Welcome to my corner of the internet.
I am a Physics Ph.D. graduate of Texas A&M University working at the intersection of quantum sensing, ultrafast photonics, and laser–matter interactions for fusion-energy research. My work has included all-optical thermometry with nickel and germanium color centers, single-photon statistics and the study of Raman-shifted solitons using ultrafast lasers.
I previously served as President of the Texas A&M OPTICA Student Chapter, mentored undergraduate researchers through DEEP, and am an alumnus of the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings.
Beyond research, I bring science and illusion together through Unreal Reality, a science-and-magic stage production and YouTube channel. I have also been featured on KBTX Live, sharing how magic can make science more curious, creative, and accessible.
Publications
* Quantum-light probe for molecular femtosecond dephasing in dyes
T. Rajib, A. Dharmasiri, M. Pochechuev, X. Liu, G. S. Agarwal, A. M. Zheltikov. Physical Review A. Feb 2026.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/2zpv-g7w2
* Laser-damage risk assessment with extreme-event statistics
A. Zheltikov, C. Menoni, A. Sokolov, Z. Yi, A. Dharmasiri, J. Rocca, J. Eden, M. Scully. Optics Express. Feb 2026.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.585723
* High-resolution aberration-free imaging through GRIN fiber using speckle illumination and compressive sensing
M. Pochechuev, A. Dharmasiri, T. Rajib, A. M. Zheltikov. Optics Letters. Feb 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.585272
* Aerosol Detection and Characterization using Digital Inline Holography
P. Sahoo, A. Gonzalez, C. Garman, C. Meadlin, S. Schiller, A. Dharmasiri, M. Harlow, B. Vaidya, A. Verhoef, A. Sokolov. in Optica Imaging Congress 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1364/DH.2025.DTh1C.4
* Near-Infrared Optical Thermometry of Nickel Color Centers in Diamond
A. Dharmasiri, C. Vincent, T. I. Rajib, M. Pochechuev, X. Liu, A. J. Verhoef, P. Hemmer, A. M. Zheltikov. Optics Letters. Jan 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.544091
* Sensitivity and heat penalty in all-optical quantum thermometry with Germanium-vacancy color centers in diamond
A. Dharmasiri, C. Vincent, T. I. Rajib, M. Pochechuev, X. Liu, A. J. Verhoef, G. S. Agarwal, A. M. Zheltikov. Applied Physics Letters. 26 August 2024; 125 (9): 091102. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0207531
* Preliminary Observation of Vibrational Resonances and Propagation Modes in Cold Atom Dissipative 3D Optical Lattices
A. Dharmasiri. 2019, Thesis: Master of Science in Physics, Miami University, Thesis link
* Investigation of the Adsorption Process of Hexavalent Chromium with Polyaniline/Coconut Coir Composite
A. Dharmasiri. 2017, Thesis: Master of Science in Physics of Materials, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Thesis link
Grants & Awards
Grants and awards include an APS minigrant as Principal Investigator, selection as a Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting young scientist, a Newton award, and induction into Sigma Pi Sigma, the physics honor society.
