Dr Zahir Ahmad Shah
Assistant Professor
Physics
CURRENT ACADEMIC ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES
As an Assistant Professor aMy research focuses on understanding the physical processes that govern the production of high-energy radiation in the most extreme environments of the Universe. I investigate the physics of relativistic jets powered by supermassive black hole systems, with particular emphasis on particle acceleration, non-thermal radiation mechanisms, and the spectral and temporal evolution of high-energy astrophysical sources. By combining multi-wavelength observations with physically motivated computational modelling, I study the origin of flux variability, flaring activity, and broadband emission from compact astrophysical systems. My research also explores very-high-energy gamma-ray emission and its interaction with the extragalactic background light to probe both intrinsic source physics and the propagation of high-energy photons across cosmological distances. In addition, I am investigating the polarization properties of high-energy emission by developing theoretical models capable of reproducing contemporary X-ray polarization observations. Another major focus of my research is to examine whether the observed high-energy neutrino emission from relativistic jet sources can be explained within physically consistent lepto-hadronic emission scenarios, thereby exploring the connection between electromagnetic radiation, cosmic rays, and neutrinos in extreme astrophysical environments.t the Manipal Centre for Natural Sciences (MCNS), Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), I am engaged in teaching, research, and academic service. My current responsibilities include teaching postgraduate course Classical Mechanics, conducting independent research in high-energy astrophysics. I am involved in developing computational models and software for astrophysical data analysis. I coordinate the MCNS Seminar Series to promote scientific interactions through invited lectures by leading researchers. I actively collaborate with national and international research groups, publish research in peer-reviewed journals, and participate in activities aimed at promoting astronomy and astrophysics.
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
| Degree | Specialisation | Institute | Year of passing |
|---|---|---|---|
| PhD | High-Energy Astrophysics | Department of Physics, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India | 2018 |
| M.Phil | Physics | Department of Physics, University of Kashmir, Srinagar | 2014 |
| M.Sc. | Physics | Department of Physics, University of Kashmir, Srinagar | 2011 |
Experience
| Institution / Organisation | Designation | Role | Tenure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, Maharashtra | Postdoctoral Fellow | Conducted research on multi-wavelength observations of blazars, broadband spectral energy distribution modelling, high-energy emission mechanisms, and variability studies; collaborated on national and international research projects, Published research papers in high impact journals. | January 2019 – September 2021 |
| Department of Physics, Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal, Jammu & Kashmir, India | DST INSPIRE Faculty | Conducted independent research in High-Energy Astrophysics; Published research papers in high impact international peer reviewed journals, mentored postgraduate and doctoral research students; taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses; developed computational tools for astrophysical SED modeling | September 2021 – June 2026 |
AREAS OF INTEREST, EXPERTISE AND RESEARCH
Area of Interest
1. High-Energy Astrophysics 2. Time-Domain Astronomy 3. Multi-wavelength Astronomy 4. Computational Astrophysics 5. Multi-messenger Astrophysics 6. Extreme Astrophysical Phenomena
Area of Expertise
1. Convolved Broadband Spectral Energy Distribution (SED) Modeling 2. Steady-state and Time-dependent Fokker–Planck Modeling of Non-thermal Particle Populations 3. Multi-wavelength Data Analysis and Interpretation 4. Time-resolved X-ray and Gamma-ray Spectroscopy 5. Identification and Characterization of Flaring Epochs 6. Time-series Analysis and Statistical Inference of Blazar Light Curves and X-ray Binaries. 7. Scientific Software Development and High-performance Scientific Computing 8. Astronomical Data Reduction and Numerical Modelling
Area of Research
My research focuses on understanding the physical processes that govern the production of high-energy radiation in the most extreme environments of the Universe. I investigate the physics of relativistic jets powered by supermassive black hole systems, with particular emphasis on particle acceleration, non-thermal radiation mechanisms, and the spectral and temporal evolution of high-energy astrophysical sources. By combining multi-wavelength observations with physically motivated computational modelling, I study the origin of flux variability, flaring activity, and broadband emission from compact astrophysical systems. My research also explores very-high-energy gamma-ray emission and its interaction with the extragalactic background light to probe both intrinsic source physics and the propagation of high-energy photons across cosmological distances. In addition, I am investigating the polarization properties of high-energy emission by developing theoretical models capable of reproducing contemporary X-ray polarization observations. Another major focus of my research is to examine whether the observed high-energy neutrino emission from relativistic jet sources can be explained within physically consistent lepto-hadronic emission scenarios, thereby exploring the connection between electromagnetic radiation, cosmic rays, and neutrinos in extreme astrophysical environments.
Professional Affiliations & Contributions
- Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator of research projects funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
- Coordinator of the MCNS Seminar Series, facilitating scientific interactions through invited lectures by leading national and international researchers.
- Active collaborator with researchers from universities and research institutes in India and abroad on multi-wavelength/multi-messenger studies of high-energy astrophysical sources.
- Developer of open-source computational tools for broadband spectral energy distribution (SED) modelling and high-energy astrophysical data analysis.
- Reviewer for international peer-reviewed journals in astronomy and astrophysics.
- Mentored undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students.