Rakshya Khatiwada

Assistant Professor of Physics
Associate Scientist, Fermilab

Faculty

Teaching and Curriculum Development

Spearheading expansion of Quantum Information Science (QIS) program at Illinois Institute of Technology, 2020-present.
Led development of a new undergraduate course (Introduction to Quantum Computing offered since Spring 2022) at Illinois Institute of Technology, 2021.
Taught, redesigned, and upgraded undergraduate advanced lab course at Illinois Institute of Technology, 2021.
Taught Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism (calculus based) to undergraduate Physics and Science majors, 2022-2023.

Member, Physics Graduate Qualifier Exam committee at Illinois Institute of Technology, 2021-present. Co-led the redesign and implementation of new format of graduate qualifier exam.

Most recent PhD and undergraduate students

Jialin Yu: PhD Physics Thesis, Illinois Institute of Technology, Single photon counting for Dark Matter with Quantum Capacitance Detector, 2020-present.
Kester Anyang: PhD Physics Thesis, Illinois Institute of Technology, Highly multiplexed readout of qubits and sensors, 2020-present.
Israel Hernandez: PhD Physics Thesis, Illinois Institute of Technology, Phonon kinematics studies in superconducting devices, 2021-present.
Matthew Malaker: Undergraduate Physics, Illinois Institute of Technology, Broadband Axion Antenna simulation for BREAD experiment, 2021-2022.
Rachelle Rosiles: Undergraduate Physics, Illinois Institute of Technology, frequency dependent analysis of cryogenic microwave electronics for ADMX, 2022-2023.
Michael Zaidel: Undergraduate Physics, Ohio State University, Characterization, and automation of quantum electronics from Dark Matter Detector, 2020.

Previous Students Mentored

Nick Du, University of Washington, Seattle, 2015 – 2018.
James V. Sloan, University of Washington, Seattle, 2015 – 2017.
Patrick Harrington, Washington University St. Louis, 2016.
Marjan Khosravi, Indiana University at Bloomington, 2013 – 2015.
Rachel Schmidt, Indiana University at Bloomington, 2013-2015.

Several undergraduate students from Illinois Institute and elsewhere, 2009 - 2021.

Education

BS Physics and Mathematics: Linfield University

PhD Physics: Purdue University

Postdoctoral Trainings

Axion Dark Matter Experiment (ADMX), University of Washington
ADMX and Qubit based dark matter detector development, Fermilab

Research Interests

Quantum sensors, qubits, quantum noise-limited devices/amplifiers and their application in precision experiments and dark matter detection, low-noise cryogenic systems
Ultra-low noise detector development for Axion Dark Matter eXperiment (ADMX)
Physics beyond the Standard Model, fundamental symmetries and interactions, experimental tests of symmetry-violating interactions, spin-dependent and independent interactions between fermions

Awards

Department of Energy QuantiSED, Quantum Sensors for Dark Matter Fermilab consortium Award. (2020-2023)
Fermilab Laboratory Directed Research and Development Award. (2021-2022)

Publications

C. Bartram, R. Khatiwada et al., “Dark Matter Axion Search Using a Josephson Travelling Wave Parametric Amplifier”, Rev. Sci. Inst. 94, 044703 (2023).
Jesse Liu, R. Khatiwada, et al., “Broadband Solenoidal Haloscope for Terahertz Axion Detection”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 128, 131801 (2022).
C. Bartram, R. Khatiwada et al., “Search for Invisible Axion Dark Matter in the 3.3 – 4.2 μ eV Mass Range”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 127, 261803 (2021).

R. Khatiwada, et al., “Axion Dark Matter Experiment: Detailed Design and Operations”, Rev. Sci. Inst. 92, 124502 (2021).
C.Bartram, R. Khatiwada et al., “Axion dark matter experiment: Run 1B analysis details”, Phys. Rev. D 103, 032002 (2021).
C. Bartram, R. Khatiwada, et al., “Dark Matter Axion Search Using a Josephson Traveling Wave Parametric Amplifier”, arXiv:2110.10262 (2021).
T. Braine, R. Khatiwada, et al., “Extended Search for the Invisible Axion with the Axion Dark Matter Experiment”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 124, 101303 (2020).
T. Braine, R. Khatiwada, et al., “4-7 GHz Limits on the Axion-Photon Coupling from a Multi-Mode, Piezoelectrically Tuned Microwave Cavity Search”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 121, 261302 (2018).
N. Du, R. Khatiwada, et al., “Search for Invisible Axion Dark Matter with the Axion Dark Matter Experiment”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 151301 (2018).
J. Hoskins, R. Khatiwada, et al., “Modulation sensitive search for non-virialized dark-matter axions”, Phys. Rev. D 94, 8, 082001 (2016).
J. V. Sloan, R. Khatiwada, et al., “Limits on axion-photon coupling or on local axion density: Dependence on models of the Milky Way’s dark halo”, Physics of the Dark Universe 14, 95–102 (2016).
R. Khatiwada, et al., “Low magnetic susceptibility test masses for precision measurements”, Measure Sci. Tech. 27, 2 025902 (2016).
T.M. Leslie, R. Khatiwada, et al., “Prospects for electron spin-dependent short-range force experiments with rare earth iron garnet test masses”, Phys. Rev. D 89, 114022 (2014).
H. Yan, R. Khatiwada, et al., “A frequency determination method for digitized NMR signals”, Commun. Comput. Phys. 15, 1343 (2014).
P. H. Chu, R. Khatiwada, et al., “Laboratory Search for Spin-dependent Short-range Force from Axion-Like-Particles using Optically Polarized 3He gas”, Phys. Rev. D 87, 011105(R) (2013).
US CMS collaboration, 78 papers, https://inspirehep.net/authors/1078562 (2010 - 2011).

Grants

National Quantum Initiative “High throughput quantum sensor and materials testing facility.” (2020-2025)
Dark Matter New Initiatives “Axion Dark Matter Experiment Extended frequency”

Community Service

Workshop Organization Committee

Chair, “QSC cryogenic engineering and quantum sensing 2022”, Fermilab, 2022
Chair, “Fundamentals of Quantum Computing and Sensing”, Illinois Institute of Technology, 2021
“APS Prairie Section 2020 meeting”, Illinois Institute of Technology, 2020
“Axions Beyond Generation 2”, University of Washington, 2021
“New Directions in the Search for Light Dark Matter Particles”, Fermilab, 2019

Referee/Reviewer: Institute of Physics science (physics) journals

Session Chair

American Physical Society April meeting 2021 “Searches for Low Mass Axion Dark Matter”
American Physical Society April meeting 2019 “Dark Matter Theory”

Departmental Committees

Organizer: New faculty search at Illinois Institute of Technology, 2023.
New department chair search at Illinois Institute of Technology, 2023.

Several staff scientists, engineers, and postdoctoral scholar hiring at Fermilab, 2020-present.
PhD/MS Qualifying exam committee at Illinois Institute of Technology, 2022 – present.
Graduate admission committee at Illinois Institute of Technology, 2023 – present.
Research Council physics department representative at Illinois Institute of Technology, 2022 – present.

Outreach

Mentor and career advisor (through in person talks/luncheons and webinars) to undergraduate and graduate students and women in science from small colleges and underprivileged institutions (US and abroad), 2015 - present.
Member, American Physical Society Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Alliance
(IDEA) Network, Illinois Institute of Technology chapter, 2020 – present.