Vanitas vanitatum, omnia vanitas
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Curriculum Vitae
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Academic Timeline
Awards and Distinctions
- Gravity Research Foundation Essay Competition (2022): Honorable Mention.
- Young Faculty Recognition Award (2021) awarded by IIT Madras, India.
- INSPIRE Faculty Award (2012) awarded by the Department of Science & Technology, India.
- Gravity Research Foundation Essay Competition (2012): Honorable Mention.
- AARMS Postdoctoral Fellowship, Atlantic Association for Research in Mathematical Sciences, Canada.
- 60th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting: One of the 9 nominees of Siemens AG from across the world.
- Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Fellowship (SPMF) for Ph.D. awarded by CSIR, India (2005-2010).
- National Rank 2 in Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST, Physics) - 2005.
- National Rank 4 in Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE, Physics) - 2005.
Research Interests
My research interests lie mostly in: Classical General Relativity (GR), Semi-classical aspects of black hole physics, and Quantum Field Theory (QFT) in curved and/or non-trivial backgrounds.
- Small scale structure of spacetime and implications for QFT
- Characterizations of space(time) geometry with Lorentz invariant short distance cut-off.
- Lorentz invariant deformations of two-point functions; QFT with deformed quantization.
- Cosmological constant as a relic of microscopic structure of spacetime.
- Quantum fate of classical spacetime singularities.
- Euclidean gravity and small scale structure of spacetime.
- Statistical mechanics in curved spacetime
- Thermal entropy in curved spacetime.
- Thermodynamics of self-gravitating systems with horizons.
- Implications for entropy and temperature associated with local Rindler horizons.
- QFT in non-trivial backgrounds
- Black hole thermodynamics in GR and higher derivative gravitational theories.
- Probes of quantum fluctuations in classical backgrounds and curved spacetime.
- Quantum fluctuations and the Fluctuation-Dissipation theorem.
- Other Research Interests
- Geometric aspects of vacuum fluctuations and correlations.
- Information theoretic aspects of quantum gravity; spacetime geometry from quantum correlations.
- Small scale topology of Lorentzian manifolds.
Publications
My research profile, and most of the papers in the list below, can be accessed from:
inSPIRE
arXiv
Publication Summary: 50 research papers [Published: 46; Preprints: 4] | 15 single authored | 2 reviews | 2 book chapters | 3 pedagogical articles.
2026
- [Book chapter] Quantum nature of gravity and spacetime: Fundamental insights from the Hoyle-Narlikar theory, Dawood Kothawala, Narlikar’s Steady World: Man and the Legend (2026) [arXiv:2607.21649] - to be published by Springer
- When the Ringing Stops: Purely Imaginary Modes in the Ringdown Spectrum of Dynamical Black Holes, Lodovico C., T. Lovo, Gorka P., S. Sarkar, A. Kuntz, E. Barausse, Dawood Kothawala, [Preprint] (2026) [arXiv:2605.28951]
- Geodesic structure of spacetime near singularities, Mayank, Dawood Kothawala, Phys. Rev. D 113, 104010 (2026) [arXiv:2512.12271]
- Microcanonical Phase Space and Entropy in Curved Spacetime, Avinandan Mondal, Dawood Kothawala, Ann. Phys. 489, 170464 (2026) [arXiv:2412.10058]
2025
- Twin-paradox and Entanglement, K. Hari, S. Barman, Dawood Kothawala, [Preprint] (2025) [arXiv:2512.10908]
- Entanglement between accelerated probes in a de Sitter spacetime, Mayank, K. Hari, S. Barman, Dawood Kothawala, Phys. Rev. D 111, 105022 (2025) [arXiv:2410.01266]
- Worldline EFT treatment of quadratic and cubic gravity theories, R. Kulkarni, Rahul, S. Bhattacharyya, Dawood Kothawala, Phys. Rev. D 112, 124028 (2025) [arXiv:2410.01266]
2024
- [Letter] Non-Inertial frames that can mimic gravitational fields, Dawood Kothawala, Phys. Rev. D Letters 110, L121502 (2024) [arXiv:2403.16229]
- Universal role of curvature in vacuum entanglement, Hari K, Subhajit Barman, Dawood Kothawala, Phys. Rev. D 109, 065017 (2024) [arXiv:2311.15019]
- Rotating detectors in dS/AdS, Hari K, Dawood Kothawala, Phys. Rev. D 109, 104073 (2024) [arXiv:2307.16413]
2023
- Limits of a non-local quantum spacetime, Dawood Kothawala, Int. Jour. of Mod. Phys. D 32, 2342021 (2023) [arXiv:2305.09265] [Hon’ble Mention essay; Gravity Research Foundation Essay Contest, 2023]
- Synge’s World function and the quantum spacetime, Dawood Kothawala, J. Phys. : Conf. Ser. 2533, 012012 (2023) [arXiv:2304.01995] - Proceedings of DICE 2022, “Spacetime - Matter - Quantum Mechanics”, Castiglioncello (2023)
- Decoherence due to Spacetime Curvature, Raghvendra Singh, Kabir Khanna, Dawood Kothawala, [Preprint] [arXiv:2302.09038]
- Geometric aspects of covariant Wick rotation, Raghvendra Singh, Dawood Kothawala, Eur. Phys. J. C 83, 194 (2023) [arXiv:2010.01822]
2022
- [Letter] Covariant formulation of Generalised Uncertainty Principle, Raghvendra Singh, Dawood Kothawala, Phys. Rev. D Letters 105, L101501 (2022) [arXiv:2110.15951]
2021
- Effect of tidal curvature on dynamics of accelerated probes, Hari K, Dawood Kothawala, Phys. Rev. D 104, 064032 (2021) [arXiv:2106.14496]
- [Pedagogical] Varying without varying: Reparameterisations, Diffeomorphisms, General Covariance, Lie derivatives, and all that, Dawood Kothawala, Eur. J. Phys. 42, 055601 (2021) [arXiv:2004.04178]
2020
- Normal coordinates based on curved tangent space, Hari K, Dawood Kothawala, Phys. Rev. D 101, 124066 (2020) [arXiv:2003.10169]
- BGV theorem, Geodesic deviation, and Quantum fluctuations, Dawood Kothawala, Class. Quantum Grav. 38, 045006 (2020) [arXiv:1806.03846]
2019
- Raychaudhuri equation with zero point length, S. Chakraborty, Dawood Kothawala, A. Pesci, Phys. Letts. B 797, 134877 (2019) [arXiv:1904.09053]
- Universality of Hawking radiation in non local field theories, Nirmalya Kajuri, Dawood Kothawala, Phys. Letts. B 791, 319-322 (2019) [arXiv:1806.10345]
2018
- Euclidean Action and the Einstein tensor, Dawood Kothawala, Phys. Rev. D 97, 124062 (2018) [arXiv:1802.07055]
- [Letter] Action and Observer dependence in Euclidean quantum gravity, Dawood Kothawala, Class. Quantum Grav. 35, 03LT01 (2018) [arXiv:1705.02504]
2017
- Vacuum energy in freely falling frames and spacetime curvature, Dawood Kothawala, [Preprint] [arXiv:1612.08148]
- [Book chapter] Accelerated Observers, Thermal Entropy, and Spacetime Curvature, Dawood Kothawala, Gravity and the Quantum (2017) [arXiv:1604.03673] - Fundamental Theories of Physics, Vol. 187, pp 145-167
2016
- Moving mirrors and the fluctuation-dissipation theorem, J. Stargen, Dawood Kothawala, L. Sriramkumar, Phys. Rev. D 94, 025040 (2016) [arXiv:1602.02526]
- [Letter] Spacetime with zero point length is two-dimensional at the Planck scale, T. Padmanabhan, S. Chakraborty, Dawood Kothawala, Gen. Rel. Grav. 48: 55 (2016) [arXiv:1507.05669]
2015
- Small scale structure of spacetime: van Vleck determinant and equi-geodesic surfaces, Jaffino Stargen, Dawood Kothawala, Phys. Rev. D 92, 024046 (2015) [arXiv:1503.03793]
2014
- Entropy density of space-time from zero point length, Dawood Kothawala, T. Padmanabhan, Phys. Letts. B 748, 67-69 (2014) [arXiv:1408.3963]
- Entropy density of spacetime as a relic from quantum gravity, Dawood Kothawala, T. Padmanabhan, Phys. Rev. D 90, 124060 (2014) [arXiv:1405.4967]
- Intrinsic and Extrinsic curvatures in Finsleresque spaces, Dawood Kothawala, Gen. Rel. Grav. 46: 1836 (2014) [arXiv:1406.2672]
2013
- Minimal Length and Small Scale Structure of Spacetime, Dawood Kothawala, Phys. Rev. D 88, 104029 (2013) [arXiv:1307.5618]
- [Review article] Lanczos-Lovelock Models of Gravity, T. Padmanabhan, Dawood Kothawala, Physics Reports 531, 115-171 (2013) [arXiv:1302.2151]
- Box of Ideal Gas in Free Fall, Dawood Kothawala, Phys. Letts. B 720, 410-413 (2013) [arXiv:1108.6301]
- Generalized Uncertainty Principles and Quantum Field Theory, V. Husain, Dawood Kothawala, S. Seahra, Phys. Rev. D 87, 025014 (2013) [arXiv:1208.5761]
- [Fast Track Communication] Holographic repulsion and confinement in gauge theory, V. Husain, Dawood Kothawala, Class. Quantum Grav. 30, 032001 (2013) [arXiv:1201.5832]
2012
- [Hon’ble Mention essay; Gravity Research Foundation Essay Contest, 2012] Holography, Quantum Gravity and Confinement, V. Husain, Dawood Kothawala, Int. Jour. of Mod. Phys. D 21, 1242005 (2012)
- Membrane Paradigm and Horizon Thermodynamics in Lanczos-Lovelock Gravity, S. Kolekar, Dawood Kothawala, J. High Energy Phys. 2012 (2012) 02 [arXiv:1111.1242]
- Two Aspects of Black Hole Entropy in Lanczos-Lovelock Models of Gravity, S. Kolekar, Dawood Kothawala, T. Padmanabhan, Phys. Rev. D 85, 064031 (2012) [arXiv:1111.0973]
2011
- [Pedagogical] Duality of force laws and Conformal transformations, Dawood Kothawala, Am. J. Phys. 79, 6 (2011) [arXiv:1010.2238]
- Thermodynamic structure of the Einstein tensor, Dawood Kothawala, Phys. Rev. D 83, 024026 (2011) [arXiv:1010.2207]
2010
- Response of Unruh-DeWitt detector with time-dependent acceleration, Dawood Kothawala, T. Padmanabhan, Phys. Lett. B 690, 201-206 (2010) [arXiv:0911.1017]
2009
- Path integral duality modified propagators in spacetimes with constant curvature, Dawood Kothawala, L. Sriramkumar, S. Shankaranarayanan, T. Padmanabhan, Phys. Rev. D 80, 044005 (2009) [arXiv:0904.3217]
- Thermodynamic structure of Lanczos-Lovelock field eqs from near-horizon symmetries, Dawood Kothawala, T. Padmanabhan, Phys. Rev. D 79, 104020 (2009) [arXiv:0904.0215]
2008
- Is gravitational entropy quantized ?, Dawood Kothawala, T. Padmanabhan, S. Sarkar, Phys. Rev. D 78, 104018 (2008) [arXiv:0807.1481]
- Quantum gravitational corrections to stress-energy tensor around rotating BTZ black hole, Dawood Kothawala, S. Shankaranarayanan, L. Sriramkumar, J. High Energy Phys., 09 (2008) 095 [arXiv:0801.0225]
- Hawking radiation as tunneling for spherically symmetric black holes: A general treatment, S. Sarkar, Dawood Kothawala, Phys. Lett. B 659, 683-687 (2008) [arXiv:0709.4448]
- Radiating black hole solutions in arbitrary dimensions [based on Masters’ work], S. G. Ghosh, Dawood Kothawala, Gen. Rel. Grav. 40:9-21 (2008) [arXiv:0801.4342]
2007
- Einstein’s equations as a thermodynamic identity: The cases of stationary axisymmetric horizons and evolving spherically symmetric horizons, Dawood Kothawala, S. Sarkar, T. Padmanabhan, Phys. Lett. B 652, 338-342 (2007) [arXiv:gr-qc/0701002]
2004
- Generating dynamical black hole solutions [based on Masters’ work], Dawood Kothawala, S. G. Ghosh, Phys. Rev. D 70, 104010 (2004) [arXiv:1007.2500]
Conference Proceedings
- [Review article] Synge’s World function and the quantum spacetime, Dawood Kothawala, J. Phys. : Conf. Ser. 2533, 012012 (2023) [arXiv:2304.01995] - Proceedings of DICE 2022, “Spacetime - Matter - Quantum Mechanics”, Castiglioncello
- Small-scale structure of spacetime and its implications, Dawood Kothawala, Int. Jour. of Mod. Phys. D 28, (06), 1950079 (2019)
- Minimal length and small scale structure of spacetime, Dawood Kothawala - Proceedings of the Spanish Relativity Meeting (ERE) (2014)
- Quantum gravitational corrections to propagator in spacetimes with constant curvature, Dawood Kothawala, S. Shankaranarayanan, L. Sriramkumar - Proceedings of the 12th Marcel Grossman Meeting (2010) [arXiv:1002.1132]
- Thermodynamic structure of gravitational field equations, Dawood Kothawala, J. Phys. : Conf. Ser. 222, 012014 (2010)
- Thermodynamic structure of gravitational field equations from near-horizon symmetries, Dawood Kothawala, J. Phys. : Conf. Ser. 229, 012044 (2010)
Talks and Seminars
- Non-inertial frames as probes of gravitational fields - BRICS-AGAC Symposium on Gravity, Astrophysics, & Cosmology (Dec 2024), SGT University. [Invited talk]
- From quantum probes to quantum spacetime: entanglement, decoherence, and spacetime curvature - Gravitational physics of black holes (Dec 2024), Kodaikanal Solar Observatory. [Invited talk]
- Quantum probes of spacetime curvature and implications for quantum spacetimes - Limiting compactness objects: Black holes and Buchdahl stars (Oct 2023), IUCAA, Pune. [Invited talk]
- Paddy! the fiery explorer of space, time ... and everything else - 32nd meeting of Indian Association for General Relativity and Gravitation (IAGRG32) (Dec 2022), IISER Kolkata. [Thanu Padmanabhan Memorial Lecture]
- Quantum probes in curved spacetime - Gravity and Black Holes Meeting (Nov 2022), IIT Gandhinagar. [Invited talk]
- Quantum Probes, Curvature, and the Small scale structure of spacetime - IQOQI, Vienna (Oct 2022). [Seminar]
- Probes of Classical and Quantum structure of Space and Time - INFN, Bologna (Sep 2022). [Seminar]
- Relics of the quantum spacetime - DICE 2022: Spacetime - Matter - Quantum Mechanics (Sep 2022), Castiglioncello. [Invited talk]
- Relics of the quantum spacetime - Chennai Symposium on Gravitation and Cosmology (Feb 2022), Chennai. [Plenary talk]
- Space, Time & Gravity: classical ideas and quantum insights - Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (Oct 2021). [Commemorative webinar in memory of Prof. Thanu Padmanabhan]
- Singularities in Spacetime: from Big Bang to Black Holes - Faculty Colloquium (Jan 2021), IIT Madras. [Colloquium on 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics]
- Spacetime singularities in gravitational collapse and cosmology - Brahmagupta Physics Colloquium (Nov 2020), Department of Physics, IIT Madras. [Colloquium on 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics] Webex
- Small scale structure of spacetime and it’s ramifications - 22nd International Conference on General Relativity and Gravitation (Jul 2019), Valencia, Spain.
- Small scale structure of spacetime and the Gravitational action - Gravity at Different Length Scales (Feb 2019), IACS, Kolkata, India. [Invited talk]
- Emergent Gravity as a Relic of Quantum Spacetime - The Second Information Universe Conference (Jul 2018), Groningen, The Netherlands.
- Small scale structure of spacetime - 29th IAGRG Meeting (May 2017), IIT Guwahati. [Plenary talk]
- Quantum Effects, Spacetime Curvature, and Gravity - Workshop on Aspects of Gravity and Cosmology (Mar 2017), IUCAA, Pune. [Invited talk]
- Small scale structure of spacetime - University of Nottingham, University of York, Queen Mary University of London (Jul 2016). [Seminar]
- Minimal length and small scale structure of spacetime - The Spanish Relativity Meeting-ERE (Sep 2014), Valencia, Spain.
- Thermal Entropy and Spacetime Curvature - Jayant@75 (Jul 2013), IUCAA, Pune. [Invited talk]
- Thermodynamic Aspects of Gravity - Centre for Theoretical Physics, Jamia Millia Islamia (Jul 2013). [Invited talk]
- Entropy of self-gravitating systems and black hole entropy - Atlantic GR 2012 (Apr 2012), UNB. [Invited talk]
- Membrane Paradigm for Black Hole Horizons - Department of Physics, UNB (Jan 2012). [Invited talk]
- Horizon thermodynamics & Gravitational dynamics: a case for gravity as an “emergent” phenomenon - Emergence in Field Theory (Aug 2011), NTU, Singapore. [Invited talk]
- Thermodynamic structure of gravitational field equations - First Mediterranean Conference on Classical and Quantum Gravity (Sep 2009), Kolymbari, Greece; Spanish Relativity Meeting-ERE (Sep 2009), Bilbao, Spain.
- Quantum Gravitational corrections to <Tµν> of a scalar field around a rotating BTZ black hole - Prospects & Problems of Gravitation & Cosmology (Jan 2008), Jamia Millia Islamia; International Conference on Gravitation and Cosmology (Dec 2007), IUCAA. [Invited talk]
- Hawking radiation as tunneling and the first law of thermodynamics - Field Theoretic Aspects of Gravity (Nov 2007), Harish-Chandra Research Institute, Allahabad.
Schools & Conferences attended
- Classical and Quantum Gravity (Nov 2024), Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi. Organizer
- 9th ICGC Meeting (Dec 2019), IISER Mohali. Chair - “Classical and Quantum Gravity and Early Universe” session
- 22nd International Conference on General Relativity and Gravitation (Jul 2019), Valencia, Spain.
- 30th IAGRG Meeting (Jan 2019), BITS Pilani, Hyderabad. Chair - “Quantum Gravity” session
- SERC school in Theoretical High Energy Physics (June 2014), BITS Pilani, Hyderabad. Instructor - General Relativity and Cosmology
- Relativistic Quantum Information (June 2012), Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Canada.
- 60th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting (June-July 2010), Lindau, Germany.
- IPM School on Early Universe Cosmology - IEUC09 (Dec 2009), IPM, Tehran, Iran.
- SERC school in Theoretical High Energy Physics (Nov 26-Dec 15, 2007), BHU, Varanasi, India.
Teaching & Mentoring
@IITM
Below are the courses I have taught at IITM. The numbers in brackets are Teacher Course Feedback (TCF) scores (upon one), when available.
- Advanced General Relativity [PH5875] [0.90, 0.86] - 4th semester Elective for Master’s students; IIT Madras, Jan-May 2021, 2024.
- Introduction to General Relativity [PH5870] [0.89] - 3rd semester Elective for Master’s students; IIT Madras, Jul-Nov 2020.
- Introduction to Mathematical Physics [EP2110] [0.83, 0.83] - 2nd year undergraduate course; IIT Madras, Jul-Nov 2019, 2024.
- Principles of Quantum Mechanics [EP2210] [0.81] - 2nd year undergraduate course; IIT Madras, Jan-May 2019.
- General Relativity and Cosmology [PH5870] [0.92, 0.929, 0.82] - 4th semester Elective for Master’s students; IIT Madras, Jan-May 2018, 2013, 2023; SERC Preparatory School, BITS-Pilani Hyderabad Campus, June 2014.
- Physics I [PH1010] [NA] - 1st year undergraduate course; IIT Madras, Jul-Nov 2022. [Course Co-ordinator]
- Physics I [PH1010] [0.87] - 1st year undergraduate course; IIT Madras, Jul-Nov 2017.
- Physics II [PH1020] [0.81] - 1st year undergraduate course; IIT Madras, Jan-May 2017. [Course Co-ordinator]
- Physics II [PH1020] [0.94] - 1st year undergraduate course; IIT Madras, Jan-May 2016. [Course Co-ordinator]
- Classical Field Theory [PH5460] [0.83, 0.93, 0.9] - 4th semester Elective for Master’s students; IIT Madras, Jul-Nov 2018, 2016, 2015.
- Mathematics on the computer [PH2140] - 2nd year undergraduate LAB course; IIT Madras, Jul-Nov 2015.
- Physics II [PH1020] [NA, 0.79] - 1st year undergraduate course; IIT Madras, Jan-May 2015, 2020.
- Classical Physics [PH3500] [0.891, 0.926] - 5-7th semester minor Elective for Engineering streams; IIT Madras, Jul-Nov 2014, 2013.
- Quantum Physics [PH3520, PH5825] [0.857, 0.86, 0.85] - 5-7th semester minor Elective for Engineering streams; IIT Madras, Jan-May 2014, 2022, 2023.
Besides theory courses, I have also been part of the team handling and designing Laboratory courses for Engineering Physics, Dual Degree, and Masters programs in the Department of Physics.
Pedagogical Lectures and talks
- Space, Time & Gravity: classical ideas and quantum insights - Commemorative webinar in memory of Prof. Thanu Padmanabhan; Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (Oct 2021).
- Singularities in Spacetime: from Big Bang to Black Holes - Lectures on the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics: Alagappa University, Chennai (Feb 2021); Faculty Colloquium, IIT Madras (Jan 2021); Academy of Sciences, Chennai (Nov 2020).
- Spacetime singularities in gravitational collapse and cosmology - Brahmagupta Physics Colloquium on the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics, Department of Physics, IIT Madras; Webex (Nov 2020).
- Spacetime singularities in black holes and cosmology - Lecture on the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics, Department of Physics, CUSAT; Academy of Physics Teachers Kerala; YouTube (Oct 2020).
- Spacetime, Gravity and Black Holes - Horizon: The Physics and Astronomy Club of IIT Madras; YouTube (Aug 2020).
- Lectures on General Relativity - 3 lectures for advanced Masters and beginning Ph.D. students, School on General Relativity and Cosmology; CUTN, Thiruvarur (Jan 2020).
- Lectures on Thermodynamic aspects of gravity and Small scale structure of spacetime - 3 lectures, Workshop on Emergent Gravity Paradigm; CUSAT, Cochin (Nov 2019).
- Lectures on General Relativity - 3 lectures, Workshop on General Relativity and Cosmology; GLA University, Mathura (Oct 2019).
- Space, time, and Gravity - Pedagogical lecture for Summer School students; IGCAR, Kalpakkam (June 2018).
- Membrane Paradigm for Black Hole Horizons - Physics department talk, UNB, Fredericton (Jan 2012).
- Feynman Path-Integrals in Quantum Mechanics and Optics - Pedagogical lecture for Summer School students; IUCAA, Pune (May 2009).
- Black Holes - Public talk on National Science Day; IUCAA, Pune (2007).
Other pedagogical activities
- Geometry of planetary motions - RSIC 2019 (summer research programme for Class XII); IIT Madras, May-June 2019.
- Introduction to Calculus II - Undergraduate course; responsible for the Lab/Tutorial sessions; UNB, Winter 2011 & 2012.
- General Relativity - Graduate course; Teaching Assistant (Prof. T. Padmanabhan); IUCAA, Pune.
- Quantum Mechanics using Path Integrals - Graduate course; Teaching Assistant (Prof. Maulik Parikh); IUCAA, Pune.
- Stellar Astrophysics - Undergraduate course; tutorial sessions for IUCAA Summer School programme; IUCAA, Pune.
- General Relativity & Cosmology - Undergraduate course; tutorial sessions for IUCAA Summer School programme; IUCAA, Pune.
References
Available on request