Eligibility Criteria

Master’s degree in Physics or in a relevant subject with 55% marks or equivalent CPI/CGPA.

OR

Bachelor’s degree in science or engineering (typically a 4-year programme) relevant to Physics with a minimum of 90% marks or equivalent CPI/CGPA, with a valid GATE score of 99 percentile or above in the relevant area of application.

The students awaiting their qualifying examination results are also eligible to apply. They need to submit the qualifying mark sheets and/or certificates at the time of admission.

Please note that the qualifying degree of applicant should be from an accredited university /deemed-to-be-university or an institution of higher learning of comparable standing. The eligibility criteria given above are the absolute minimum. Institute may prescribe any requirements over and above these. In case the candidates are awarded grades/CPI/CGPA instead of marks, applicant would have to produce the grade-percentage conversion criterion or formula provided by the university/institution from where the applicant has obtained the degree. In case, where, a university/institute does not provide any scheme for converting CPI/CGPA into equivalent marks, UGC and AICTE guidelines would be applicable.

Syllabus for Ph.D. Entrance Exam

The entrance examination shall contain both objective and subjective type of questions. The syllabus for the written entrance examination shall consist of 50% of research aptitude/methodology and 50% shall be subject-specific. Research aptitude/methodology part shall be of generic nature, intended to assess the research aptitude of the candidate. This part primarily shall contain questions to test research aptitude, reasoning ability, graphical analysis, analytical and numerical ability, data interpretation, quantitative aptitude of the candidate. The subject specific syllabus is as follows:

1. Classical Mechanics :
2. Conservation of linear momentum, energy, and angular momentum, Lagrangian, action principle, Euler-Lagrange equations, Lagrangian formalism, Generalized coordinates, Hamiltonian, Hamilton’s equations of motion, Phase space and phase trajectories, Hamiltonian systems and Liouville’s theorem, Canonical transformations, Poisson brackets.
3. Electrodynamics :Electrostatics, Gauss law and its application, Magnetostatics, Electromotive force, Faraday laws, Maxwell equations, wave equation, electromagnetic waves in vacuum, wave equation for E and B, scalar and vector potential, gauge transformations, electric and magnetic field in matter, Polarization, magnetization.
4. Quantum Mechanics :Basic principles of quantum mechanics, Probabilities and probability amplitudes, linear vector spaces, Eigen states and eigenvalues, wave function, Heisenberg uncertainty principle, Schrödinger equation, one dimensional potential problems, linear harmonic oscillator, Orbital angular momentum operators, spherical harmonics, hydrogen atom problem. Charged particle in a uniform constant magnetic field, Time independent perturbation theory, Time dependent perturbation theory, variational methods.
5. Statistical Mechanics : First law of thermodynamics, Second law of thermodynamics, Third law of thermodynamics, microcanonical ensemble, canonical ensemble, grand canonical ensemble, quantum statistics, phase diagrams, phase equilibria and phase transitions.
6. Mathematical Methods :Orthogonal and curvilinear coordinates, Scalar and vector fields, Vector differential operators, Gauss’ theorem, Green’s theorem, Stokes theorem and their applications, Laplace and Poisson equations, Linear vector spaces and representations, Elements of complex variables, various special functions, Fourier analysis, Fourier transforms, and Laplace transforms.

Major Research Areas

• Experimental Physics : Material Science, Nano materials and their applications in Optoelectronics, Organic Electronics, Flexible Solar Cells, Biosensors.
• Theoretical Physics: Cosmology, Gravity, High Energy Physics, Biophysics and Statistical Mechanics, Condensed Matter Physics.