SYLLABUS FOR LECTURER, PHYSICS, GOVERNMENT POLYTECHNICS

1. Mathematical Methods in Physics:

Dimensional Analysis, Vector Algebra and vector calculus, Concepts of Tensors, Linear ordinary
differential equations of first and second order, Special functions (Legendre, Hermite, Bessel,
Laguerre functions), Fourier series, Fourier and Laplace transforms, Partial differential equations
(Laplace, wave and heat equations in two and three dimensions), Elementary probability theory,
Random variables, binomial, Poisson and normal distributions.
2. Classical Mechanics:
Dynamics of particle and system of particles, Conservation laws of linear momentum, angular
momentum and energy, Central force motion, Reduction of two body central force problem,
Planets and satellite motion, Communication satellite, D’Alembert’s principle, Generalised
coordinates, Lagrangian equations, Cyclic coordinates, Hamiltonian formulations, Canonical
transformation, Poisson brackets, Hamilton – Jacobi theory, Rigid body motion, Relative motion
and Galilean transformation, Special theory of relativity; Lorentz transformation, length
contraction, time dilation, velocity addition, simultaneity, Mass-energy equivalence, Doppler
effect in light.
Elastic behaviour of loaded wire, Elastic constants, Torsion of cylinder, Bending of beams,
cantilever, surface tension, surface energy, angle of contact, capillarity, Excess pressure, ideal
fluid, hydrodynamic equations, Viscous force (Newton’s law, Poiseuille’s law)
3. Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics:
Laws of thermodynamics and their consequences; Thermodynamical scales, Thermodynamical
potentials, Maxwell’s relations, Clausius–Clapeyron equation, Heat engine, Carnot cycle,
Refrigerator, Transport phenomenon of gases, kinetic theory of gases, Equipartition of energy,
Viscosity, Black body radiation, Kirchhoff’s laws, Planck’s distribution law and derivation of
Stefan’s law, Wien’s law, Phase space, micro and macro-states, Micro-canonical, canonical and
grand canonical ensembles and partition functions, Free energy and connection with
thermodynamic quantities, First and second order phase transitions, Classical and quantum
statistics, ideal Fermi and Bose gases, Bose-Einstein condensation, Thermodynamic and
statistical Entropy, Gibb’s paradox and its resolution, Free electrons in metals.
4. Quantum Mechanics:
Wave-particle duality, Matter waves, Uncertainty principle, Photo electric and Compton effects,
Davisson-Germer experiment, Wave packets, Time dependant and time independent Schrödinger
equations, Physical significance of wave function, Normalisation, Orthogonality, Eigen value,
Eigen function, Eigen value problems such as particle in a box, Harmonic oscillator, etc,
Tunnelling through a barrier, Motion in a central potential, Orbital angular momentum, Angular
momentum algebra, Hydrogen atom, spin-orbit coupling, fine structure, Time-independent
perturbation theory and its applications, Time-dependant perturbation theory and Fermi’s Golden
rule, Elementary theory of scattering, phase shifts, partial waves, Born approximation, Pauli’s
exclusion principle, spin-statistics connection.
5. Atomic and Molecular Physics:
Bohr’s and Somerfield atomic models, Hydrogen like atoms, Optical spectra and x-ray spectra,
Moseley law, Vector atom model, Bohr magnetron, Larmor frequency, Stern-Gerlach experiment,
Quantum states of electron in atom, Spectrum of Hydrogen, helium and alkali atoms, Relativistic
correction for energy levels of hydrogen, Hyperfine structure and isotopic shift, Selection rules,
Width of spectral lines, L-S and J-J couplings, Lande g-factor, Zeeman effect (normal and
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anomalous), Paschen-Beck effect, Stark effect, Electronic, rotational, vibrational molecular
spectra, Raman effect, Phosphorescence effect, Electron spin resonance, Nuclear magnetic
resonance, Spontaneous and stimulated emission, Einstein A and B coefficients, Lasers, Optical
pumping, Population inversion, Rate equation.
6. Electromagnetic Theory:
Gauss’s law and applications, Laplace and Poisson equations, Boundary value problems, Biot-
Savart law, Ampere’s law, Electromagnetic induction, Conduction and displacement currents,
Maxwell’s equations in free space and linear isotropic media, Boundary conditions at interfaces,
Scalar and Vector potentials, Gauge transformations, Poynting theorem, Electromagnetic waves
in free space, dielectrics and conductors, Transmission line and waveguides, Reflection,
Refraction and Polarisation, Fresnel’s equation, Dispersion of electromagnetic waves, Dynamics
of charged particle in uniform electromagnetic field, Radiation from moving charges, dipoles and
retarded potentials.
7. Optics:
General theory of image formation, Cardinal points, Thick and thin lenses, Huygen’s and
Ramsden eyepieces, Telescopes and microscopes, Defects of vision, Human eye and camera,
Theories of light, Concept and condition of interference, Young’s double slit experiment and its
results, Biprism, Colours in thin films, Newton’s rings, Michelson interferometer, Fabry-Perot
interferometer, Fresnel and Fraunhoffer diffraction, Zone plate, Diffraction from single and
multiple slits, Plane grating, Resolving power of grating and optical instruments, Limit and
criteria of resolution, Unpolarized and polarized light, Polarization of light, Production and
analysis of polarized light, Double refraction, Malus law, Nicol prism, Half and quarter wave
plates, Optical rotation, Polarimeters, Ruby lasers, He-Ne lasers, semi-conductor lasers,
applications of lasers, Holography.
8. Electronics:
Intrinsic and extrinsic semi-conductors, Physics of P-N junction, Diode and its applications as a
circuit element, clipping and clamping, Zener diode regulated power supply, Transistor as
common cathode(CC), common base(CB) and common emitter(CE) amplifiers, Transistor as a
switch, Feedback in amplifiers, Oscillators, FET, MOSFET and their applications, Operational
amplifier and its applications, Analog and digital signals, Digital integrated circuits, Logic gates,
NAND and NOR gates as building blocks, XOR gate, Half and full adder circuits, Truth tables,
Venn diagram, Boolean functions, Boolean theorems, Microprocessors, Flip-flops, Opto
electronic devices(LED, photo detectors, photo transistors, solar cells), Mean and rms values in
AC circuits, Series and parallel resonances in LR, CR, LCR circuits, Quality factor.
9. Condensed Matter Physics:
Crystal structure, Miller Indices, Bravais Lattice, diffraction and the structure factor, Bonding of
solids, Elastic properties, Phonons, Lattice specific heat, Free electron theory and electron
specific heat, Einstein and Debye models, Response and relaxation phenomenon, Drude model of
electrical and thermal conductivity, Boltzmann transport equation, Sommerfeld theory of
electrical conductivity, Mathiessen’s rule, Hall effect and thermoelectrical power, Origin of
atomic magnetism, Dia-magnetism, Para-magnetism and Ferro-magnetism, Electron motion in
periodic potential, Band theory of metals, Kronig-Penny model, Effective mass of free electrons
and holes, concept of holes, insulators and semi-conductors, Superconductivity, Type I and type
II superconductors, BCS theory, DC and AC Josephson effects, Semi-conductors: laws of mass
action, impurity conductivity, Photo conductivity and photo luminescence.
10. Nuclear and Particle Physics:
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Nuclear size, shape, charge distribution, spin and parity, Binding energy, Binding energy per
nucleon curve, Semi-empirical mass formula, Nature of nuclear forces, Charge-independence and
charge symmetry of nuclear forces, Deuteron problem, Radioactivity, Age of rocks and carbon
dating, Theory of beta-decay and selection rules, Nuclear reactions, Compound nuclear formation
and direct reactions, Nuclear fission and fusion, Controlled and uncontrolled chain reactions,
Thermo nuclear reactions, Nuclear reactors, Liquid drop model, shell model, collective model,
Nuclear detectors (ionisation chambers, G.M. counters, semi-conductor detectors),
Fundamental forces, Classification of elementary particles on the basis of spin, mass, and
interaction, Quantum numbers (charge, spin, parity, isospin, strangeness) of elementary particles,
Quark model, Baryons, Leptons, Mesons and conservative laws, Parity non-conservation in weak
interaction, Particle accelerators.

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