Is there a robust way to align the baseline of subscripts?

Question

A minimal example of my issue is T_a T_b vs T_a T_{\dot b}.

In the second, I want the b subscript to align with the a subscript irrespective of the overset. I know there probably hacky ways to create negative space on the second subscript, but I want something that can scale with the math.

Maybe something along the lines of making the box of \dot b the same size as just a regular b somehow?

EDIT: MWE

\documentclass{article}

\begin{document}
$T_a T_b$ vs $T_a T_{\dot b}$
\end{document}

Answer 1

The common approach here is to use a \vphantom of the larger object, or \smash the larger next to a \vphantom of the smaller:

\documentclass{article}

\begin{document}

$T_a T_b$ vs 
  $T_a T_{\dot{b}}$ vs
  $T_{\vphantom{\dot{b}}a} T_{\dot{b}}$ vs
  $T_a T_{\vphantom{a}\smash{\dot{b}}}$

\end{document}

Answer 2

Borrowing from Hendrik's answer here: Redefine underscore to produce roman subscript without breaking file names

NOT recommended!

\documentclass{article}

\begingroup
  \catcode`\_=\active
  \gdef_#1{\ensuremath{\sb{\smash{#1}}}}
\endgroup
\mathcode`\_=\string"8000
\catcode`\_=12

\begin{document}
$T_a T_b$ vs $T_a T_{\dot b}.$
\end{document}

If one wanted the subscripts universally lower, a variation of the suggestion of NoWayHaze would be this:

\documentclass{article}

\begingroup
  \catcode`\_=\active
  \gdef_#1{\ensuremath{\sb{\strut#1}}}
\endgroup
\mathcode`\_=\string"8000
\catcode`\_=12

\begin{document}
$T_a T_b$ vs $T_a T_{\dot b}.$
\end{document}

---

As an alternative, you could sacrifice another character, here a !, to specifically mean a subscript in which the height of the element is ignored. Then, you can still use _ in the normal cases.

\documentclass{article}

\begingroup
  \catcode`\!=\active
  \gdef!#1{\ensuremath{\sb{\smash{#1}}}}
\endgroup
\mathcode`\!=\string"8000
\catcode`\!=12

\begin{document}
$T_a T_{\dot b}.$ vs $T_a T!{\dot b}.$
\end{document}