CSIR NET Physical Science Syllabus 2023

Main Topics

Sub-topics

1. Mathematical Methods of Physics

1. Dimensional Analysis
2. Vector Algebra & Vector calculus, Linear Algebra, Matrices
3. Cayley-Hamilton Theorem
4. Eigen values and Eigen vectors
5. Linear Ordinary differential equations of first & second order
6. Special Functions (Hermite, Bessel, Laguerre and Legendre functions)
7. Fourier series, Fourier & Laplace Transforms
8. Elements of Complex Analysis, Analytic functions
9. Taylor & Laurent Series
10. Poles, Residues and Evaluation of Integrals
11. Elementary probability theory
12. Random variables, Binomial, Poisson and Normal distributions
13. Central Limit Theorem

2. Classical Mechanics

1. Newton’s laws
2. Dynamical systems
3. Phase space dynamics
4. Stability analysis
5. Central force motions
6. Two body Collisions- scattering in laboratory and Centre of mass frames
7. Rigid body dynamics-moment of inertia tensor
8. Non-inertial frames and pseudoforces
9. Variational Principle
10. Generalized coordinates
11. Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalism & Equations of Motions
12. Conservations laws and cyclic coordinates
13. Periodic Motion: small oscillations, normal modes
14. Special theory of relativity-Lorentz transformations, relativistic kinematics and mass-energy equivalence

3. Electromagnetic Theory

1. Electrostatics: Gauss’s law and its applications
2. Laplace and Poisson equations
3. Boundary problems
4. Magnetostatics: Biot-Savart law, Ampere’s Theorem
5. Electromagnetic Induction
6. Maxwell’s equation in free space and linear isotropic media; boundary value conditions on the fields at the interface
7. Scalar & Vector potentials
8. Gauge invariance
9. Electromagnetic waves in free space
10. Dielectrics and conductors
11. Reflection and refraction
12. Polarization
13. Fresnel’s law
14. Interference, Coherence and Diffraction
15. Dynamics of charges particles in static & uniform electromagnetic fields

4. Quantum Mechanics

1. Wave -particle duality
2. Schrodinger equation (time-dependent & time-independent)
3. Eigen value problems
4. Tunnelling through a barrier
5. Wave-function in coordinate & momentum representation
6. Commutators & Heinsberg uncertainty principle
7. Dirac notation for state vectors
8. Motion in central potential
9. Orbital angular momentum, Angular momentum algebra, spin, addition of angular momenta
10. Hydrogen atom
11. Stern-Gerlach experiment
12. Time-independent perturbation theory & applications
13. Variational method
14. Time dependent perturbation theory & Fermi’s golden rule, selection rules
15. Identical particles, Pauli’s exclusion principle, spin-statistics connection

5. Thermodynamic and Statistical Physics

1. Laws of Thermodynamics and their consequences
2. Thermodynamic potentials
3. Maxwell Relations
4. Chemical potential
5. Phase equilibria
6. Phase space
7. Micro- and Macro-states
8. Micro-canonical, Canonical, Grand Canonical ensembles & Partition functions
9. Free energy and its connection with thermodynamic quantities
10. Classical & Quantum statistics
11. Ideal Bose and Fermi gases
12. Principle of detailed balance
13. Black body radiation and Planck’s distribution law

6. Electronics & Experimental Methods

1. Semiconductor devices ( diodes, transistors, field effect devices, homo- and hetero-junction devices)
2. Device structure, device characteristics, frequency dependence and applications
3. Opto-electronic devices (Solar cells, photo-detectors, LEDs)
4. Operational Amplifiers and their applications
5. Digital techniques and applications (registers, counters, comparators and similar circuits)
6. A/D and D/A converters
7. Microprocessor and microcontroller basics

Miscellaneous topics

Data Interpretation and analysis, Precision and accuracy, Error analysis, Propagation of errors, Least Square fitting

Main Topics

Sub-topics

1. Mathematical Methods of Physics

1. Green’s Function
2. Partial differential equations (Laplace, wave and heat equations in two and three dimensions)
3. Elements of computational techniques: root of functions, interpolation, extrapolation, integration by Trapezoid and Simpson’s rule
4. Solution of first order differential equation using Runge-Kutta Method
5. Finite difference methods
6. Tensors
7. Introductory group theory

2. Classical Mechanics

1. Dynamical systems
2. Phase space dynamics
3. Stability analysis
4. Poisson Brackets & Canonical transformations
5. Symmetry
6. Invariance and Noether’s theorem
7. Hamilton-Jacobi Theory

3. Electromagnetic Theory

1. Dispersion relations in plasma
2. Lorentz invariance of Maxwell’s equation
3. Transmission lines and waves guides
4. Radiation-from moving charges and dipoles & retarded potentials

4. Quantum Mechanics

1. Spin-Orbit coupling
2. Fine structure
3. WKB approximation
4. Elementary theory of scattering: phase shifts, partial waves, Born approximation
5. Relativistic Quantum Mechanics: Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations
6. Semi-classical theory of radiation

5. Thermodynamic and Statistical Physics

1. First and second order phase transitions
2. Diamagnetism
3. Para magnetism
4. Ferromagnetism
5. Ising model
6. Bose-Einstein condensation
7. Diffusion equation
8. Random walk & Brownian motion
9. Introduction to nonequilibrium processes

6. Electronics & Experimental Methods

1. Linear and nonlinear curve fitting
2. Chi-square test
3. Transducers ( temperature, pressure/ vacuum, magnetic fields, vibration, optical and particle detectors)
4. Measurement and control
5. Signal conditioning and recovery
6. Impedance matching
7. Amplification (Op-Amp based, Instrumentation Amp, Feedback), Filtering and Noise reduction
8. Shielding and grounding
9. Fourier transforms
10. Lock-in detector
11. Box-car integrator
12. Modulation techniques
13. High Frequencies devices

7. Atomic & Molecular Physics

1. Quantum States of an atom, Electron spin, spectrum of Helium and Alkali atom
2. Relativistic corrections for energy levels of hydrogen atom, Hyperfine structure and isotopic shift, width of spectrum lines
3. LS & JJ couplings
4. Zeeman, Paschen-Bach & Stark effects
5. Electron spin resonance
6. Nuclear magnetic resonance
7. Chemical Shift
8. Frank-Condon principle
9. Born-Oppenheimer approximation
10. Electronic, rotational, Vibrational Raman Spectra of diatomic molecules
11. Selection rules
12. Lasers: spontaneous and stimulated emission
13. Einstein A & B coefficients
14. Optical pumping, population inversion, rate equation, mode of resonators and coherence length

8. Condensed Matter Physics

1. Bravais Lattices, Reciprocal Lattices
2. Diffraction and the structure factor
3. Bonding of solids
4. Elastic properties
5. Phonons, Lattice Specific heat
6. Free electron theory and electronic specific heat
7. Response and Relaxation phenomena
8. Drude model of electrical and thermal conductivity
9. Hall effect and thermoelectric power
10. Superconductivity: type-I and type-II superconductors
11. Josephson Junctions
12. Superfluidity
13. Defects and Dislocations: ordered phases of matter: translational and orientational order
14. Kinds of liquid crystalline order
15. Quasi crystals

9. Nuclear and Particle physics

1. Basic nuclear properties: size, shape and charge distribution, spin and parity
2. Binding energy, semi-empirical formula, liquid drop model
3. Nature of the nuclear force
4. Form of nucleon-nucleon potential
5. Charge-independence and charge symmetry of nuclear forces
6. Deuteron problem
7. Evidence of shell structure
8. Single-particle shell model: its validity and its limitations
9. Rotational spectra
10. Elementary ideas of alpha, beta and gamma decays and their selection rules
11. Fission and Fusion
12. Nuclear reactions, reaction mechanism, compound nuclei and direct reactions
13. Classification of fundamental forces
14. Elementary particles and their Quantum numbers (charge, spin, parity, isospin, strangeness etc)
15. Gellmann-Nishijima formula
16. Quark model-Baryons and MESONS
17. C, P and T invariance
18. Application of symmetry arguments to particle reactions
19. Parity non-conservation in weak interaction
20. Relativistic Kinematics

Parts

Subjects

Tot QN

Attempt QN

Marks

Negative marks

Part ‘A’

General science/ Quantitative Analysis & Reasoning/ Research Aptitude

20

15

2

0.5

Part ‘B’

Physics (core)

25

20

3.5

0.875

Part ‘C’

Advanced Physics (core)

30

20

5

1.25

Download CSIR NET Physical Science Syllabus 2023

Category

JRFs

LS

UR

50.25

45.225

EWS

42.94

38.343

OC

41.56

37.404

SC

32.31

29.079

ST

28.13

25.317

PwD

25.63

25.000