Welcome!
Welcome to my academic homepage! I am a theoretical physicist specializing in quantum optics and quantum interferometry. In July 2025, I completed my Ph. D. in Physics from the Department of Physics, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, India. This page highlights my research, publications, and professional journey.
During my doctoral research, I developed theoretical frameworks to mitigate photon loss and improve the phase sensitivity of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) and SU(1,1) interferometers. I systematically studied the role of squeezed Kerr states (SKS) and Schrödinger cat-like states in quantum interferometry. Showed that these states offer enhanced phase estimation beyond the standard quantum limit, also outperforming squeezed vacuum states in low-photon cases, important for fields like biological and chemical sensing. We also proposed a dual-output detection scheme for a squeezing-assisted MZI, achieving sub-shot-noise sensitivity over a broad phase range.
I look forward to continuing to bridge theoretical innovation and experimental feasibility, contributing to the development of practical, high-impact quantum sensing technologies.
Current Research Activities
- Investigating two-photon absorption (TPA) and nonlinear quantum measurement strategies.
- Exploring orbital angular momentum (OAM) of light for novel OAM cluster generation.
- Quantum plasmonic sensing: integrating surface plasmon resonance (SPR) with squeezed states to surpass shot-noise limits, enhancing refractive index detection.
- Developing weak-value amplification (WVA) schemes for precision quantum estimation.
Collaborative Research Experience
To complement my theoretical work, I have engaged in international collaborations through multiple research visits to Germany. At the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Erlangen, I worked with Prof. Maria Chekhova’s group, where my experimental exposure helped me understand how to design theory that connects meaningfully with real-world scenarios. Later, at the University of Hamburg, I worked in Dr. Frank Schlawin's group purely on theoretical aspects of quantum light–matter interactions and quantum spectroscopy, which gave me a deeper understanding of how to approach theory with greater rigor and physical relevance. These visits have significantly enriched my research perspective and fostered long-term collaborations in the field of quantum optics and sensing.
Research Interests
- Quantum optics and quantum interferometry (SU(2) and SU(1,1) topologies)
- Quantum sensing and metrology with nonclassical states of light
- Weak-value amplification (WVA) and quantum estimation theory
- Orbital angular momentum (OAM) of light and OAM cluster generation
- Quantum plasmonic sensing with squeezed states & SPR
- Quantum information protocols and photonic quantum technologies
Education
- 2019–2025: Ph.D. in Physics (BHU, India)
- 2016–2018: M.Sc. in Physics (University of Allahabad)
- 2013–2016: B.Sc. in Physics & Mathematics (TDPG College, VBS Purvanchal University)
Selected Publications
| Title | Journal | Year | DOI / PDF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enhancing Measurement Precision of Non-Degenerate Two-Photon Absorption | arXiv Preprint | 2025 | arXiv:2506.07384 |
| Quantum-enhanced super-sensitivity of Mach-Zehnder interferometer using squeezed Kerr state | APL Quantum | 2024 | Link |
| Improvement in phase-sensitivity of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with the superposition of Schrödinger’s cat-like state with vacuum state as an input under parity measurement | Opt. Quant. Electron. | 2023 | Link |
| Quantum-enhanced super-sensitivity of a Mach–Zehnder interferometer with superposition of Schrödinger’s cat-like state and Fock state as inputs using a two-channel detection | JOSA B | 2022 | Link |
| Broadening the high sensitivity range of squeezing-assisted interferometers by means of two-channel detection | Optics Express | 2021 |
Awards & Grants
- International Visiting Student Program (2023): Selected for a prestigious six-month international research support grant under the Institutes of Eminence (IoE), BHU global outreach program.
- Received the Research Incentive Grant from IoE, BHU twice (in August 2022 and April 2024) for publishing research articles in Q1/Q2 peer-reviewed journals.
- First Prize in the poster competition held during the 7th Institute Day Celebration at the Institute of Science, BHU on December 14, 2022.
Contact
Email: gaurav.shukla95@zohomail.in; gaurav00jnp@gmail.com; gaurav.shukla18@bhu.ac.in
Department of Physics, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, India