Probing the densest objects in the universe
We are a research group at the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, India — working at the intersection of nuclear physics, astrophysics, gravitational waves, and dark matter to unravel the mysteries of neutron stars.
What we study
Equation of State of Neutron Stars
Deciphering dense matter at nuclear densities using relativistic mean-field models and observational constraints from LIGO, NICER, and pulsar timing.
Hyperons & Exotic Matter
Exploring strangeness-bearing particles — hyperons, delta baryons, and quarkyonic matter — and their effects on stellar structure, stability, and GW emission.
Gravitational Waves & Oscillations
Computing quasinormal modes, f- and p-mode frequencies, tidal deformability, and I-Love-Q relations linking to GW170817 and Einstein Telescope.
Dark Matter in Neutron Stars
Using neutron stars as cosmic dark matter laboratories — constraining WIMP, fermionic, and self-interacting dark matter through mass, radius, and oscillation observables.
Thermal Evolution
Investigating neutron star cooling, proto-NS evolution, and the role of temperature, entropy, and lepton fraction on nuclear matter properties.
Multi-Messenger Astrophysics
Bridging nuclear theory with EM, gravitational wave, and neutrino observations to constrain the neutron star equation of state at extreme densities.
Dr. Bharat Kumar
Bharat Kumar
Assistant Professor · Department of Physics & Astronomy, NIT Rourkela · since June 2020
M.Sc. Physics, AMU Aligarh · Ph.D. with S K Patra, IOP Bhubaneswar · Postdoc with Sukanta Bose (LIGO-India, IUCAA) · Postdoc with Takashi Nakatsukasa, University of Tsukuba, Japan
Latest in neutron-star & GW astrophysics
Recent developments in dense matter, gravitational-wave astronomy, and dark matter searches — curated by AI.
Summaries generated by AI · Always verify at arXiv:astro-ph.HE ↗ and nucl-th ↗
News
Congrats to Pinku for Best Poster Award at the DAE High Energy Physics Symposium, BHU. Event ↗
Paper by Kalita, Routaray, Ghosh & Kumar on delta-baryons published in JCAP ↗
Pinku's paper on WIMP dark matter accepted in MNRAS ↗
NAP Lab established at NIT Rourkela under Dr. Bharat Kumar.
Upcoming events
Asian GW Astronomy Meeting (AGWAM 2026) — Chiang Mai, Thailand.
IGWN School 2026 — Perimeter Institute, Canada. For grad students & early-career researchers.
Zakopane Conference on Nuclear Physics — Poland.
NuSym26 — Nuclear Symmetry Energy Symposium — EoS, GW & supernova neutrinos.
Current team members
PhD Students
Pinku Routaray
M.Sc., Berhampur University
Sayantan Ghosh
M.Sc., Banaras Hindu University
Master Students
Kanika Karan
Shubhajit Saha
Selected publications
Probing the Impact of Delta-Baryons on Nuclear Matter and Non-Radial Oscillations in Neutron Stars
Probing the Impact of WIMP Dark Matter on Universal Relations, GW170817 Posterior and Radial Oscillations
Impact of the Equation of State on f- and p-Mode Oscillations of Neutron Stars
Inferring Neutron Star Properties from GW170817 with Universal Relations
Join us
PhD Fellowship (DST WISE)
Positions in neutron star asteroseismology, dark matter admixed NSs, and multi-messenger astrophysics.
Apply via DST WISE ↗SERB-NPDF Fellowship
Postdoc in nuclear astrophysics, GW oscillations, or EoS constraints with LIGO/NICER data.
Apply via SERB ↗Own Fellowship? Join Us
If you have an external fellowship and wish to pursue research with us, get in touch directly.
kumarbh@nitrkl.ac.in ↗Contact
Dr. Bharat KumarMC202, Department of Physics & Astronomy
National Institute of Technology, Rourkela
Odisha 769008, India
Email: kumarbh@nitrkl.ac.in
Maps ↗
Support
Supported by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Government of India.
Part of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, NIT Rourkela.
