# Fishing for ideas

**Source**: https://ge.iitm.ac.in/rendezvous/fishing-for-ideas/index.html
**Parent**: https://ge.iitm.ac.in/rendezvous/fishing-for-ideas/

As the
Chair
Professor
at the
Department
of
Aerospace
Engineering,
IIT
Madras,
R.I
Sujith
heads
one of
the
high-profile
laboratories
in the
world
through
the
Centre
of
Excellence
for
studying
Critical
Transitions
in
Complex
Systems
– both
in
engineering
and
nature.

In a
career
spanning
decades,
Sujith
has over
390
technical
publications,
14
patents
and has
written
a book
on
Thermoacoustic
Instability.
His
research
particularly
focuses
on
complex
systems
such as
turbulent
thermo-fluid
systems,
climate
systems,
cloud
dynamics,
and
infectious
diseases
exhibiting
critical
transitions
that can
lead to
disastrous
consequences.

The
Centre
of
Excellence,
which
boasts
of
world-class
facilities,
strives
to
unravel
the
science
behind
these
transitions
in
diverse
systems
and
develop
trained
manpower
and
translational
technologies.
We take
a deep
dive
into the
high-functioning
lab in
this
photo
feature.

**Captions
by
Jayesh
Dhadphale,
a
PhD
student
from
Aerospace
Engineering**

Setting
up
the
laser
receiver
for
Phase
Doppler
Particle
Analyzer
(PDPA)
to
study
the
effect
of
turbulence
on
droplet
formation.

Laboratory-scale
setup
to
study
thermoacoustic
instability
in
axial
combustors.
The
setup
is
equipped
with
facilities
to
acquire
pressure,
chemiluminescence
images,
and
Particle
Image
Velocimetry
(PIV)
measurements
at
high
sampling
rates.

Captivating
patterns
found
in
clouds
are
seen
in
the
laboratory
setup
used
for
studying
the
formation
of
rain
droplets.

One
of
the
few
facilities
in
the
world
to
study
thermoacoustic
instability
in
annular
combustors
used
in
gas
turbine
engines.
The
setup
is
uniquely
built
with
large
transverse
dimensions
to
facilitate
axial
and
transverse
instability.

Stabilising
the
flame
on
the
burner
with
rectangular
slots
is
not
an
easy
task.
One
needs
to
be
focused
and
patient.

The
slotted
burner
setup
provides
a
test
bench
for
rapid
prototyping
and
testing
new
ideas
related
to
thermoacoustic
systems.
The
dynamics
observed
in
the
slotted
burner
belies
its
simplicity.

Listening
to
the
loud
singing
flames
is
an
overwhelming
experience.
The
lab
members
regulate
the
combustor
operation
from
a
separate
control
room
adhering
to
safety
measures.

The
state-of-the-art
facilities
trigger
the
creativity
of
students,
helping
them
come
up
with
fresh
ideas.
Hands-on
experience
of
these
facilities
transform
students
into
expert
researchers.

Prof.
Sujith
frequently
participates
in
brainstorming
sessions
with
students
from
which
innovative
ideas
emerge.
He
believes
in
knowledge
sharing
and
collective
learning.

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