Rana Adhikari

Rana Adhikari is a Professor of Physics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Holding a B.S. from the University of Florida (1998) and a Ph.D. from MIT (2004), he has been at Caltech since 2006, progressing from Assistant Professor to full Professor in 2012. His research focuses on advancing detector technologies for fundamental physics experiments in gravitational waves, dark matter, and near-field gravity studies.

• Education: B.S. in Physics, University of Florida (1998); Ph.D. in Physics, MIT (2004)
• Caltech Faculty: Assistant Professor (2006-12), Professor (2012-present)

Adhikari's group specializes in precision measurements at the intersection of classical and quantum physics. Key research areas include:

• Mechanical oscillators and their thermodynamic limits
• Nonlinear optics for interferometric applications
• Quantum information constraints in classical sensors
• Adaptive optics using thermal actuation
• Cryogenic silicon interferometers for cosmological observations
• High-quality silicon opto-mechanical systems for LIGO applications
• Laser gyroscope technology for rotation sensing

The group's work on gravitational wave detection has produced numerous publications in leading journals like Physical Review X, Physical Review D, and Optics Express. Their research often combines experimental physics with machine learning techniques for noise cancellation in laser interferometers.

Adhikari's team also engages with undergraduate researchers through programs like the International LIGO SURF students, creating opportunities for young scientists in gravitational physics. His publications reveal a consistent focus on gravitational wave detector optimization, quantum metrology, and cosmological observations through advanced instrumentation.