Particle Accelerators are high-energy physics experiments that require valuable time and resources to produce optimal results through trial and error.
Bharat Singh Rawat, our next pathbreaker, Research Associate at the University of Liverpool, conducts simulation studies and beam diagnostic development for the AEgIS antimatter experiment carried out at CERN.
Bharat talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about how the development of Digital Twin technology for particle accelerators allows researchers to conduct numerical experiments without needing to operate the actual machine, while also contributing to sustainability !
For students, sometimes its also important to think of crazy ideas even though they may not sound feasible, because slowly working around them over time makes them plausible !
Bharat, can you explain your background to our young readers?
I was born in Ahmedabad. Throughout my schooling, I attended multiple schools, which allowed me to meet a diverse range of friends. Since both of my parents were at work during the day, I often spent time at home with my grandfather, watching cartoons. My initial inspiration to become a scientist stemmed from watching 90’s Cartoon Network shows. I was especially captivated by Dexter’s Laboratory, often imagining having a similar lab in my own house. I also loved Swat Kats for their cool airplanes and high-tech gadgets, and my friends and I would often discuss creating such devices during our lunch breaks. Another favorite was The Powerpuff Girls, I even attempted to recreate them in my kitchen once, though it didn’t quite go as planned.
In my early school years (1st to 5th grade), I was really into video games. My father brought me a Nintendo console from Hong Kong, and I spent countless hours playing games like Super Mario, Contra, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. However, when I switched schools and started attending St. Xavier’s High School in Ahmedabad, I found it more challenging to achieve high grades. I discovered that my classmates were more academically gifted than I was, which was a humbling experience. I had always been in the top five ranks until 6th grade, but at St. Xavier’s, I ranked 24th in my first-term examination. This experience motivated me to work harder to improve, though I never quite managed to break into the top ten ranks. My best performance was 13th place in 9th grade. Despite the academic challenges, I appreciated the numerous extracurricular activities offered at my school, including music, drama, and basketball. Although I was too shy for stage performances, I decided to learn the harmonium from a teacher who taught during lunch breaks. I picked up the basics over a year and later pursued it as a hobby. I also joined the school basketball team, representing my school in inter school and district tournaments. Once, I was even awarded the title of “Best Stylish Shooter” in a basketball tournament for my ability to slam dunk.
One of the most influential aspects of studying science in school was my interest in the extra sections in textbooks that weren’t part of the exam syllabus. I enjoyed reading about the biographies of scientists and the additional derivations included for information, which further fueled my passion for science.
What did you do for graduation/post graduation?
I completed my bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from Gujarat Technological University in 2013 and Master’s in Technology in Nuclear Engineering from Pandit Deendayal Energy University in 2017.
What were some of the key influences that led you to such an offbeat, unconventional career in Engineering Physics?
I initially wanted to pursue a BSc in Physics, but I decided to go with the flow and chose the safer option of engineering. Although it wasn’t my first choice, I have no regrets, as the journey introduced me to many wonderful people who have significantly shaped my life and career. Nevertheless, physics was, and still remains, my first love. While I wasn’t sure how I would integrate physics into my life, my passion for it never got away, and I frequently found myself reading about it. I also enjoy journaling, and in one of my entries, I once wrote about my dream of working at CERN.
One of the most inspiring figures in my life has been Dr. Urmila Rawat, my aunt (buaji). My parents often shared stories of her struggles and how she dedicated herself to her studies to become a scientist. Despite living in the US, she has always been a guiding force in my life. I frequently emailed her for advice on career choices, and her brutally honest responses were crucial in helping me clear up many of my doubts and misconceptions. In addition to my aunt, several of my school teachers played a pivotal role in shaping my academic interests. While I can’t name everyone, I particularly enjoyed the classes of Mr. Akshay Patel and Mrs. Veena Ramani, who taught me physics, and Mr. Harikesh Chawla and Mr. Shailesh Parmar, who taught me chemistry. Their teaching left a lasting impact on me. Throughout my schooling, I was an average student and never scored above 80%—my best being 78% in the 10th grade. Despite this, I am grateful to my parents for their compassion and motivation. My father always attended parent-teacher meetings with me, and although I feared he might scold me for my grades, he consistently encouraged me to do better next time.
How did you plan the steps to get into the career you wanted? Or how did you make a transition to a new career? Tell us about your career path.
After completing my bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, I applied to numerous companies for jobs, but most of the offers I received were for very low-paying positions, which was disappointing. My first job was in Vadodara as a sound engineer—a field quite unrelated to my studies—where I created karaoke tracks of Bollywood songs. Although I worked there for a few months, I quickly grew tired of it. Through a recommendation from my mother, I then secured a position as a Graduate Engineer Trainee at a well-known oil rig company in Ahmedabad, working as an Import/Purchase Officer. However, the job was challenging, mainly due to my difficult boss, and I eventually left it midway, always anxious about what the next day would bring.
At that point, I began exploring Master’s programs in the US and Canada, specifically in Aerospace Engineering, and even hired a consultant to help with the process. My father encouraged me to follow my passion but also reminded me of the hard work needed to earn the money. His advice led me to rethink my decision, and I started looking for courses in India that would bring me closer to physics. Fortunately, I found a Master’s degree program in Nuclear Engineering at Pandit Deendayal Energy University, which was near my city, and applied for it. After a series of written tests and interviews, I was selected for the course.
During my time at the university, I had the privilege of learning from some good teachers, including Dr. Vikram Rathore, who taught reactor physics, and Dr. Chaitanyamoy Ganguly, who instructed us on the nuclear fuel cycle. For my Master’s degree project, I applied for an internship with the National Fusion Program at the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR) in Gandhinagar. There, I met Dr. Sudhirsinh Vala at the Fusion Neutronics Laboratory, who became another important mentor in my journey. The internship didn’t allow students to choose their research topics; instead, topics were assigned. Fortunately, I was assigned a project on the design of a Faraday Cup, which turned out to be a pivotal moment, opening up opportunities in the field of charged particle beams. While most of my colleagues pursued core nuclear engineering projects, I got to work on something that truly fascinated me.
I had the opportunity to present my M.Tech thesis on the design of a high-power Faraday cup at the 25th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering held in Shanghai, China, in 2017. It was my first time traveling outside India alone, and the entire trip was funded by the conference organizers, which was a pleasant experience.
Faraday Cups are detectors used to measure the charge or current of a charged particle beam. My M.Tech thesis focused on designing a high-power Faraday Cup for an accelerator-based neutron source. A deuterium beam was accelerated onto a tritium target to induce a fusion reaction, resulting in the production of 14 MeV neutrons.
Around the same time, I applied for an internship at the Beam Plasma Systems Lab at Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) and was accepted to conduct simulation studies on electron beam plasmas over a period of one month. My time in Moscow was another enriching experience, during which I made many good friends.
After returning from the internship, I was still unemployed despite holding a Master’s degree, so I continued applying for jobs. I targeted companies that accepted candidates with Nuclear Engineering degrees, such as Capgemini, Walchandnagar Industries etc. Finally, after four months of searching, I was selected by Nuvia India Pvt Limited as a Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) for the Kakrapar Atomic Power Plant site. As an RSO, my responsibilities included ensuring that workers inside the coolant channel replacement project were exposed to limited radiation, monitoring their radiation levels, updating their monthly dose limit records, and regularly conducting safety briefings. This role was a significant learning experience, and I even had the rare opportunity to enter the reactor core of a Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) power plant and see the fuel bundles with my own eyes.
During my Master’s studies, I also developed a hobby of learning new languages. I began learning Spanish through an online platform that connected me with others who had similar interests. Later, in preparation for my trip to Russia, I started learning Russian as well. I’ve since developed a deep appreciation for Latin and Russian music. Also, I have played chess all my life since I was 9 years old and have won all the university level competitions from my Bachelor’s to PhD degree.
While working at Nuvia, I came across a PhD opportunity at the Institute for Plasma Research under the DDFS fellowship program, a five-year scheme offering a base fellowship of 60,000 INR, with an additional 14,000 INR as Housing Rent Allowance (HRA), plus a contingency grant of 40,000 INR per year for purchasing books, flash drives, and other supplies. I passed the written test and was selected for an interview at the Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI) building in Anushakti Nagar. The interview involved presenting my Master’s project and answering questions from a panel of five scientists from HBNI-affiliated institutes. Although I tend to be pessimistic about my results to avoid disappointment, a friend who had also applied informed me that I had been selected, which made me very happy.
We were called back to the HBNI office to choose our PhD thesis topics, with selections based on a merit list compiled from written and interview scores. Since there were only three students in Nuclear Engineering, the choice was straightforward, and I chose a topic on the design and development of an ion source, which included developing beam diagnostics like the Faraday cup—a field in which I had prior experience. After completing the formalities, I rejoined IPR under the supervision of Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Sharma, where I spent five years developing a gridded ion source for an ion thruster. I learned a great deal from my mentor, and I consider him a key influence on the way I think today.
My PhD research primarily focused on ion sources for ion thrusters used in space propulsion. I conducted various studies on the extraction and transport of charged particle beams from a multicusp ion source. Additionally, I developed several devices, including a Ring Cusp ion source, Wire arrays, Langmuir probes, and Faraday Cup arrays. Using the developed detectors, I demonstrated that electrons spatially distribute in the same manner as ions within the plume of a thruster, achieving complete space charge neutralization, by measuring their profiles.
How did you get your first break?
I think preparing for my PhD admission examination gave me the first break as it has shaped my current life. Had I continued working in the same company I would not have been doing what I always wanted to do right now.
What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them?
Challenge 1: Learning to code: I started from the basics and worked all the way to more complex stuff. Used the Feynman method.
Challenge 2 : Less confidence: Intentionally putting yourself in an uncomfortable situation and then trying to find a way out of it.
Where do you work now?
I currently work at the University of Liverpool as a Research Associate where my work is to carry out simulation studies and beam diagnostic development for the AEgIS(Antimatter Experiment: Gravity, Interferometry and Spectroscopy) antimatter experiment carried out at CERN.
What problems do you solve?
The challenge I’m addressing is the creation of a Digital Twin for the real experiment. This would allow us to conduct numerical experiments without needing to operate the actual machine, saving valuable time and resources for the optimization. I also research the development of novel beam diagnostics for monitoring the quality of a particle beam inside the accelerators. I am also working on optimization of particle traps for confining antimatter particles using PIC simulations.
What skills are needed in your role? How did you acquire the skills?
The job requires strong skills in physics, math, and programming. I’m continually developing these skills because I often encounter challenges that my current knowledge doesn’t fully address. When that happens, I research, discuss, and then find a solution. My approach to acquiring any new skill involves a three-step process: 1) Identifying the necessary skill to solve the problem, 2) Researching and discussing it with others, and 3) Practicing it myself. These days, tools like ChatGPT can be very helpful, though it’s important to be cautious, as the information provided can sometimes be unreliable.
What’s a typical day like?
I start my day at the office by brewing a cup of coffee, then I go through my emails and respond to them. After that, I plan out the day’s activities. If I have simulations running on my PC or the HPC, I check their progress.
I spend time reading research papers related to my field, writing my own papers, and collaborating with coauthors, keeping them updated on any progress. Afterward, I take a break for lunch and sometimes go for a short walk. We also have weekly meetings where we provide status updates on various projects. At the end of the day, I return home and prepare dinner. If I’m in the mood, I practice playing the guitar or melodica. Lately, I’ve been trying to master “Sultans of Swing” by Dire Straits on the guitar and “Take Five” by David Brubeck on melodica, but it’s proving to be quite a challenge! I also try to solve some chess problems to improve my chess endings from “Fundamental Chess endings” by Dr.Karsten Muller.
What is it you love about this job?
One of the aspects I love most about my current job is the opportunity to do outreach. I enjoy talking to young students and their parents, sharing my work and experiences with them. I hope that by telling my story and what inspired me to pursue science, I can encourage someone else to choose it as a career. In my job, I interact with people from various nationalities every day, which is fascinating and offers valuable insights into different perspectives. Additionally, my role involves frequent travel, allowing me to journey around the world to discuss my work.
How does your work benefit society?
The primary objective of the AEgIS antimatter experiment is to investigate the effect of gravity on antimatter atoms. While a significant study on this topic was successfully conducted last year by another experiment, the AEgIS method aims to measure the gravitational force on antimatter with even greater precision. Antimatter is already utilized in the medical field, particularly in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans, and there is significant ongoing research into its potential use in antiproton beam therapy. Efforts are also being made to optimize accelerator design by making them more compact. Additionally, the development of Digital Twin technology for particle accelerators contributes to sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint by reducing the resources and energy typically spent on trial and error during experiments.
Tell us an example of a specific memorable work you did that is very close to you!
Obtaining my PhD and visiting CERN for the first time was a particularly memorable experience for me, as it had been a dream of mine since my school days!
Your advice to students based on your experience?
I believe you should choose a career that you truly enjoy and never find boring. I always ask myself, “Can I do this for 10 hours without getting bored?” If the answer is yes, then I pursue it. When you do something you love, it doesn’t feel like work—it feels like a hobby. It’s also important to think of crazy ideas even though they may not sound feasible. Slowly working around them over time makes them plausible. Another important thing is that, if you feel bad now, just wait, you won’t feel bad after a while, time heals everything!
Future Plans?
I just do what I have now and try to live it the best I can. Worrying about the future (and past) always makes me anxious!.