SoS in Physics & Astrophysics: Preamble / Historical Outline

The department of Physics, currently known as School of Studies (SoS) in Physics & Astrophysics, was established in the year 1972 under the dynamic leadership of Prof. Suresh Chandra, an eminent Materials Scientist & founder head of the department, Prof. R. K. Thakur, a renowned Astrophysicist, Dr S. Guha, a renowned Plasma Physicist. Since its inception, the department has been imparting quality education at PG level and advanced research in frontline areas of Physics with focus on Solid State/Condensed Matter Physics, Astronomy & Astrophysics (A&A) and Plasma Physics etc. so that students of this region get benefited at par with any leading National/International institutions. It is worth mentioning here that Pt Ravishankar Shukla University is among few Indian Universities, and the only one in the new state of Chhattisgarh, where teaching and research in A&A is carried out in the Physics Department. The basic infrastructural facilities were created with broad vision, in spite of several financial constraints, so that the students can get wider exposure in the above mentioned areas. It was because of the sincere and dedicated efforts of the members of the teaching staff over the years, SoS in Physics & Astrophysics made significant impact in creating conducive atmosphere for the quality PG education and research in Physics. It is due to these broad visions, the students passed out from SoS in Physics & Astrophysics could be able to make their mark by obtaining distinctive positions at National as well as International arenas. It has earned a high level of National and International reputation. The academic achievements of SoS in Physics & Astrophysics could very well be adjudged in terms of publications in research journals of International/ National repute, students alumni holding prestigious/ distinctive positions at various International/ National arena. It has been accorded Center of Excellence (1987-1992) by M.P Uchcha Shiksha Anudan Ayog, Bhopal. SoS in Physics & Astrophysics, besides obtaining substantial financial grants from different National funding agencies through research proposals submitted by individual faculty member, was awarded DST fund under FIST program.

In the recognition of the significant contribution in the field of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune has established its Resource Center (IRC) at the Physics Department since 1999 for the promotion of teaching and research in A&A in this region.

Course & Admission: Academic Program (MSc/ MPhil/ PhD)

SoS in Physics & Astrophysics presently offers MSc and MPhil courses. It also registers students for the Ph.D. degree in Physics and offers facilities for research in the fields of Solid State Physics & Astrophysics.

Thrust Areas of Research and Research Groups

The present research activities at the Department mainly focus on following two frontline areas: (1) Materials Science (2) Astronomy & Astrophysics

(1) Materials Science : This involves the synthesis of wide range of materials such as Solid State Ionic Materials, Electro-Optic/ Luminescent Materials etc., their characterization and device applications.

Solid State Ionic Materials are special class of energy materials which are potentially useful to develop variety of all-solid state electrochemical devices/ power sources viz. Rechargeable battery, Super capacitors, Fuel cells etc.Thin films micro batteries can also be fabricated using these materials which can be potentially embedded in the ICs, Microprocessors, Magnetic cards as well as they can be scaled up to the size to run electrical vehicles. Supercapacitors are used for storing electrical powers. The fuel cells are also used as electrical power sources.

Electro-Optic/ Luminescent Materials are optical materials which can be potentially employed to develop different kinds of Optical Sensors, Dosimeters, Solid State Lighting (CFL) etc.

All these materials are synthesized in the respective research laboratories and characterized for different application aspects.

(2) Astronomy & Astrophysics : Astronomy & Astrophysics (A&A) has been one of the major areas of research activity of the Physics department since inception.

Ongoing research activities are (1) Multiwavelength surface photometry of early-type galaxies mainly to investigate properties of dust in early-type galaxies, (2) Teaching and Research using small telescope with focus on Chromospherically active stars (3) Galaxies from deep survey field (4) Study of Supernovae (5) Chemically Peculiar & Variable Stars (6) Theoretical investigations and modeling of Galaxies.

• The IUCAA Resource Center (IRC) : The Inter-University Centre for Astronomy & Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, a premier research organization in the field of Astronomy & Astrophysics, has played a significant role, and since 1999 the Centre has created its Resource Centre (IRC) at the Physics Department for the promotion of teaching and research in A&A in this region.
  
  Recently, a high speed data center has been established for Astronomical Data archival and analysis. There are PCs & Servers with sophisticated softwares already been installed, LCD Projector, Printer and Scanner. Facilities are available for the Ph.D., M.Phil., M.Sc. Courses & Research works mentioned above.


• Well Equipped Laboratory for M.Sc. & M.Phil.


• Research Laboratory:
  
  Solid State Physics: Materials preparation and characterization. Major equipments available- Spectrophotometer, Monochromator, Photomultiplier tube, Digital Multimeters, X-Y recorders, Storage CRO, Cryostat, Furnaces, Multi frequency LCR bridge etc.
  
  Astronomy & Astrophysics: High-end PCs with data reduction and analysis software packages to handle multi-wavelength astronomical data taken from National/ International observatory as well as from archives.
  
  Observing facility in Astronomy : State-of-art computerized Optical telescopes CGE800 (8”), CGE1400 (14”) with GPS and back-end instrumentations like Photometer, CCD camera and Spectrograph, Solar filter along with data requisition and analysis software (procured from DST-FIST grant). A separate Astronomical Observatory building with dome is currently under construction.
  
  
• Computers & Internet: 25 PCs in LAN with peripheral devices like printers, scanners etc.


• Departmental Library: Along with the University Central Library, a small departmental library facility is available under IUCAA Resource Center (IRC) (1999) and UGC (1986) for Astronomy & Astrophysics teaching and research works. A departmental library for M.Sc./ M.Phil. Courses will soon be set-up under DST-FIST book grant.

Teaching Faculty and their contact

Symposia/Conferences/Workshops Organized

• Popular Lectures in Schools/ Colleges/ other Forums.
• Radio Talks, TV interviews
• Sky-gazing Programmes for students and general public to show the beautiful rings of the Saturn, satellites of the Jupiter, phases of Venus etc and other interesting events (SolarEclipse, LunarEclipse and Comets, etc.) of the sky using the Telescope available in the Department.

SoS in Physics & Astrophysics always strived for creating quality teaching and advance level research in the frontline areas and to sustain it, so that the students of this school are benefited to the best in terms of getting equal employment opportunities at National/ International level. So far, the department has been successful meeting this objective, as evident from the Alumni of this department. However, to keep pace with present day demand in terms of development in frontline research areas and teaching methods, it is absolutely necessary to keep on upgrading infrastructural facilities and academic programs.

Following plans and programs would be the focal theme of the future:

Teaching:

(a) Upgradation of the existing M.Sc./ M.Phil. laboratory courses with (i) state-of-the-art equipments interfaced with computer, and (ii) computer based simulation experiments.

(b) New initiatives in teaching methodology: Class rooms with audio-video aids based on power point presentations to make teaching and learning process more attractive and lively. Gradually, with the expansion of internet facilities, it is planned to evolve a process for conducting online classes.

(c) To establish efficient computing centre/Data Center as well as Digital Knowledge center with rapid Internet Connectivity.

(d) It is proposed to start new courses and specializations such as Plasma Physics, Nuclear & Particle Physics, and Quantum Optics as a part of M.Sc. and M.Phil. Curriculum.

Research:

Creating new facilities for advance level research in Solid State Physics/ Materials Science and Astronomy & Astrophysics as well as new fields depending upon the induction of fresh faculty members. Emphasis would be given on collaborative as well as inter-disciplinary activities. Renowned and distinguished Faculties from different branches of Physics would be invited as visiting scientists.

In the area of Solid State Physics/ Material Science the characterization facilities would be upgraded by inducting new equipments viz. XRD, SEM, AFM, FTIR, DSC/ DTA/TGA Impedance Analyzers, Multifrequency LCR bridge, Vacuum coating unit, High Temperature Furnaces, Spectrofluorimeter, Grating Monochromator, X-Y-T recorders, planetary ball milling machine, Particle Size Analyzer, Digital Multimeters, Electrometer Amplifier etc. and necessary PCs and softwares for interfacing some of these equipments. These facilities will also be used for M.Sc./ M.Phil. students to carry out specialized project work as part of their curriculum.

In the field of Astronomy & Astrophysics, with a view to enhance the existing observing facility in the University, especially in view of the growing demand among the students, it is proposed to setup an Observatory with slighter bigger sized (24-inch aperture or higher) optical telescope. The facility can be used for carrying out advanced level project work for M.Sc. as well as M Phil students. This can also be used for research work involving photometric and spectroscopic monitoring of a variety of variable stars, nova and star clusters as well as follow up program on novae and supernovae, to name a few. This certainly will add a new dimension to teaching and research in the field of Astronomy in the University sector in the country.