mass spectrometer and a device to measure the backscattered electrons and a Si(Li) detector. Many of these are home-built: the components were designed and fabricated and were made functional at par any custom-built counter component. The laboratory is equipped with a facility to carry out studies of inner-shell ionization, Auger- and X-ray spectroscopy of atoms and molecules, multiple ionization, fragmentation dynamics of simple molecules, electron backscattering and electron bremsstrahlung from thin- and thick targets. The results of the above investigations were published in high impact research journals. Efforts are being made to image the fragmentation dynamics with the aim of investigating the temporal evolution of the collision events in energetic electron impact with simple molecules (for example, atmospheric molecules) by employing a time- and position sensitive multi-hit detector system and the supersonic gas jet producing cold targets.

Research Interest

High energy heavy ion-atom collision experiments at NSC This facility called SCORPION (system for coincidences between recoil and projectile ion) was developed by Prof. Shanker research group on one of the beam lines of the 15 UD Pelletron accelerator at nuclear science centre (NSC), now re-named as Inter University accelerator centre (IUAC), New Delhi during 1990-93. The facility was used to study the recoil ion charge state distributions created in MeV ion- collision with various atoms. In view of the excellent performance of the present Atomic physics laboratory, particularly for the interesting results produced in the last successive DST funded projects, the DST has awarded Prof. Shanker the prestigious RAMANNA FELLOWSHIP (2007).