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.