Dr. Rahul Sharma

X-ray Astronomer & Astrophysicist
Post-Doctoral Fellow at Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA)

Background: NASA/CXO

About Me

Dr. Rahul Sharma

X-ray Astronomy Researcher

I am a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, specializing in X-ray astronomy and high-energy astrophysics. My research focuses on X-ray binaries, X-ray pulsars, neutron stars, black holes, and X-ray polarization.

My work involves analyzing data from space-based observatories like AstroSAT, XMM-Newton, NuSTAR, and Chandra to understand the physics of compact objects and their environments.

Research Interests

X-ray Binaries

Study of binary systems with compact objects accreting matter from companion stars, Eclipses and dips, high-resolution Spectroscopy

Neutron Stars

Physics and behaviour of neutron stars, X-ray Bursts, Reflection spectroscopy, Atomic lines

Black Holes

Accretion processes and properties, time variability, Aperiodic Noise, QPOs

Magnetars

Highly magnetized neutron stars, Timing and Spectroscopy, CRSFs

X-ray Pulsars

Timing and spectral analysis, Accreting Pulsars, Millisecond pulsar, Pulse Timing, QPO, Aperiodic Noise, CRSFs, Atomic lines

ULXs

Ultra-luminous X-ray sources, ULX Pulsars, Reprocessing

X-ray Polarization

Polarimetric studies of X-ray sources

Orbital Evolution

Dynamics of binary systems, Eclipse timing, Pulsar timing

Cataclysmic Variables

Accreting White Dwarfs, Timing and spectral study, Multi-wavelength observations

Selected Publications

Broadband Timing and Spectral Study of Accreting Millisecond X-Ray Pulsar SAX J1808.4–3658 during Its 2022 Outburst
R. Sharma, A. Sanna, and P. Sharma
The Astrophysical Journal 999, 133 (2026)
2026
Probing accretion dynamics and spin evolution in the X-ray pulsar RX J0520.5–6932 during its 2024 outburst
R. Sharma, A. Beri, B. Paul, A. Sanna, C. Maitra, and H. Yang
Astronomy & Astrophysics 706, A322 (2026)
2026
Intriguing nature of AM Her-type candidate CXOU J204734.8+300105
R. Sharma, C. Jain, B. Paul, A. Dutta, and V. Rana
The Astrophysical Journal 987, 117 (2025)
2025
Broadband spectral and emission geometry analysis of XB 1916–053 with Chandra and NuSTAR
R. Sharma
Journal of High Energy Astrophysics 47, 100376 (2025)
2025
Sidebands to mHz QPOs in 4U 1626–67 in the second spin-down state
R. Sharma, C. Jain, B. Paul, and A. Beri
MNRAS 538, 1046–1054 (2025)
2025
Probing the energy and luminosity-dependent spectro-timing properties of RX J0440.9+4431 with AstroSat
R. Sharma, M. Mandal, S. Pal, B. Paul, G. K. Jaisawal, and A. Ratheesh
MNRAS 534, 1028–1042 (2024)
2024
AstroSat observation of the magnetar SGR J1830-0645 during its first detected X-ray outburst
R. Sharma, C. Jain, B. Paul, and T. R. Seshadri
MNRAS 526, 4877–4884 (2023)
2023
View All Publications

Science Posters

Magnetic CV Research

Presented at STELLAR VARIABILITY 2025, IUCAA, Pune

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X-ray Pulsar Research

Presented at X-ray Universe 2023 Symposium, Athens, Greece

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Neutron Star X-ray Binary Research

Presented at 36th Meeting of Astronomical Society of India (ASI 2018), Osmania University, Hyderabad

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Neutron Star X-ray Binary Research

Presented at 35th Meeting of Astronomical Society of India (ASI 2017), Birla Institute of Scientific Research (BISR), Jaipur

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Research Highlights

Education & Employment

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Dec 2024 – Present

Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, India

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Dec 2021 – Nov 2024

Raman Research Institute, Bangalore, India

Ph.D. Physics

2014 – 2021

University of Delhi

Thesis: Study of transient X-ray binaries in the time and energy domains

Research Associate

Jan 2021 – Apr 2021

IISER, Mohali, India

M.Sc. Physics

2011 – 2014

University of Delhi

B.Sc. (H) Physics

2008 – 2011

Ramjas College, University of Delhi

Skills & Expertise

Programming & Analysis

  • HEASOFT, XSPEC
  • Python, Bash, Gnuplot
  • C, LaTeX
  • Data Analysis & Visualization

Instruments & Observatories

  • AstroSAT, XMM-Newton, Chandra
  • NuSTAR, Suzaku, NICER
  • Swift, RXTE, IXPE
  • XPoSat

Research & Academic

  • X-ray Astronomy Research
  • Teaching & Mentorship
  • Scientific Writing & Publishing
  • Peer Review

Get In Touch

Contact Information

Feel free to reach out for collaborations, research opportunities, or academic discussions.

Email (replace _at_ with @)

rahul.sharma_at_iucaa.in

Location

IUCAA, Pune University Campus

Pune 410007, INDIA