Dr. Arka Chatterjee

Dr. Arka Chatterjee is an Astrophysicist with a PhD in Theoretical Physics from the University of Calcutta. His research focuses the X-ray images of accreting black holes, general relativistic effects, and disk-jet connections in the accretion disk. He discovered Jet induced Soft Lags during accretion onto black holes and has expertise in the field for Ray-Tracing, Black Hole Astrophysics, X-ray astronomy, and time series techniques.  

He has memberships of the following presitigious institutions:  

1. Member International Astronomical Union (IAU), CA20832

2. Member of Canadian Astronomical Society (CASCA), Vancouver, BC, Canada

3. Life membership of Astronomical Society of India (ASI), L 2408, India 

Dr. Arka Chatterjee has joined as an Assistant Professor -Senior Scale UPES on 11th November 2024. Prior to this, he served as a Postdoctoral Fellow of University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada where the project funded was by the Research Program of Canadian Space Agency 2021-2024. Before that, he worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher in the UNIST, South Korea and S N Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata, India from 2018-2020.     

Dr. Arka Chatterjee interests are embedded in discovering the signatures of general relativity (GR) and “Disk-Jet Connections” through multi-wavelength variabilities of galactic black holes (GBHs) and active galactic nuclei (AGNs). During the accretion process, the inflowing matter speeds up by spending gravitational potential energy. This kinetic energy is converted into heat, and the heat is dissipated through radiation. Radiations may come out in the range of Radio, Infrared, Ultraviolet, or X-ray depending on the mass of the central black hole and emitting region on the accretion disk. For GBHs and AGNs, the inner region radiates mostly in X-rays. Since the curvature becomes steeper closer to black holes, the X-ray contains potent signatures of GR processes. The X-ray light curves from accreting black holes of various mass ranges often exhibits Quasi-Periodic Oscillations (QPOs) and can be utilized to probe the extreme gravity around black holes. His research would likely to address these tantalizing issues of black hole accretion physics: 

1. What are the general relativistic signatures on timing properties in black hole accretion?

2. What triggers the multi-wavelength variability during the black hole accretion?

Below, is a list of a few of his notable research works:  

a. First X-ray Images of Black Holes with Observable Spectral & Temporal counterpart

b. First Time Lag Simulations for Inhomogeneous Corona

c. Discovery of Radio Flux and Soft-Lag Correlation

d. First Proposed & Simulated Soft Excess through the Single Corona

Dr. Arka Chatterjee possess profound passion for the art of teaching and finds it to be an immensely invigorating experience. In his view, teaching is a dynamic, two-way process characterized by mutual learning. This symbiotic relationship becomes especially evident in a research-oriented environment, where people continually push the boundaries of knowledge. He firmly believes that research, when parted from teaching, tends to yield considerably fewer insights. This holds true whether faculties are engaged with undergraduate or graduate instruction.

Teaching demands the ability to express and elucidate complex concepts clearly for learners. This requirement acts as a catalyst, compelling the teacher to possess a crystal-clear understanding of these concepts. Furthermore, effective teaching hinges on the skill full ideas to facilitate meaningful comprehension. These contribute to a deeper understanding of the entire body of knowledge. In future, the ideas enhance the potential for research works. 

Dr. Arka Chatterjee teaches a variety of courses, including:

• Stellar Evolution: Fundamentals of Stellar Evolution, Equilibrium and Nuclear Processes, Formation of Compact Objects, Hands on sessions and projects.  
• Physics for Computer Engineers: Basics of Lasers, EM theory, and Modern Physics.
• Laboratory Experiments for Computer Engineers: Basic experiments to understand the concepts of Physics and their real world applications.  

1. Equipment grant (PC) of KRW 5 million from UNIST, 2021, Ulsan, South Korea

2. Postdoctoral Fellowship from UNIST, 2020, Ulsan, South Korea

3. CSA Postdoctoral Fellowship from University of Manitoba, 2020, Winnipeg, Canada

4. Travel & Accommodation Grant in the MAXI 10 Year Workshop, 2020, Tokyo, Japan

5. Postdoctoral Fellowship-IPDF from IIT Guwahati, 2019, Guwahati, India, declined

6. Postdoctoral Fellowship from SNBNCBS, 2018, Kolkata, India

7. Travel & Accommodation Grant in the RETCO III, 2017, IIST, Trivandrum, India

8. Travel & Accommodation Grant of COSPAR Students’ Fellowship for COSPAR Conference, 2016, Turkey

9. Job offer as a Graduate Trainee from Ignite Project of TCS, 2008, Chennai, India 

Publications: 33

• Peer-Reviewed: 14 (4 First, 6 corresponding, 4 co-author); Total IF: 79.8 (Avg. 5.7),
• Journals: 11 MNRAS, 2 ApJ & 1 ApJS  
• Book Chapters: 2 (single author, Internationa),  
• Astronomer Telegram: 1,  
• White Paper: 1,  
• Conference: 15

Externally Funded Project:  

Canadian Space Agency (CSA) (CAD 50k/INR: 30 lakh, Start Date: 01.04.24)

“Exploring Inner Accretion Dynamics of Black Holes across the Mass Scale using Astrosat” (Co-PI)

Observational Proposal:

PI: Astrosat Proposals (200 ks; IDs: A12_99, A13_87, A14_94)

Co-PI: uGMRT 6 Hrs, ATel 16378; ARIES (2020 cycle A, 5 nights)

Seminars/Presentations:

8 Invited Lectures (IISc, IIST, IITG, IITKGP, UNIST, UofM., Presidency University)

13 Contributed talks (5 International, 8 National) 

arka.chatterjee@ddn.upes.ac.in