भारतीय खगोलभौतिकी संस्थान
Indian Institute of Astrophysics
Exploring the Universe since 1786
An Autonomous Institute under the
Department of Science & Technology
Government of India
Research Highlights
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS | IIA
Large cold dust reservoir revealed in transitional SN Ib 2014C by James Webb Space Telescope mid-infrared spectroscopy
ARKAPRABHA SARANGI | Jun 01, 2025
Supernova (SN) 2014C is a rare transitional event that exploded as a hydrogen-poor, helium-rich Type Ib SN and subsequently interacted with a hydrogen-rich circumstellar medium (CSM) a few months postexplosion. This unique interacting object provides an opportunity to probe the mass-loss history of a stripped-envelope SN progenitor. Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), we observed SN 2014C with the Mid-Infrared Instrument Medium Resolution Spectrometer at 3477 days postexplosion (rest frame), and the Near-Infrared Spectrograph Integral Field Unit at 3568 days postexplosion, covering 1.7–25 μm. The bolometric luminosity indicates that the SN is still interacting with the same CSM that was observed with the Spitzer Space Telescope 40–1920 days postexplosion. JWST spectra and near-contemporaneous optical and near-infrared spectra show strong [Ne II] 12.831 μm, He 1.083 μm, Hα, and forbidden oxygen ([O I] λλ6300, 6364, [O II] λλ7319, 7330, and [O III] λλ4959, 5007) emission lines with asymmetric profiles, suggesting a highly asymmetric CSM. The mid-IR continuum can be explained by ∼0.036 M⊙ of carbonaceous dust at ∼300 K and ∼0.043 M⊙ of silicate dust at ∼200 K. The observed dust mass has increased tenfold since the last Spitzer observation 4 yr ago, with evidence suggesting that new grains have condensed in the cold dense shell between the forward and reverse shocks. This dust mass places SN 2014C among the dustiest SNe in the mid-IR and supports the emerging observational trend that SN explosions produce enough dust to explain the observed dust mass at high redshifts.
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS | IIA
Multiwavelength analysis of AT 2023sva: a luminous orphan afterglow with evidence for a structured jet
ANUPAMA, G. C | Mar 01, 2025
We present multiwavelength analysis of ZTF23abelseb (AT 2023sva), an optically discovered fast-fading ( mag in d), luminous ( mag), and red ( mag) transient at with accompanying luminous radio emission. AT 2023sva does not possess a -ray burst (GRB) counterpart to an isotropic equivalent energy limit of erg, determined through searching -ray satellite archives between the last non-detection and first detection, making it the sixth example of an optically discovered afterglow with a redshift measurement and no detected GRB counterpart. We analyse AT 2023sva’s optical, radio, and X-ray observations to characterize the source. From radio analyses, we find the clear presence of strong interstellar scintillation (ISS) 72 d after the initial explosion, allowing us to place constraints on the source’s angular size and bulk Lorentz factor. When comparing the source sizes derived from ISS of orphan events to those of the classical GRB population, we find orphan events have statistically smaller source sizes. We also utilize Bayesian techniques to model the multiwavelength afterglow. Within this framework, we find evidence that AT 2023sva possesses a shallow power-law structured jet viewed slightly off-axis () just outside of the jet’s core opening angle (). We determine this is likely the reason for the lack of a detected GRB counterpart, but also investigate other scenarios. AT 2023sva’s evidence for possessing a structured jet stresses the importance of broadening orphan afterglow search strategies to a diverse range of GRB jet angular energy profiles, to maximize the return of future optical surveys.
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS | IIA
Fabrication of liquid-crystal retarders for solar polarimetry: A facile method
PHANINDRA, D. V. S | Dec 01, 2025
A high-precision polarimeter for simultaneous multi-line spectropolarimetric Sun observations is under development at Indian Institute of Astrophysics. Towards this end, we plan to use liquid-crystal retarders as the polarization modulators. A prototype liquid-crystal variable retarder (LCVR) is fabricated and characterized. A solution-processed method is adapted to fabricate the LCVR using commercially available E7 nematic liquid-crystal material. Thickness of the alignment layer of the LC retarder was optimized to achieve uniformity. The fabricated LCVR demonstrates spatial uniformity of retardance comparable to a commercial waveplate. The device is found to have a low-range of operational voltage of <20 V and a very short response time of <1 ms. Also, the device shows consistent operational stability.
Press Releases
PRESS RELEASES | SCOPE
IIA Founders Day 2026 and Bappu Centenary Year
SCOPE | Aug 10, 2026
The Indian Institute of Astrophysics celebrated its 55th Founder's Day on 10th August 2026, on the birthday of its Founder-Director, Professor M.K. Vainu Bappu. This was a special occasion since this is the beginning of the centenary year celebrations of Prof. Bappu, who would have turned 100 on 10th August 2027. To honour Bappu’s scientific contributions, the institute organises the Founder’s Day lecture every year by renowned scientists from various fields. This year, the Founder's Day Lecture was delivered by Kris Gopalakrishnan, co-founder of Infosys and Chairperson, Axilor Ventures.
PRESS RELEASES | SCOPE
International Workshop on Cosmic Dust at Vainu Bappu Observatory, Kavalur
SCOPE | Aug 11, 2026
The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) is organising an international workshop on cosmic dust at its Vainu Bappu Observatory (VBO) located at Kavalur, Tamilnadu, from 11th to 14th August 2026. Over 50 participants are attending this workshop in person, most of whom are PhD scholars and postdoctoral fellows working in different institutes across India.
PRESS RELEASES | SCOPE
New computer model can help trace magnetic energy builds up & forecast impact of resulting CMEs
SCOPE | Aug 13, 2026
A multi-institutional team of scientists have developed a three-dimensional computer simulation model that can bring scientists a step closer to forecasting the arrival and impact of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) before they reach Earth.
This study was published in the Astrophysical Journal in a paper titled "The Evolution of the Reconnection Flux during the Eruption of Magnetic Flux Ropes", and is authored by Samriddhi Sankar Maity (formerly IIA, currently at NASA and GSU USA), Piyali Chatterjee (IIA), Ranadeep Sarkar(Univ of Helsinki), and Ijas S. Mytheen (Eotvos Univ, Hungary).
The PIB press release is here.
The DST press release is here.
The paper is here.
Study at IIA
PhD Programme
IIA offers a vigorous programme of graduate studies that forms a vital component of research & training. The programme is overseen by the board of graduate studies. The Institute is also a major partner in the Joint Astronomy Programme (JAP), organized by the Indian Institute of Science.
Admissions
PhD applications may be submitted through the IIA PhD online applications portal in May. After the initial screening, shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in June. The final list of selected candidates will be announced in July, followed by the commencement of the programme in August. .
Research Fields
Solar Studies
Studies of the Sun and solar system have been the longest pursued discipline at IIA. Members of the group conduct theoretical, numerical modeling, and observational studies in solar physics.
Stars & Galaxies
Research interests of the group members range from exoplanets, star formation, stellar evolution, end states of stars, Interstellar medium, the milky way Galaxy, nearby galaxies, active galaxies and time domain astronomy.
Theory
Members of the theoretical Astrophysics group work on a broad range of topics such as black hole astrophysics, pulsars, exoplanets, astrophysical turbulence & magnetic fields, MHD, cosmology and early universe.
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