The department of physics and technophysics is established in the year 1989 to cater to the aspiring students of south Bengal with an appetite for higher learning in physics.  As the nomenclature of the department indicates the department started with a nonconventional but novel motto to make the post graduate course in physics consistent with modern technological applications. Since its inception, the department is striving to attain excellence in all its spheres of activities like teaching, research and development. The department has research collaboration with IIT, Kharagpur, IACS, Calcutta, Saha Institute of Research, Calcutta, Electrocom Corporation, Potomac, U.S.A.  The department offers post graduate course in both regular and distance education mode and have developed very good infrastructural facilities for pursuing advance level of research.    The department is equipped with four research labs with modern instruments (X-Ray Diffraction lab, Materials Lab, Plasma Lab, IC design lab) and three teaching labs (Condensed matter Lab,,  Nuclear Physics Lab, Electronics Lab) .  

The department has a departmental libray with  500 books . We  have received a book grant of Rs5.00 lakh from the Department of science and technology, Govt. of India  for strengthening the Library

The department has 20  PCs . All these PCs are under a department LAN. Five of these are also logged to the  University LAN for internet facilities. The  faculty members, staff and students are encouraged to use internet and web facilities for updating their learning and keep them abreast with the latest developments in their area of interest. The computer facilities is in the process of upgradation with a financial grant of Rs5.00 lakh from the Department of science and technology, Govt. of India . 

The academic calendar for each semester is published well before the commencement of the semester having dates fixed for all examinations. Each semester comprises of a minimum of 85 teaching days. The department implements the  academic calendar in letter and spirit. The examinations are conducted and results are published regularly on the dates announced in the academic calendar.  

Overall, the department offers a very healthy study and research atmosphere. 

New inclusion from emerging fields in curriculum:

In consistence with the nomenclature of the department, the course curriculum is designed to prepare the students to perform equally well as 

• Scientists by pursuing a career in research and development
• Technocrats in applied Physics based industries
• Resource persons in the field of human resource development

Semester system is introduced in M.SC. from 2006-07 session. The M.Sc course comprises of four semesters. The course curriculum is in near resonance with the model curriculum of UGC. The following components in the syllabus and the examination system contributes to a wholistic development of the students.

• Use of audio-visual aid in teaching
• Problem solving in tutorial classes
• Students’ seminar , an integral part of the curriculum
• Investigative project in the fourth semester (50 marks) 
• Grand viva conducted at the end of the semester
• Continuous evaluation system and mid semester assessments
• Setting up question papers with equal weightage on objective and subjective questions
• Seminar talks by external experts

Research areas / fields 

·         Semiconductor Heterostructures & super lattices

·         Dielectrics , Ferroelectric studies and Conducting Polymer 

·         Non linear optics 

·         Optoelectronics: Optical parallel computation  

·         Plasma Physics: Sub normal Glow, Normal Glow and Torroidal discharge

·         Growth and characterization. of Nanocomposites, Nanomaterials

·         Surface Science

·         Solid State Physics: Growth & characterization of thin films of semiconductors.

·         Low voltage low power IC design

·         Solid state electronics: Device fabrication through ion exchange

Future Plan

Research Area 01:

Generation of shock waves in water for technological applications in

(a) Medical use for crushing kidney stones

(b) In  Mining for causing rock fracture,

(c) In underwater Military use : For detection and hard kill of torpedoes.

Research Area 02:

Synthesis and characterization of Core-Shell Nanostructured Materials

Research Area 03:

Synthesis and characterization of composites comprising of conducting polyaniline and ferroelectrics

Highlights

• The   department is one of the few departments in introducing the semester system  in post graduate studies in the University.
• The department is probably the first among the Physics departments of conventional universities to extend M.Sc. in Physics through distance mode of education.
• National  Assessment and Accreditation council in its report of 2002 has highly appreciated the research activities of the department.