Ph.D BrochureDepartment of Physics

Year 2017

• Introduction

• High Energy Physics

• Optics, Spectroscopy and Laser-Plasma Physics

• Computational Condensed Matter Physics

• Experimental Condensed Matter Physics

• Eligibility Criterion and Application Procedure

Thank you for your interest in the Ph.D program in Physics at IIT Hyderabad! We hope that you willcarefully review the information provided here to help you find out about the exciting opportunitieswe offer to pursue doctoral research in some of the most current and dynamic areas of physics andhow you can apply.

The Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IITH) was established in 2008, and is now func-tioning from its permanent campus in Kandi village of Telangana State. The Department of Physicsat IIT Hyderabad is a rapidly growing department, presently we have 17 permanent faculty members,a number which we actively seek to increase, 30 PhD students and a large number of MSc. andB.Tech (in Engineering Physics) students. The department has several groups pursuing research indiverse areas of physics. Presently their efforts are concentrated mainly in the the following fields:

• High Energy Physics

• Optics, Spectroscopy and Laser-Plasma Physics

• Computational Condensed Matter Physics

• Experimental Condensed Matter Physics

Ph.D Curriculum: The IITH Physics Department is dedicated to providing the Ph.D students withboth a broad background and in-depth training in their area of specialized research. Once admitted tothe Ph.D program, the student has to earn 12 credits to complete his or her coursework requirementsfor a PhD. We offer intensive training in the fundamental topics of Physics through the core coursesto prepare our Ph.D students for the challenges that lie ahead in their academic journey. The rangeof core courses offered include Classical Mechanics, Statistical Mechanics, Quantum Mechanics, etc.In addition to the core courses, specialized elective courses are offered to the Ph.D students in theirrespective areas of research. Following the coursework, the Ph.D program is focused on full-timeresearch. Students will work closely with their supervisors, and also interact with other members oftheir group, and also other groups. Further information on the elective courses offered and researchof the various groups are provided in the following pages of this brochure. PhD students come intocontact with an array of faculty and other members of the Physics community through journal clubs,public lectures and weekly seminar series (organized by research areas). Students will also have anopportunity to travel abroad for an international conference to present research papers.

Ph.D Qualification Process: Please check out the page detailing the eligibility criterion anddetails of application procedure if you are interested in pursuing a Ph.D at IITH Physics Department.

Introduction

Department of Physics, IIT Hyderabad pg. 2 of 9

At the HEP group, we are looking for motivatedPh.D students to join us on a range of excitingprojects. High Energy Physics is poised on theverge of a revolution with the LHC soon to at-tain peak energy and luminosity and a whole newgeneration of cosmological and gravitational ex-periments coming up. This means we are cer-tain to cross over into unexplored territory beyondthe standard model of particles and the standardmodel of cosmology, into supersymmetry, darkmatter, dark energy, astrophysical cosmology, hid-den sectors and extra dimensions.

At our group, there is scope to do researchboth in formal aspects of theory (Quantum Chro-modynamics, String Theory) and phenomenologytargeting the latest collider searches (beyond thestandard model, neutrinos, dark matter, Higgs).The HEP group is also a part of the NOvA Neu-trino collaboration at Fermilab, USA; Belle col-laboration at KEK, JAPAN. To find out more de-tails please visit the IITH HEP group webpagehttp://physics.iith.ac.in/HEP Physics/ which alsocontains the research profiles of individual facultymembers.

Specialized elective courses are offered by thegroup faculty to prepare students for research inhigh energy. Such electives include, QuantumField Theory, General Relativity, Particle Physics,Cosmology, Group Theory. Following the coursework, the Ph.D program is focused on full-timeresearch. Students will work closely with their su-pervisors, and also interact with other membersof the HEP group, participating fully in the life ofthe group including our HEP Journal Clubs andseminars.

The Large Hadron Collider

Collapse of Black Hole Binary

NOvA Experiment

High Energy Physics

Department of Physics, IIT Hyderabad pg. 3 of 9

We are looking for strongly motivated studentswith a keen interest to learn and develop excitingexperiments. Our group is dedicated to achiev-ing excellence in research and innovation, driv-ing forward areas of research, which have a pos-itive impact on society. The interaction of laserpulses with matter is opening up new frontiers inphysics, which is enabled by advances in ultrashortpulse laser technology, which have enabled newregimes ranging from probing electronic structureof atoms and molecules, transient spectroscopyand towards the development of tabletop acceler-ator technology to fusion power.

Our group has opportunities in aspects of ex-perimental and theoretical investigation such as:

• ultrafast dynamics of atoms and molecules,

• ultrafast nonlinear optics and time-resolvedspectroscopy,

• table top X-ray source

• ultrashort electron source

• exciton dissociation dynamics at a donor/acceptor interface in an organic photovoltaicsystem,

• intense laser plasmas,

• table top ion accelerators - Medical applica-tions (ion cancer therapy).

The group has active collaborations in variouscentral laser, FEL and synchrotron facilities in theUK, US and Europe; Tohoku and Osaka Universityin Japan. To find out more details please visit thegroup webpage listed on http://physics.iith.ac.in/,

Atomic and Molecular Dynamics

Plasma and Laser interaction

which also provides links to profiles of individualfaculty members.

Specialized elective courses are offered to pre-pare students for research in Atomic, Molecularand Plasma Physics. Such electives include Lasersand Photonics, Plasma Physics, advanced coursesin Atomic and Molecular Physics. Following thecourse work, the Ph.D program is focused on full-time research. Students will work closely withtheir supervisors for designing experiments, andalso interact with other members of the group.Students will also have opportunity to travel abroad

Optics, Spectroscopy andLaser-Plasma Physics

Department of Physics, IIT Hyderabad pg. 4 of 9

for international conferences to present researchpapers and also to perform experiments at inter-national facilities.

Photophysics

Optics, Spectroscopy andLaser-Plasma Physics

Department of Physics, IIT Hyderabad pg. 5 of 9

Research in the Computational Condensed Mat-ter Physics group includes a diverse variety oftopics, such as basic electronic structure, phasetransitions, magnetism, superconductivity, opticalproperties, transport properties, and also studyof complex systems like disordered systems, non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, biophysics, andmany more. This field of research is highly con-nected to different applications, like graphene andgraphene-like materials, which are high in demandnow. In addition, one can find a huge range of ap-plications such as detector systems, energy stor-age, superconducting materials etc.

Charge flow in a layered structure of SrAgChF

Our group at IITH is actively involved in ex-ploring various material properties using first prin-ciple calculations to design high potential mate-rials for different applications. For more detailsvisit http://physics.iith.ac.in/index.html.

We welcome applications from students whoare strongly motivated to work with us on inova-tive problems in Condensed Matter Physics.

Fermi Surface of LaRu4P12

Computational CondensedMatter Physics

Department of Physics, IIT Hyderabad pg. 6 of 9

Understanding the fundamental physical conceptsbehind various materials, in particular, techno-logical devices such as spin-electronics, semicon-ductor devices and nanoelectronics have been ofgreat interest in recent past due to their strongpotential for practical applications. On top ofthat today’s technology demands smaller, fasterand reliable devices. It is a challenge to under-stand the ultrafast time scale (10−9 s to 10−18

s) prevalent in these nanoscale systems broughtabout by processes involving fundamental inter-actions between electron, spin, phonon and theircorresponding correlation length and time scales.

The experimental condensed matter physicsgroup at IITH conducts vibrant research in frontierareas of physics such as spintronics, magnonics,magnetic materials, advanced functional materi-als and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS).We thus offer a diverse range of cutting-edge top-ics for students to work on. Research laboratoriesare equipped with state of the art experimentalfacilities, thereby providing direct hands-on expe-rience. Faculty members in this group have strongnational and international collaborations, whichprovide many opportunities for students to visitand interact during the course of their research.Students can select a research field based on theirinterests and subject to the availability of vacan-cies with respective faculty members.

Courses for PhD scholars are designed in sucha way that the students can attain very good un-derstanding about their research field. The Physicsdepartment aims at strengthening the core physicscourse along with specialized elective courses.Some of the elective courses aimed at Ph.D stu-dents interested in working in our group, includeexperimental techniques, advanced functional ma-

terials, application of magnetic materials, micro-fabrication techniques, semiconductor device physics,spintronics and many more.

Experimental CondensedMatter Physics

Department of Physics, IIT Hyderabad pg. 7 of 9

Experimental CondensedMatter Physics

Department of Physics, IIT Hyderabad pg. 8 of 9

Eligibility and ApplicationProcedure

Currently, Ph.D program at IITH takes in studentseither through the regular route or a special routefor sponsored candidates. The eligibility criterionfor the applicants to the Ph.D program is laid outin the following:

For Regular Ph.D. Candidates:

� M.Sc. (Physics/Applied Physics/Electronics)or an equivalent degree in engineering(M.E./M.Tech. or M.Sc.(Engg) etc.) with a valid PhysicsGATE score/UGC-JRF/CSIR-JRF/DST-INSPIREFellowship.

OR

� B.E./B. Tech. or equivalent engineeringdegree with a valid Physics GATE score.

For Sponsored Candidates:

� Candidates working in reputed research orindustrial organizations may also apply for thesponsored Ph.D. program (please contact the headof the department for further details, criteria etc.)A proof of sponsorship from parent organizationmust be provided at the time of interview. NETqualified candidates are encouraged to apply. Theeligibility criteria are similar to those for regularPh.D candidates. Interested candidates are re-quested to contact the head of the department

for further details. Note: Sponsored candidatesare not eligible for stipend.

If you are interested in the activities of a par-ticular research group or a particular faculty mem-ber at IITH Physics and you are interested in ex-ploring the possibility of pursuing a Ph.D, pleasesend an email to the particular faculty. Ap-plications for the Ph.D program are received twice(normally in March/ April and October/Novembereach year). Please look for PhD advertisement inour website for exact dates. One can also contactthe Head of Department of Physics for further in-formation.

Prof. Anjan Kumar GiriProfessor and Head

Department of PhysicsIndian Institute of Technology Hyderabad

Kandi 502285Telangana, India

Eligibility and ApplicationProcedure

Department of Physics, IIT Hyderabad pg. 9 of 9