1. Centre for Astroparticle Physics and Space Sciences – A National Facility at Bose Institute Sanjay K. Ghosh Bose Institute

2. Four major programmes 1. Cosmic ray studies at high altitude 2. Changing airspace environment in Eastern Himalayas 3. Children’s science resource centre 4. Manpower development – training programmes

3. Cosmic Ray studies

4. Photographed the recoil tracks of radioactive nuclei during alpha emission Earliest evidence of disintegration of nitrogen nuclei under the bombardment of alpha particle First cloud chamber in India – During 1920s S. N. Sengupta and M.S. Sinha Proc.Phys. Soc. 79,1183 (1962) Cosmic Ray research: Cloud Chamber & Photographic Emulsion – D.M. Bose

6. New developments – late 90’s Theoretical works on strongly interacting system- Hadron – quark phase transition Model prediction – stable quark matter system at large density - Infinite volume system

7. Smaller lumps of strange matter – strangelet shows magic number like structure strangelet - may be stable – Cosmic ray

8. Detection of strangelets  Propagation mechanism of strangelets  How far can it travel through atmosphere  How does it interact with atmosphere ? Important observations  Stability of strange matter  Small positive charge  massive s quark  Z/A  1

9. New programmes on:  Detection of strangelets : Passive detectors  Active detectors : Air shower studies in collaboration

10. Study of Changing airspace environment in Eastern Himalayas

12. Indo-Gangetic plane :  Agricultural as well as Industrial activity  Source of atmospheric pollutants  Vulnerable place from changing environment ” Himalaya is subject to (a) emissions from IGP regions (b) pollutants transported from long distances ” Himalaya : Unique place to monitor airspace environment

13. Eastern Himalaya : wet with rich forest cover and lesser population Western Himalaya : dry, scanty forest cover and high population Monitoring stations : Mostly in western Himalaya

14. North Bengal University, Siliguri Darjeeling 2500 meters Kathmandu ICIMOD- UCSD Station Sandakphu 4200 meters Pyramid Station 5034 meters Eastern Himalaya Monitoring stations

15. Eastern Himalayas Radio Environment Chemical, Physical, and Radio Mapping of the region Air Pollutant Dispersal 3-D Chemical Modeling 23.8 GHz (Water Vapour) 31.4 GHz (Liquid Water) Distrometers (DSD ) Monitoring of trans- boundary pollutants Physical Environmen t 3-D Trajectories Met Data Chemical Environment H 2 O: mm waves O 3, CO, NO x, SO 2 : Trace Species Aerosols: Scattering/ Absorbing Emission Inventories

16. Pollution and particulate matter effect on health aerosol – act as cloud condensation nuclei - effect on cloud formation effect on earth’s radiation budget surface measurements of various components Grimm instrument for particulate matter measurements at Darjeeling

17. Meteorological parameters:

18. Air masses travel through different regions – transported pollutants

19. Ozone measurements

20. Atmospheric compositions: Remote sensing –passive and active attenuation of E.M. radiation Microtop – filters for 305-1020nm 300-320 nm Ozone 936nm – water vapour absorption 1020nm – aerosol scattering

21. Micropulse Lidar Micro pulse LIDAR (Light distance and ranging) (MPL) is the other remote sensing device which operates in the visible band. It is used to measure the height of overhead clouds and particles. Short pulses of laser light travel through the sky - may encounter water droplets or aerosol particles in the atmosphere – backscattered light received by the receiver is analyzed –dual polarization gives the idea of the shape as well

22. Radio measurements Receiver – 23.8 and 31.4GHz water vapour & liquid water

23. Optical rain gauge – rain rate, drop size distribution Ku-band reeiver – signal attenuation between 10-12GHz Together can give a complete picture – useful for radio communication as well as rain character

24. Micro rain radar – vertically pointed doppler radar – 24 GHz – vertical drop size distribution profiles

25. We are also involved in the flood studies in collaboration with DST,Govt.of India First phase of our programme is almost complete Future plans include Cloud studies in a more details Cloud modelling – charging – electricitry – thunder storms

26. Children’s Science Resource Centre

27. 1. Formation of science clubs in schools 2. Train them to record local meteorological data 3. Once in a month meeting, recording of data taken by students in the central data base 4. Train some of the interested students for cosmic ray experiments 5. Introductory level lectures by scientists

28. Nodal centre for North-East India hands-on training in basic sciences - School Students’ - School teachers

29. Manpower development

30. Workshops and summer schools on various aspects of the : cosmic ray physics Instrumentation Environmental science Weather modeling studies Numerical simulation with hands-on training Aimed at : Masters level and beginning doctoral students

31. Thank You