CSIR NET Physics

Master the universe of concepts with the comprehensive CSIR NET Physics syllabus, covering topics such as Classical Mechanics, Quantum Mechanics, Electromagnetic Theory, Thermodynamics, Mathematical Physics, and Electronics.

This exam demands a mix of conceptual depth and problem-solving agility.

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CSIR NET Physics Syllabus

CSIR-UGC National Eligibility Test (NET) for Junior Research Fellowship and Lecturer-ship

PHYSICAL SCIENCES : Part B (Core)

I. Mathematical Methods of Physics

Dimensional analysis. Vector algebra and vector calculus. Linear algebra, matrices, Cayley-Hamilton Theorem. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Linear ordinary differential equations of first and second order. Fourier series, Fourier and Laplace transforms. Elements of complex analysis, analytic functions. Structure of singularities: poles and branch points, essential singularity. Taylor and Laurent series. Residues and evaluation of integrals. Elementary probability theory, random variables, binomial, Poisson, and normal distributions. Central limit theorem. Elements of computational techniques: root of functions, interpolation, extrapolation, integration by trapezoid and Simpson’s rule, Solution of first-order differential equation eg, using the Runge-Kutta method. Finite difference methods.

II. Classical Mechanics

Newton’s laws. Two-body problems. Motion in a central force field. Scattering in laboratory and centre of mass frames, two-body collision. Dynamics of rigid bodies. Moment of inertia tensor. Non-inertial frames and pseudo-forces. Principles of least action. Generalized coordinates and velocities. Lagrangian, Euler-Lagrange equations. Legendre transformation, generalized momenta, Hamiltonian, and Hamilton’s equations of motion. Conservation laws and cyclic coordinates. Periodic motion, small oscillations. Normal modes. Special theory of relativity: Lorentz transformations, relativistic kinematics, and equivalence of mass and energy.

III. Electromagnetic Theory

Electrostatics: Gauss’ law and its applications, Laplace and Poisson equations, boundary value problems.

Magnetostatics: Biot-Savart law, Ampere’s theorem. Electromagnetic induction. Maxwell’s equations in free space and in linear isotropic media, boundary conditions on the fields at interfaces of media. Scalar and vector potentials, gauge invariance, gauge fixing. Electromagnetic waves in free space. Polarization. Dielectrics and conductors. Reflection and refraction of electromagnetic waves, total internal reflection. Interference, coherence, and diffraction of electromagnetic waves. Young’s double-slit experiment. Dynamics of charged particles in static and uniform electromagnetic fields.

IV. Quantum Mechanics

Planck hypothesis. Photoelectric effect. Bohr-Sommerfeld quantization. De Broglie’s matter wave. Time evolution of a quantum system, Schrödinger equation, unitary evolution operator. Eigenvalue problem (time-independent Schrödinger equation), examples in one, two, and three dimensions, bound states (particle in a box, simple harmonic oscillator, etc.). Wavefunctions and their coordinate and momentum representations. Reflection and transmission in one dimension. Tunnelling through a barrier. Schrödinger and Heisenberg pictures. Equal time commutators of operators, Heisenberg uncertainty relations, Dirac notation for state vectors and operators. Orbital angular momentum. Angular momentum algebra and its representation. Spin, Stern-Gerlach experiment. Addition of angular momenta, Clebsch-Gordon coefficients. Wigner-Eckart theorem. Motion in a central potential, bound states of the hydrogen atom. Identical particles, bosons and fermions. Pauli exclusion principle.

V. Thermodynamic and Statistical Physics

Laws of thermodynamics and their applications (ideal gas, magnetic systems, dielectric materials, etc. Extensive and intensive variables). Thermodynamic potentials, Maxwell relations, chemical potential, and phase equilibria. Phase space, micro- and macro-states. Liouville’s theorem. Ensembles: microcanonical, canonical, and grand canonical ensembles. Partition functions, free energies, and their connection with thermodynamic quantities. Probability distributions (binomial, Poisson, Gaussian). Random walk. Central limit theorem. Statistical mechanics of discrete (e.g., Ising) and continuous (e.g., ideal gas) systems. Classical statistics, Maxwell-Boltzmann distributions. Quantum statistics, Bose and Fermi systems. Debye theory of specific heat. Black-body radiation and Planck’s distribution law. Simple metals.

VI. Electronics and Experimental Methods

Semiconductor devices (diodes, junctions, transistors, field effect devices, homo- and hetero-junction devices), device structure, device characteristics, frequency dependence. Opto-electronic devices (solar cells, photo-detectors, LED). Applications of devices. Operational amplifiers and their applications. Digital techniques and their applications (registers, counters, comparators, and similar circuits). A/D and D/A converters. Microprocessors and microcontroller basics. Transducers (temperature, pressure/vacuum, magnetic fields, vibration, optical, and particle detectors). Interpretation and analysis of data. Precision and accuracy. Error analysis, propagation of errors. Curve fitting by the least squares method. Chi-square test.