Durga Prasad Khatua, Ph.D.

Durga Prasad Khatua, Ph.D.

he/him

Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of California, Los Angeles | Ultrafast Dynamics | Pump-Probe spectroscopy | High-intensity Plasmonics | Plasma Diagnostics

Durga Prasad Khatua, Ph.D.

Brief Biography

Dr. Durga Prasad Khatua is a Postdoctoral Research Scholar in the Physics and Astronomy Department at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), USA. His research spans ultrafast dynamics, high-intensity light–matter interactions, ion acceleration, and laser-driven fusion, alongside advanced plasma diagnostics. He is actively engaged in the design and development of mm-wave Doppler backscattering (DBS) systems for turbulence and flow studies in spherical tokamaks, contributing to MAST-U experiments aimed at understanding plasma instabilities and ion cyclotron emission (ICE).

Dr. Khatua earned his Ph.D. in Physics (2022) from the Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT), Indore, India. His doctoral thesis, “Ultrafast Photoexcited Carrier Dynamics in Two-Dimensional Molybdenum Disulfide,” focused on ultrafast carrier dynamics in monolayer and multilayer MoS₂, with implications for next-generation optoelectronic devices. He also holds both a Master’s and a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, India.

With expertise in ultrafast spectroscopy, quantum optics, and photonic instrumentation, Dr. Khatua has developed multiple custom optical setups—including femtosecond pump–probe systems, micro-PL/micro-absorption platforms, and mm-wave RF systems—to address challenges in both quantum materials and plasma physics.

Future Goals

Dr. Khatua’s future research aims to unify ultrafast science, quantum technologies, and plasma diagnostics by:

  • Enhancing mm-wave DBS systems for high-resolution turbulence and flow studies in fusion plasmas.
  • Investigating plasma instabilities and ICE phenomena in spherical tokamaks such as MAST-U.
  • Advancing ultrafast optical techniques, including attosecond and femtosecond dynamics in 2D and topological materials, for quantum information and energy harvesting.
  • Developing cutting-edge imaging and transient spectroscopy methods (hyperspectral imaging, ultrafast microscopy) for materials and biomedical sciences.
  • Pursuing compact laser–plasma accelerators and platforms that bridge fusion energy and photonic instrumentation.

Through these directions, Dr. Khatua aims to contribute to the advancement of next-generation fusion research and the broader field of ultrafast quantum technologies.

“Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself.”
— Richard P. Feynman