The department was established in 1970 (4th
plan period) with 2 staff members (1 R(Reader), 1 L(Lecturer))
but without classrooms and laboratory facilities. It got some
facilities when it was moved to the campus in 1977.
Despite the basic handicaps, the department started part-time
M.Phil. programme in theoretical physics with the help of
visiting faculty from P.R.L., Ahmedabad in 1973 - long before
UGC mooted the idea of M.Phil. In 1975, it included new area of
thin film physics. Five (5) staff members were added during the
fifth plan period 1 P(Professor) and 2 R (Electronics-
technology qualified, and thin films), 2 L. Four (4) staff
members were added in sixth plan 1 (Solid State Electronics), 1
R (Solid State / Materials science) and 2 L.
Two more specializations were added to M.Sc. program and two
more areas of research were added. Specializations added at M.Sc.
were Theoretical Physics and Materials Science. Areas of
research added were crystal growth and instrumentation /
communication. A new program in M.Sc. (Electronics) was also
started. During the eighth plan, two more staff members were
added. 1 P (Solid State Physics /Materials Science), 1 R
(Electronics – not filled).
The Department now offers,
(i) (a) M.Sc. in physics (3 specialization : Electronics /
Theoretical Physics /Materials Science ; U.G.C. ‘s structure
recommended by Curriculum Development Centre is basically
adopted (30 hrs. teaching per week).
(b) M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Physics.
Research areas:
Nuclear and Particle physics (Theoretical), Crystal Growth,
Thin Films (experimental) Digital Communication:
The students offering specialization of electronics and
materials science have a grate potential for job opportunity in
industry. The specialization of theoretical physics is not
offered by any other university in Gujarat State and in fact is
offered by a few universities in India.
(ii) M.Sc. in Electronics
(iii) M.Sc. (Tech.) in Applied Physics
The courses for M.Sc. (Electronics) and M.Sc. (Tech) in
Applied Physics are designed in such a way that students have a
very good opportunity to get employment in industries.
Laboratory work for electronics in all these courses for M.Sc.,
M.Sc. (Physics Sp. Electronics), M.Sc. (Electronics) and M.Sc.
(Tech) in Applied Physics has innovative ‘design build and test’
type of experiments. Project work is compulsory for students
offering theoretical physics and materials science.
Industrial training / industrial project is compulsory for
M.Sc. (Electronics) and M.Sc. (Tech.) in Applied Physics. In
fact, courses for M.Sc. (Tech.) in Applied Physics are inspired
by courses offered by I.I.T. Bombay for degree in Engineering
Physics. These courses include workshop practice (Machine Shop)
and drawing.
The department has reasonably good computational facilities
in the form of network of 386, 486, Pentium and printers.
Mathematica, MatLab and MathCad are available. Computer based
training software for physics and electronics experiments,
microprocessor and micro-controller systems are also available.
The department has dedicated and well-qualified (12) faculty
members (3 vacancies) with two (2) members having obtained their
Ph.D. degree from prestigious universities in USA and having
carried out post doctoral teaching and research assignments in
USA, UK and Canada. Two (2) staff members have degrees from
I.I.T. s with one of them having M.Tech. (with research work in
the area of the communication). Almost all staff members have
Ph.D. degrees.
The research activities of the department are intimately
related to the areas of specialization offered at the M.Sc.
level. A unit of (4) staff members is attached to each of the
research area of (1) Digital communication (DPLL, Direct
Sequence Spread Spectrum) (2) Theoretical Nuclear and High
energy physics and (3) Crystal Growth, Thin films (mainly
ellipsometric calculations).
Current research activities are in the area of
1. Digital communication
(a) Studies on DPLL and
(b) Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum
2. Crystal Growth
(a) Metallic, organic and inorganic crystals and their
characterisation
(b) Study of kidney stone
3. Theoretical High Energy Physics
(a) Charmonium, Bottonium and Holenium systems.
4. Theoretical Nuclear Physics
(a) Heavy ion and pion-nucleus reactions.
(b) Nuclear matter at high temperature.
(c) Nuclear structure.
Department’s Tomorrow – future activities
I. One/Two years
(i) Consolidate new course viz. M.Sc. (Tech.) in Applied
Physics started in 2000 AD.
(ii) Implement new revised syllabi for M.Sc. Electronics that
is redesigned as per broad outline given by U.G.C.
(iii) Start P. G. Diploma course in Mineralogy and Gemology
and offer new specialization in Geophysics/ Meteorology
(including Seismology etc.) / Mineralogy.
(iv) Continue and expand current activities by initiating
collaborative research programs with other departments and
institutions and by getting sponsored project from
UGC/CSIR/DST/Industries.
II. Two/Five years
(i) Consolidate new specialization and course offered
(ii) Expand P. G. Diploma course in Mineralogy and Gemology
to two-year M.Sc. programs in Mineralogy and Gemology
(iii) Explore possibility of starting an inter-disciplinary
two-year M.Sc. program in Earth Sciences.
(iv) Start P. G. Diploma course in Instrumentation with
support from USIC ofVeer Narmad South Gujarat University.
(v) Explore possibility of starting research work in other
area of interaction with biological sciences, Industrial
(Applied) Physics, Geo-Physics etc.
III. Five/Ten years
(i) Start M.Sc. in Instrumentation
(ii) Start P. G. Diploma course in Gemology and Diamond
technology in collaboration with Diamond institute, Surat.
