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Department of Physics

Masters Programme

4 Year Integrated M. Sc. (Hons) in Physics

 
Admission to the M.Sc. programme  is through the BITSAT entrance exam after 10+2. 
 
The M.Sc. Physics programme,  code B5,  has strong foundations in Physics, Mathematics and Computing. The programme can normally be completed in four years.  An additional year would be spent if the student takes a dual degree in another discipline.
 
Starting with a common set of foundational courses in the first year,  the programme has a mandatory set of physics courses spread through four years.  Students are also given an opportunity to explore their interests in Humanities through mandatory humanities electives. 
Students are further encouraged to explore other disciplines (outside Physics) through  open electives. Advanced courses in Physics or interdisciplinary areas are available through discipline electives.
 
Final year students have exposure to the real world through a semester-long thesis (TS) carrying out research or a semester in  industry (PS) through the practice school programme.
1st year courses
Semester 1 Units
PHY F111 Mechanics, Oscillations and Waves 3
PHY F110 Physics Laboratory 1 (Mechanics, Oscillations and Waves) 1
MATH F111 Mathematics 1 3
CHEM F111 General Chemistry 3
CHEM F110 Chemistry Laboratory 1
BIO F111 General Biology 3
BIO F110 Biology Laboratory 1
BITS F110 Engineering Graphics 2
Semester 2 Units
BITS F111 Thermodynamics 3
MATH F112 Mathematics 2 3
MATH F113 Probability and Statistics 3
CS F111 Computer Programming 4
EEE F111 Electrical Sciences 3
ME F112 Workshop Practice 2
BITS F112 Technical Report Writing 2
2nd year courses
Semester 3 Units
PHY F211 Classical Mechanics 4
PHY F212 Electromagnetic Theory 1 3
PHY F213 Optics 3
PHY F214 Electromagnetism and Optics Laboratory 2
MATH F211 Mathematics 3 3
BITS F225 Environmental Studies 3
HUM Humanities Electives of choice 3(min)
Semester 4 Units
PHY F241 Electromagnetic Theory 2 4
PHY F242 Quantum Mechanics 1 3
PHY F243 Methods of Mathematical Physics 3
PHY F244 Modern Physics Laboratory 2
ECON F211 Principles of Economics 3
OR
MGTS F211 Principles of Management 3
HUM Humanities Electives of choice 3(min)
3rd year courses
Semester 5 Units
PHY F311 Quantum Mechanics 2 3
PHY F312 Statistical Mechanics 3
PHY F313 Computational Physics 3
PHY Discipline Electives of choice 6(min)
*** Open or Humanities Electives of choice 3-6
Semester 6 Units
PHY F341 Solid State Physics 3
PHY F342 Atomic and Molecular Physics 3
PHY F343 Nuclear and Particle Physics 3
PHY F344 Advanced Physics Laboratory 3
PHY Discipline Electives of choice 3 (min)
*** Open or Humanities Electives of choice 3-6
4th year courses
Semester 6 Units
PHY Discipline Electives of choice 6(min)
*** Open Electives of choice 5 -11
Semester 7 Units
BITS F421 THESIS 16
OR
BITS F412 Practice School 2 20

OR

Thesis (reduced) 9
AND
Electives of choice 6-9

Minor in Physics

Students in a first degree programme other than Physics can opt for a Minor in Physics by taking a package of Physics courses. 
At most TWO of these courses may overlap with the compulsory courses of the major degree. The intent to  join the minor programme must be declared at the end of the second year. However, some of the courses leading to the minor may be taken in the second year itself.
Core courses
PHY/ECE/INSTR/EEE F212 Electromagnetic Theory 3
PHY F242 Quantum Mechanics 1 3
PHY F312 Statistical Mechanics 3
Electives
At least two out of the following pool of electives, with minimum 6 total units.
BITS F316 Non-linear Dynamics and Chaos 3
BITS F386 Quantum Information and Computation 3
PHY F211 Classical Mechanics 4
PHY F213 Optics 3
PHY F214 Electromagnetism and Optics Laboratory 2
PHY F215 Astronomy and Astrophysics 3
PHY F241 Electromagnetic Theory 2 4
PHY F243 Methods of Mathematical Physics 3
PHY F244 Modern Physics Laboratory 2
PHY F311 Quantum Mechanics 2 3
PHY F313 Computational Physics 3
PHY F315 Theory of Relativity 3
PHY F341 Solid State Physics 3
PHY F342 Atomic and molecular Physics 3
PHY F343 Nuclear and Particle Physics 3
PHY F418 Lasers and Applications 3
PHY F426 Physics of Semiconductor Devices 4

Minor in Quantum Information and Technologies

Students in any  first degree programme can opt for a Minor in Quantum Information and Technologies  by taking appropriate courses from the list indicated below.  At most TWO of these courses may overlap with the compulsory courses of the major degree. The intent to  join the minor programme must be declared at the end of the second year. However, some of the courses leading to the minor may be taken in the second year itself.
Core courses
Course code Course Title Units Prerequisite courses
BITS F386 Introduction to Quantum Information and Computing 3 None
Electives
At least four out of the following pool of electives, with minimum 12 total units. Quantum Mechanics 1
OR Physical Chemistry 2
PHY F242
OR PHY F345
OR CHEM F213
3
3
3
CS F316 Quantum Architecture and Programming 3
PHY F420
OR PHY F318
Quantum Optics
Atoms and Photons
4
PHY F428 Quantum Information Theory 3
PHY F434 Foundations of Quantum Theory 3
BITS F463 Cryptography 3
BITS F464 Machine Learning 3

PhD

Overview
The general details of the department PhD programme follow the institute policies, details given in the Academic Research Division website . We conduct an admission test usually comprising a written test and interview. Candidates who have cleared UGC-NET or have an MPhil /MTech degree may directly appear for the interview. Prospective candidates can align their interests with the research of faculty in the department. Selected candidates are either supported by a sponsored project or through DST/CSIR fellowships. The BITS also provides a limited number of fellowships to selected candidates. During the first year of PhD, scholars go through course-work, undertake teaching assignments and participate in department activities. Following this, scholars have to clear a qualifying examination before registering for their PhD thesis. The PhD candidate is assigned a supervisor and a Doctoral Advisory Committee (DAC), who guide them through the preparation of a research proposal that is presented to the Department. This is a result of literature survey and in-depth study of current status of research in their field and formulation of relevant research questions that they will work on during their PhD. Scholars encouraged to collaborate and have frequent discussions. They are expected to present department seminars and present their research progress to the DAC at the end of every semester. Research findings are communicated to the entire research community through papers published in well-regarded journals and through conference presentations. A set of coherent research outcomes form the PhD thesis which is evaluated by experts in the area. The PhD Thesis defence in the form of a seminar is presented to the Department and examined by an external examiner. Upon the recommendation of the examiners and the supervisor, the candidate is awarded a PhD degree.
Admission
An advertisement for PhD admission normally appears in April & November for admission into 1st semester & 2nd semester respectively. Working professionals (for instance, college teachers) may also seek admission as part-time PhD candidates. PhD admission test usually comprises a written test and interview. Candidates who have cleared UGC-NET or have an MPhil /MTech degree may directly appear for the interview. Admissions Portal Selected candidates are invited to interact with the department to choose an area of research and are assigned a supervisor and a Doctoral Advisory Committee (DAC) consisting of at least two faculty members. The supervisor and DAC select the course package for the first two semesters. PhD scholars are granted a tuition fee-waiver (decided by the current rules of the Institute) in exchange for teaching assistantship. A scholar is assigned teaching work taking up a maximum of 6 hours a week.
Coursework
During the first two semesters, the scholar goes through formal coursework decided by the supervisor and DAC based on the scholar's background and requirements. The course unit requirements are a minimum of 24 units, not exceeding 14 per semester. The scholar must obtain at least D grade in each course and have a minimum CGPA of 5.5 to be able to continue in the programme. List of Currently available G-level courses Laboratory skills are inculcated through the SKILL courses. In addition, the scholar may also be permitted to take specialised level 4 undergraduate courses as per need. If the requirements of a particular candidate are not met by named courses then they may be permitted to take one of the generic courses with appropriate content as decided by the DAC. After successfully qualifying and registering for the PhD Thesis, the scholar is required to take the Research Methodology course.
Qualifying Exam
A PhD candidate has to qualify in two thrust areas of their choice. In each area, the candidate must write at least two papers. As of now, the Theoretical Physics area is compulsory for all candidates in Physics, while they may choose their area of specialisation as the other thrust area.
Thrust Area Papers
Theoretical Physics
Quantum Physics
Electromagnetic Theory
Thermal and Statistical Physics
Classical mechanics
Astrophysics and Cosmology
Astronomy and Astrophysics
General Relativity and Cosmology
Quantum Field Theory
Particle Physics
Nuclear and High Energy Physics Nuclear Physics
Advanced Quantum Physics
Quantum Field Theory
General Relativity and Cosmology
Particle Physics
Condensed Matter/Semiconductor Physics
Solid state Physics
Semiconductor Physics
Soft Condensed Matter Physics
Computational Methods in Condensed Matter
Advanced Statistical Physics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Optics and Spectroscopy
Methods of Spectroscopy and Microscopy
Quantum Optics
Non-linear Optics
Laser Physics
Non-linear dynamics and Complex Systems
Non-linear Dynamics and Chaos
Advanced Non-linear Dynamics
Advanced Statistical Physics
Classical Mechanics
Quantum Physics
Foundations of Quantum Theory
Quantum Optics
Quantum Information and Computing