Physics for Physical Science and Life Science (GZPHT121) Syllabus

Laser & Fibre Optics: optical processes — absorption, spontaneous and stimulated emission; principle of laser — conditions for sustained lasing, population inversion, pumping, metastable states; basic components of laser — active medium, optical resonant cavity; construction and working of Ruby laser, CO2 laser, semiconductor laser (qualitative); properties and applications of laser. Optic fibre: principle of propagation of light, types of fibres — step index/graded index, multimode/single mode, acceptance angle, numerical aperture (derivation), applications — fibre optic communication system (block diagram).

Interference and Diffraction: principle of superposition, constructive and destructive interference, optical path, phase difference and path difference, cosine law, colours in thin films, Newton's Rings (determination of refractive index and wavelength), air wedge (thickness measurement). Diffraction: types, diffraction due to a single slit, diffraction grating (construction, grating equation), dispersive and resolving power (qualitative).

Quantum Mechanics: concept of uncertainty and conjugate observables, uncertainty principle (statement only), application — absence of electron inside nucleus, natural line broadening; wave function — properties, physical interpretation; formulation of time dependent and time independent Schrodinger equations; particle in a one-dimensional box (derivation of energy eigenvalues and normalized wave function); quantum mechanical tunnelling (qualitative).

Waves & Acoustics: transverse and longitudinal waves, frequency/wavelength/time period, transverse vibrations in a stretched string (derivation of velocity and frequency, laws of transverse vibration). Acoustics: reverberation and echo, reverberation time (Sabine's formula), factors affecting building acoustics. Ultrasonics: piezoelectric oscillator, ultrasonic diffractometer, SONAR, NDT pulse-echo method, medical ultrasound scanning (qualitative). Laboratory component (minimum 10 experiments): optical fiber numerical aperture, laser wavelength via diffraction grating and millimetre scale, Newton's Rings, air wedge, single-slit diffraction, resolving/dispersive power, LED characteristics, CRO basics, solar cell I-V characteristics, Melde's experiment, LCR circuit oscillations, ultrasonic diffractometer, and lycopodium powder particle size.