Gate Syllabus for Physics
Mathematical Physics: Linear vector space; matrices; vector calculus;
linear differential equations; elements of complex analysis; Laplace transforms,
Fourier analysis, elementary ideas about tensors.
Classical Mechanics: Conservation laws; central forces, Kepler problem and
planetary motion; collisions and scattering in laboratory and centre of mass
frames; mechanics of system of particles; rigid body dynamics; moment of inertia
tensor; noninertial frames and pseudo forces; variational principle; Lagrange’s
and Hamilton’s formalisms; equation of motion, cyclic coordinates, Poisson
bracket; periodic motion, small oscillations, normal modes; special theory of
relativity – Lorentz transformations, relativistic kinematics, mass-energy
equivalence.
Electromagnetic Theory: Solution of electrostatic and magnetostatic problems
including boundary value problems; dielectrics and conductors; Biot-Savart’s and
Ampere’s laws; Faraday’s law; Maxwell’s equations; scalar and vector potentials;
Coulomb and Lorentz gauges; Electromagnetic waves and their reflection,
refraction, interference, diffraction and polarization. Poynting vector,
Poynting theorem, energy and momentum of electromagnetic waves; radiation from a
moving charge.
Quantum Mechanics: Physical basis of quantum mechanics; uncertainty
principle; Schrodinger equation; one, two and three dimensional potential
problems; particle in a box, harmonic oscillator, hydrogen atom; linear vectors
and operators in Hilbert space; angular momentum and spin; addition of angular
momenta; time independent perturbation theory; elementary scattering theory.
Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics: Laws of thermodynamics; macrostates
and microstates; phase space; probability ensembles; partition function, free
energy, calculation of thermodynamic quantities; classical and quantum
statistics; degenerate Fermi gas; black body radiation and Planck’s distribution
law; Bose-Einstein condensation; first and second order phase transitions,
critical point.
Atomic and Molecular Physics: Spectra of one- and many-electron atoms; LS and
jj coupling; hyperfine structure; Zeeman and Stark effects; electric dipole
transitions and selection rules; X-ray spectra; rotational and vibrational
spectra of diatomic molecules; electronic transition in diatomic molecules,
Franck-Condon principle; Raman effect; NMR and ESR; lasers.
Solid State Physics: Elements of crystallography; diffraction methods for
structure determination; bonding in solids; elastic properties of solids;
defects in crystals; lattice vibrations and thermal properties of solids; free
electron theory; band theory of solids; metals, semiconductors and insulators;
transport properties; optical, dielectric and magnetic properties of solids;
elements of superconductivity.
Nuclear and Particle Physics: Nuclear radii and charge distributions, nuclear
binding energy, Electric and magnetic moments; nuclear models, liquid drop model
- semi-empirical mass formula, Fermi gas model of nucleus, nuclear shell model;
nuclear force and two nucleon problem; Alpha decay, Beta-decay, electromagnetic
transitions in nuclei; Rutherford scattering, nuclear reactions, conservation
laws; fission and fusion; particle accelerators and detectors; elementary
particles, photons, baryons, mesons and leptons; quark model.
Electronics: Network analysis; semiconductor devices; Bipolar Junction
Transistors, Field Effect Transistors, amplifier and oscillator circuits;
operational amplifier, negative feedback circuits , active filters and
oscillators; rectifier circuits, regulated power supplies; basic digital logic
circuits, sequential circuits, flip-flops, counters, registers, A/D and D/A
conversion.
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