Akash Garg

Research

My research interests revolve around compact object systems, particularly black hole and neutron star X-ray binaries (XBs). I focus on the properties of accretion flows around compact objects, examining the geometry of the accretion disk and corona and on how these flows evolve during spectral state transitions. I am also interested in accretion-jet coupling, as well as the physical properties of the compact and companion stars in X-ray transients. Towards my interests, I have been studying the spectral, temporal, and polarisation properties of X-ray binaries using a mix of traditional astronomy and modern machine learning methods.

Research illustration

Curriculum Vitae

Research Interests

  • Physics of accretion and ejection processes in compact objects (black holes, neutron stars).
  • Application of machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) techniques in time-series classification, anomaly detection, and source characterization in X-ray astronomy

Education & Experience

  • Postdoctoral Fellow (Aug 2022- Aug 2025)
    IUCAA, Pune, India
  • Ph.D. Physics (Nov 2016-Jan 2023)
    Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi, India
  • M.Sc. Physics (2014-2016)
    Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi, India
  • B.Sc. (Hons.) Physics (2010-2013)
    St. Stephen's College, Delhi, India

Skills

  • Languages: Fortran, Python, Bash, Tcl scripting
  • ML/Data Science: Supervised/unsupervised learning, Deep learning (ANN), Statistical modeling
  • Libraries/Frameworks: Scikit-learn, PyTorch, pandas, NumPy, SciPy, Astropy
  • Tools: Jupyter, Latex, Linux
  • Astronomy Software: HEASOFT, Stingray, Ixpeobssim, Chandra/CIAO
  • X-ray pipelines: LAXPC, SXT, NuSTAR, NICER, IXPE, Swift, RXTE

Please find my detailed CV here: Download CV

Public Outreach

A short outreach video for National Science Day 2024, organised at IUCAA, India, where I explain my research in X-ray astronomy and its broader impact. Stay tuned for more such videos in the future!

Poems

As I continue in my research journey, I sometimes sit back and try to put down what I have learnt in the form of poems. Here are some of them: