Profile

Dr. A. Mercy Latha is a Senior Principal Scientist at CSIR-Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-CEERI), Chennai, where she has been contributing since 2011. With over 13 years of research experience, she specializes in high-power microwave tubes and devices (Traveling Wave Tubes), terahertz (THz) imaging and spectroscopy, and advanced THz system design and development.

She obtained her B.E. in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Anna University (2009) and an M.Tech. in High Power Microwave Devices and Systems Engineering from AcSIR (2011). She was awarded her Ph.D. from AcSIR in 2016, with a focus on advanced research in high-power microwave devices. Currently, her work is centered on terahertz imaging and spectroscopic applications, with emphasis on the design and development of customized terahertz imaging systems for diverse applications.

Areas of Interest

Terahertz imaging & spectroscopy, Terahertz system development, Traveling Wave Tubes (TWTs), Multi-stage Depressed Collectors (MDCs), Computational electromagnetics

Career Highlights

• Over 70 publications in reputed journals and conferences
• Filed 2 patents and 1 design registrations in terahertz technologies
• Recipient of numerous awards, including the CSIR Young Scientist Award in 2022

Selected Technologies Developed

• Portable THz non-destructive system
  Features: (i) offers modular design, (ii) it provides flexibility in changing various control and scan parameters through the user-friendly interface, (iii) offers auto-focus adjust capabilities, (iv) imaging frequency can be changed from 0.1 to 1 THz
• Single-ceramic Multi-stage Depressed Collector Technology
  Benefits: (1) reduction of fabrication time by ~70%; (2) weight reduction of ~30%; (3) axial length reduction of ~11mm; (4) better safety factor minimizing high-voltage break-down problems; (5) better thermal dissipation; Two leak-tight prototypes have been developed.
• Multi-envelope Multi-stage Depressed Collector Technology
  Benefits: (i) improved thermal dissipation of >50%, and (ii) increased margin for high voltage breakdown by ~30%; Two leak-tight prototypes have been developed.
• Compact Multi-stage Depressed Collector Technology
  Benefits: (i) Weight reduction of ~76% (~190g saving/tube leading to saving of the launch cost of a typical communication satellite by ~$5,70,000); (ii) length reduction of ~56%; (iii) increase in collector efficiency; (iv) reduction in back-streaming and body current; Two leak-tight prototypes have been developed.
• Asymmetric Multi-stage Depressed Collector Technology
  Benefits: (i) high collector efficiency of ~95%; (ii) zero back-streaming current; (iii) no requirement of additional magnets/pole-piece; One leak-tight prototype has been developed.

Awards

• Featured in “CSIR Women Achievers in STEM” compendium released by CSIR-NPL (2023)
• CSIR Young Scientist Award in Engineering Sciences (2022)
• Research Encouragement Award for Woman at CSIR-CEERI (2020)
• Best Women Researcher of CSIR-CEERI (2016)
• All-India MV Chauhan IEEE Student Paper Contest (First Place) (2015)
• Quick Hire Scientist Fellowship at CSIR-CEERI (2009 – 2011)
• Motorola Scholar’s Award 2008-09 (Second Place) (2009)

R&D projects

• Characterization of Defects in Composites using THz Imaging | 2024-2027
  CSIR DELTA mission (Role: Principal Investigator) | Budget – 125.4 lakhs
• Development of Critical Technologies for Terahertz Imaging System | 2020 – 2024
  CSIR Niche Creation Project (NCP) (Role: Co-principal investigator) | Budget – 630 lakhs
• Development of High-power THz source | 2022 – 2024
  Sponsored by DRDO (Role: Team member) | Budget – 105.4 lakhs
• Indigenous design, Development and Qualification of Ku (140 – 210W) & Ka (100 – 150W) TWTs |2017 – 2022
  Sponsored by ISRO-SAC (Role: Team member) | Budget – 2800.0 lakhs
• Development of novel portable high power THz device technologies for strategic applications | 2017 – 2020
  CSIR Niche Creation Project (NCP) (Role: Team member)
• Development of electromagnetic simulator for helix TWTs |2012 – 2017
  CSIR network project (XII FYP) (Role: Principal Investigator)
• Design and development of Ku band 140W short-length space TWT |2009 – 2017
  Sponsored by ISRO-SAC (Role: Team member)
• Development of critical technologies for vacuum microelectronics THz devices | 2012 – 2017
  CSIR network project (XII FYP) (Role: Team member)
• Design and development of Ka band 100W space TWT | 2012 – 2017
  CSIR network project (XII FYP) (Role: Team member)
• Design and development of Ka band 40W Ka band space TWT | 2007 – 2012
  CSIR network project (XI FYP) (Role: Team member)

Google Scholar link: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=aaHLBMAAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

LinkedIn link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mercy-latha-a456b318/