GATE 2026 IIT Guwahati | Organizing Institute
PH Physics
Section 1: Mathematical Physics
Vector Calculus: Linear vector space: basis, orthogonality and completeness; matrices;
similarity transformations, diagonalization, eigen values and eigen vectors; linear
differential equations: second order linear differential equations and solutions involving
special functions; complex analysis: Cauchy-Riemann conditions, Cauchy's theorem,
singularities, residue theorem and applications; Laplace transform, Fourier analysis;
elementary ideas about tensors: covariant and contravariant tensors.
Section 2: Classical Mechanics
Lagrangian Formulation: D'Alembert's principle, Euler-Lagrange equation, Hamilton's
principle, calculus of variations; symmetry and conservation laws; central force motion:
Kepler problem and Rutherford scattering; small oscillations: coupled oscillations and
normal modes; rigid body dynamics: interia tensor, orthogonal transformations, Euler
angles, Torque free motion of a symmetric top; Hamiltonian and Hamilton's equations of
motion; Liouville's theorem; canonical transformations: action-angle variables, Poisson
brackets, Hamilton- Jacobi equation.
Special Theory of Relativity: Lorentz transformations, relativistic kinematics, mass-energy
equivalence.
Section 3: Electromagnetic Theory
Solutions of electrostatic and magnetostatic problems including boundary value problems;
method of images; separation of variables; dielectrics and conductors; magnetic materials;
multipole expansion; Maxwell's equations; scalar and vector potentials; Coulomb and
Lorentz gauges; electromagnetic waves in free space, non-conducting and conducting
media; reflection and transmission at normal and oblique incidences; polarization of
electromagnetic waves; Poynting vector, Poynting theorem, energy and momentum of
electromagnetic waves; radiation from a moving charge.
Section 4: Quantum Mechanics
Postulates of quantum mechanics; uncertainty principle; Schrodinger equation; Dirac Bra-
Ket notation, linear vectors and operators in Hilbert space; one dimensional potentials: step
potential, finite rectangular well, tunneling from a potential barrier, particle in a box,
harmonic oscillator; two and three dimensional systems: concept of degeneracy; hydrogen
atom; angular momentum and spin; addition of angular momenta; variational method and
WKB approximation, time independent perturbation theory; elementary scattering theory,
Born approximation; symmetries in quantum mechanical systems.
Section 5: Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
Laws of thermodynamics; macrostates and microstates; phase space; ensembles; partition
function, free energy, calculation of thermodynamic quantities; classical and quantum
statistics; degenerate Fermi gas; black body radiation and Planck's distribution law; Bose-
Einstein condensation; first and second order phase transitions, phase equilibria, critical
point.
GATE 2026 IIT Guwahati | Organizing Institute
Section 6: Atomic and Molecular Physics
Spectra of one-and many-electron atoms; spin-orbit interaction: LS and jj couplings; fine and
hyperfine structures; Zeeman and Stark effects; electric dipole transitions and selection rules;
rotational and vibrational spectra of diatomic molecules; electronic transitions in
diatomic molecules, Franck-Condon principle; Raman effect; EPR, NMR, ESR, X-ray
spectra; lasers: Einstein coefficients, population inversion, two and three level systems.
Section 7: Solid State Physics
Elements of crystallography; diffraction methods for structure determination; bonding in
solids; lattice vibrations and thermal properties of solids; free electron theory; band theory
of solids: nearly free electron and tight binding models; metals, semiconductors and
insulators; conductivity, mobility and effective mass; Optical properties of solids; Kramer's-
Kronig relation, intra- and inter-band transitions; dielectric properties of solid; dielectric
function, polarizability, ferroelectricity; magnetic properties of solids; dia, para, ferro,
antiferro and ferri- magnetism, domains and magnetic anisotropy; superconductivity: Type-
I and Type II superconductors, Meissner effect, London equation, BCS Theory, flux
quantization.
Section 8: Electronics
Semiconductors in Equilibrium: Electron and hole statistics in intrinsic and extrinsic
semiconductors; metal-semiconductor junctions; Ohmic and rectifying contacts; PN
diodes, bipolar junction transistors, field effect transistors; negative and positive
feedback circuits; oscillators, operational amplifiers, active filters; basics of digital logic
circuits, combinational and sequential circuits, flip-flops, timers, counters, registers, A/D
and D/A conversion.
Section 9: Nuclear and Particle Physics
Nuclear radii and charge distributions, nuclear binding energy, electric and magnetic
moments; semi-empirical mass formula; nuclear models; liquid drop model, nuclear shell
model; nuclear force and two nucleon problem; alpha decay, beta-decay, electromagnetic
transitions in nuclei; Rutherford scattering, nuclear reactions, conservation laws; fission
and fusion; particle accelerators and detectors; elementary particles; photons, baryons,
mesons and leptons; quark model; conservation laws, isospin symmetry, charge
conjugation, parity and time-reversal invariance.
