The post graduate Department of Physics began functioning from 1959 with commencement of M. Sc. (Physics) course with Heat and Thermodynamics, Electricity and Magnetism, Radioactivity and Nuclear Physics as specialized papers. At present the Department is offering four specializations at M. Sc. Level. The Department at present is well equipped with necessary facilities and resources for teaching, higher learning and research.
The Department is known, nationally and internationally, for researches in Condensed Matter Physics, and in several other fields. Large many numbers of projects have been sanctioned to the Department by almost all the relevant major funding agencies of India, such as UGC, CSIR, DST, DNES, DAE, DRDO, IPCL, GUJCOST etc. Many of the faculty members and researchers of the Department have visited foreign countries receiving awards under Commonwealth Academic Staff Fellowships/Scholarship, DAAD, Fulbright, Humboldt, INSA Royal Society (UK) and other exchange programmes of UGC, MHRD, etc. The countries visited on academic assignments include U.S.A.,U.K., Canada, USSR, Russia, Italy, Iran, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Germany, Cuba, Spain, Sweden, Poland, Belgium, Holland, France, Austria , Singapore etc
Teaching programmes
M. Sc. (Full Time) intake (60 general, 45 SF)
- Specializations offered at the III-IV semesters:- Solid State Physics, Solid State Electronics; Also, Theoretical & Computational Physics, Applied Energy Science
- Achievements in the last five years:- 03 NET, 03 GATE, 01 Joined BARC, some others in industry, research JRF/SRF, teaching at UG/PG and in schools etc
- One or two students are selected every year in Summer Vacation Project programmes conducted by PRL & IPR, Ahmedabad
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Research activities & programmes
M. Phil (Full Time / Part Time) intake (10 general, 10 SF)
Ph. D. (Full Time / Part Time);
- About 35 scholars working in several different disciplines in experimental and theoretical Physics, such as Condensed Matter Physics, Crystal growth & characterization, thin-films, layered materials, X-ray studies of bio-molecules, high-pressure physics, Low-dimensional conductors, theoretical modeling and calculations in (i) condensed matter systems (binary alloys), (ii) electron scattering and ionization of atoms & molecules, and in (iii) hadron physics.
Pre-Ph. D. examinations conducted from time to time (last in June 2008)
- Achievements of Research Scholars last five years
JRF/SRF, Commonwealth Fellowship, PDF in USA, invited with support for research paper-presentations in UK, Germany, Italy, and Singapore
- Past Ph. D.s also involved in joint research work/projects
Research Projects
Departmental; DRS-SAP Phase III, COSIST, UGC Excellence programme (CEAP) of five Science Departments (to be continued, 2008 onwards), DST –FIST programme
- Individual projects; UGC, DST, ISRO-Respond, DAE-BRNS, DRDO, GUJCOST
- Brochure of high – cost equipment/ instruments has been prepared in the Department
· DRS Research - Seminars in the years 2001,2002, 2003 & 2004,
à collaboration / linkages with International institutions
Prof. N. J. Mason, Director, Centre of Molecular & Optical Sciences, Department of Physics & Astronomy, The Open University, Milton Keynes UK
Also, with PRL, IPR, BARC, University of Udaipur - Rajasthan etc
à The Department has been undertaking consultancy / academic assistance to other Departments/institutions/universities
*SFRCI, thin films Lab, crystal growth, electric characterizations of dielectric and ferroelectric materials, etc.
à Work done by our Technician staff
Received consultancy charges for various work (Gujarat/Maharashtra) related to designing of impaired products (SFRCI) and small wind-power generators. This includes the world first hearing impaired language laboratory for mass teaching and small wind generator which has received the credit of countries first installation of the small wind generator on Bombay High offshore platform of ONGC. University has received about Rs. 2 lakhs for consultancy charges from private industry of.
Conducted vocational course for the ing Impaired on Renewable energy in collaboration with National Institute of Hearing Impaired central government, Mumbai Rs. 82,000/- is received for conducting 6 month vocational course during 2005-2006.
* Academic/ expert services also extended to other Departments/ institutions in their in teaching programmes
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Out-reach, extension activities
This is a strong point of the Department, well-known in the Co-curricular activities and programmes
* The Community Science Centre of SPU was a brain child of this Department
à Reaching out to
(Society at large) Our own and other Science students, School/college teachers, school children, general public;
Jointly organized programmes with the Community Science Centre SPU, Gujarat Science Academy, Indian Association of Physics Teachers, Indian Physics Association etc
· National Science Day February 28 every year, poster & model competition
· Popular Science & Astronomy programmes
· IAPT Infosys Workshop for Physics teachers of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra & Goa, December 2004
1. International year of physics 2005-’06, state level UG/PG programmes Competitions
2. Local Seminar on Astronomy and Astrophysics and Space science. July, 2006.
3. State level Physics Learning Camp for UG students September, 2006.
4. Stage Science Show Prof. M. G. Tarnekar, July, 2006, B. D. Chakradeo August 2007
5. One Day seminar on Physics for our students, every year, outstanding past students invited to give presentations on their current work
** After a successful implementation of the X Plan proposals with the UGC, we are now preparing for the XI five –year Plan.
à A proposal for a new collaborative teaching programme (Advanced Post M. Sc. Diploma Course with specializations) also submitted to the State Govt.
Academic vision for the next five years
We plan to adopt a three pronged approach for an all-round progress in the areas of teaching, research and out-reach activities in the next five years.
To upgrade the vision as per changes and challenges is also a part of the vision.
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Faculty and Staff:
Professors : 07
Readers : 04
Lecturers : 01
UGC Emi. Professors : 01
Technical Staff : 03
Office Staff : 05
