About Me

Welcome! I’m Shikha Rathi, a postdoctoral researcher at Laboratoire Kastler Brossel (LKB), CNRS in Paris and Technion, Haifa. My research focuses on X-ray spectroscopy of exotic atoms to probe QED, nuclear structure, and searches for physics beyond the Standard Model.

I work across both theoretical and experimental domains, as they closely complement each other. Developing theoretical models helps me interpret experimental observations more effectively, while analyzing real data challenges and refines my theoretical insights. I also enjoy the hands-on aspect of building and operating experimental setups—there’s a unique satisfaction in seeing a system you’ve helped assemble generate meaningful results. This integrated approach naturally drew me to the collaborative environment of LKB and Technion, where researchers like Prof. Dr. Paul Indelicato and Prof. Ben Ohayon, repectively, work fluidly between theory and experiment.

Among the many projects I contribute to, one of the most fascinating is the PAX experiment at CERN’s Antimatter Factory. I spend most of my time at CERN. Read more about it here.

I obtained my PhD from the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee. My research involved the calculation of atomic structure parameters like transition energies, rates and lifetimes for complex atomic species. The ions and the atoms we focus on are mostly relevant for plasma modeling and diagnosis. I also perform calculations of hyperfine structure, Lande gJ and isotope shift factors for highly charged ions and heavy atoms. I then expanded my knowledge to the astrophysical phenomena which require precise atomic data for spectral analysis.