Research Projects

This project aims to establish indigenous capability for operando 4D (3D space and time) synchrotron imaging of alloy solidification in India. Despite possessing synchrotron facilities, including the imaging beamline at Indus-2, Indian research institutions currently lack the infrastructure and expertise required to perform real-time, three-dimensional studies of microstructural evolution during solidification. Such studies are critical for advancing our understanding of fundamental phenomena like phase selection, interface instabilities, and morphological evolution in technologically important alloys. Building on my experience designing custom directional solidification setups for a broad range of materials at IISc Bangalore, and extensive training in in-situ synchrotron imaging at premier U.S. facilities, I propose to design and build specialized, beamline-compatible experimental apparatus tailored for the constraints of the Indus-2 imaging beamline. This compact directional solidification system will enable precise thermal control, high-speed data acquisition (100 fps), and sub-micron spatial resolution imaging during alloy solidification. The apparatus will also be compatible with limited-angle tomography configurations, a necessity given the geometric and temporal limitations inherent to synchrotron facilities. The project will further develop advanced data processing pipelines incorporating machine learning-based denoising, segmentation, and phase tracking, to extract quantitative information from noisy or sparse datasets. In doing so, this initiative bridges experimental design with computational analysis, thereby providing a complete framework for 4D investigation of alloy solidification. The experimental infrastructure and methodology developed through this proposal will be made available as a national facility, enabling researchers across India to probe solidification in lightweight aluminum alloys, metal-matrix composites, superalloys, and emerging high-entropy alloy systems. Such capability is crucial for aerospace, defense, and energy applications, aligning with national strategic priorities and strengthening technological self-reliance under the "Make in India" initiative.