AR_final file_2018-19

• Fulfilled 163 requests for articles and book chapters, received from 109 academics comprising IUCAA users, Associates and Visitors. References not available in the IUCAA library were requested from other libraries in India and abroad. The library also obtained 03 books using the inter-library loan facility, and responded to inter-library loan requests from 07 libraries, under which 10 books were loaned using the inter-library loan facility. As a policy, article/book chapter requests are handled on priority and the library endeavours to provide the requested reference on the same day. • Online access to IUCAA publications, photo and video archive, library YouTube channel. • Processing of page charge requests. • Processing applications received to obtain an IUCAA Preprint number • Assistance to users in ordering books from their contingency grant. • Plagiarism report for research papers. • Involved in the compilation of the Annual Report. The content about contributions received from Visiting Associates and IUCAA Resource Centres was compiled by the library staff The polarization of light is quite frequently observed in nature, and with other properties like amplitude, frequency and phase of an electromagnetic (EM) wave, it constitutes one of the most fundamental quantities, which completely describes it. In Physics and Optics, the polarization of light is studied through ”Faraday Rotation Effect” using optical materials like glass, crystals, chemicals etc. Its analogue in radio waves is transmission of polarized wave in ferrites materials. The idea is to study the potential of fast polarization modulation for data communication, which is not much explored yet. FARADAY ROTATION EXPERIMENT FOR COMMUNICATION The study of the polarization of light through Faraday Rotation Effect, rotation of the plane of a polarized wave when travelling through crystals placed inside solenoid; subjected to a strong axial magnetic field can be a novel approach in communication. The experiment shows the conversion of polarization-modulated light into intensity-modulated light, and phase shifted demodulated waveform w.r.t. input modulating the signal. Insertion of properly matched and tuned circuit before coil and amplifier after demodulation leads to better reception of the signal. Radio Physics Lab (RPL) is a unique facility at IUCAA, where students from physics and engineering background can explore their skills and learn Astronomy and Astrophysics. Our aim has been to design and demonstrate important experiments related to Radio Astronomy in an innovative way for scientific purpose and for educating students, enthusiasts and the general public. The areas being pursued here range from cosmic ray detection to communication using LASERs. Apart from this, RPL is also active in public outreach. Public lectures and demonstrations are organized for students and enthusiasts. Radio Astronomy Winter School (RAWS) is conducted for under-graduate students, introducing them to the field of Radio Astronomy. Over the past 10 years, several students have been benefited from this platform. More than 90 percent of these students are pursuing PhD in Astronomy and related areas, and many are currently active in the research field in some form or the other. RADIO PHYSICS LAB ( 161 )