Curricular Aspects:
The Department of Physics, which was started in 1946, has at present a full compliment of twelve staff members including 6 Ph.D. holders. Right from the day of inception, the Department has been striving hard to give the best coaching to the students in theory and practicals through teachers of repute like Sri M. Narayanamurthy, Prof. K. Lakshminarayanan, Sri N. Nagarathnam and Sri R. Raghavan. We have always produced over 80% results in the University Examinations and the University I rank was secured in the year 1966 by Sri M. Seetharaman, who now heads the Department of Theoretical Physics, Madras University.

Even as early as 1970, the Department equipped the B.Sc. lab with advanced level instruments like the Constant Deviation Spectrometer, and Geiger-Muller Counter under COSIP scheme. The students were also exposed to current affairs in Physics through annual “Physics Week” celebrations during which noted scholars addressed the students. Slide projectors were used to explain the fundamentals in Modern Physics.

Under the guidance of Physics Department, there are such curricular projects like the Electronics Club, Audio Visual Equipment and Hobby Workshop. During the initial stages of their functioning skilled persons from different institutes were engaged on a part-time wage basis to give training to the students after the normal working hours of the College.

Science Exhibitions were conducted during the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the College in 1971. Very interesting and thought provoking exhibits were displayed, thanks to the coordination of Staff from Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai and M.I.T, Chrompet, Chennai.

In 1981, the Management and the Department under the guidance of Sri J. Kalyanaraman took the initiative to start the P.G. course in Physics. During the last two decades, we have been producing excellent results & in the 1994-96 batch, Sri C.S. Ravishankar secured the University I Rank and won four Endowment Prizes and Dr. K.S. Krishnan Medal during the Annual Convocation in April 1997. Ranks within the first 10 have been secured by M.Sc. students in the subsequent exams. At under Graduate Level also Ramana Radhakrishnan secured 2nd Rank and A. Shankar secured the 3rd Rank during University Exams in April 1999 and April 2000 respectively. In April 2001 Madras University Examinations, Sri P.C. Bharadwaj secured the First Rank in Physics.

Many bright students of Physics are occupying high posts in different fields. Sri K.S. Sugavaneshwar I.A.S. (B.Sc. Physics 2nd Rank in 1963, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College and M.Sc. Physics 2nd Rank in 1965, Presidency College) and Sri P.R. Bindhumadhavan, I.A.S. are serving in Tamil Nadu Government as Secretaries. Sri K.S. Sugavaneshwar has now become Chief Secretary in Tamil Nadu Government. Carnatic Musician Sri S.P. Ramh and Ghatam artist Sri K.S. Padmanabhan are Physics graduates. International Cricket player and Umpire Sri S. Venkataraghavan was P.U.C. student (MPC group) and I B.Sc. student before joining the Engineering Course.

The Department has been the Centre, since 1981, for conducting Advanced Level London School Examination in Physics Practicals. The exams are conducted twice a year, in June and January. Thought provoking experiments (two experiments for half an hour duration each and one experiment of one hour duration) are to be performed by the candidates. Some of the model questions are appended herewith.

Staff Achievements:
Under Faculty Improvement Programme during UGC sixth plan, Sri G. Suryanarayanan was awarded one year Fellowship for M.Phil. course at the Department of Crystallography and Biophysics during 1984-85. Sri S. Jayakumar was the recipient of a special grant of Rs.3 Lakhs from the Third World of Academic Sciences for carrying out his Ph.D. Programme in 1996. Sri K. Sethusankar has been awarded a 9 months fellowship from July 2001 by the UGC under Faculty Development Programme Phase II to Biophysics, University of Madras. Staff members also participated in Seminars and Conferences at National and International Levels.

Extra Curricular Activities:
Bright students are encouraged to participate in the inter-collegiate Quiz and other Programmes and to bring credit to the Department. It is worth mentioning that senior Under Graduate students have won Quintessence 2001 Rolling Shields from D.G.Vaishnava College in successive years.

Since 1999, the Department has been conducting a two week annual Endowment Programme in November in memory of Dr.T.S.Ramadurai, eminent Cardiologist. Meritorious Under Graduate students are given exposure to recent theoretical and experimental techniques by inviting eminent Professors from IIT, Matscience and University Science Departments.

Sri K. Lakshminarayanan Endowment Lectures are held every year since 1991 and popular scientists like Dr.P.M.Mathews of Madras University, Dr.E.S.Rajagopal of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and Dr.K.S.Viswanathan, Physics Department, Simon Fraser University were invited to give talks.

Limitations:
With such vast experience in the past and talented and enthusiastic teachers available, we naturally look forward for more academic achievements in the years to come at the PG Level and if possible at the Ph.D. Level as well. But till recently the Department had to depend only on UG grant which was inadequate to purchase costly equipments for M.Sc. labs. During the 9th plan we have received a portion of UGC grant, but the amount released cannot meet the lab requirements fully. Instruments like Michelson’s Interferometer, which are being used for over 20 years, have suffered considerable wear and tear and need to be replaced by new ones: The Department requires funds to update the labs.

Future Goal and Projection:
For a long time, teaching of Physics has been through lectures and demonstrations. This method was fairly good in the past. At the present day level, we have to necessarily change our method of teaching. Supplementing our routine lecture programmes, we intend to introduce software packages for computer simulation and interactive learning with the two computers in the Department. We have to adopt such innovative methods of teaching, which will motivate the students to learn and appreciate Physics. A number of software packages on various topics are available in the market. Since all of them are more or less foreign products, their prices are high. Still we intend to buy such products regularly.

Further, the Department has excellent collection of books in the library. We intend to allot separate reading hours for the major students to make full use of the library books and the science periodicals.

The Department intends offering M.Phil. course to make further advancement in its research activities

Teachers who have attended national/international seminars:
1999-2000
1. Dr. S. Jayakumar attended a three-day International Conference from 2nd to 4th December 1999 on “Ultrasonic” at National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi.
2. Dr. S. Jayakumar attended a National Symposium on “Acoustics” at Mepco Schelnek College, Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu in September 1999.
3. Dr. S. Jayakumar attended a workshop (at National Level) on “Physical Ultrasonics” on January 2000 at St. Josephs’ College, Trichy.
4. Dr. K. Ilangovan attended a Lab oriented workshop on digital electronics and microprocessor conducted by govt. college for women, Chennai from 26-02-2000 to 28-02-2000.
5. Dr. J. Sekar attended SEREC School on Quark gluass plasma in nuclear physics November 17th to December 4th 1999, Department of Nuclear Physics, University of Madras, Chennai.

2000-2001
1. Sri K. Sethusankar presented a paper at each of the three National Level seminars conducted in April 2000, June 2000 and January 2001 at Chennai, Tirupathi and Kolkata respectively in field of “Crystallography and Biophysics”.
2. Dr. S. Jayakumar presented a paper on “Computers in Physics Training” during an International Conference at Stella Maris College in August 2000.
3. Dr. S. Jayakumar and Dr. N.S. Venkatasubramanian presented a paper on “Charge Transfer Interactions” at the International Conference at Stella Maris College in August 2000.
4. Dr. S. Jayakumar presented papers at each of the two national Conference held at Pachaippas’ College, Chennai and Nehru Memorial College, Trichy in September 2000.
5. Dr. K. Ilangovan attended a Oriented programme conducted by Academic staff college, University of Madras, Chennai from 13-10-2000 to 9-11-2000.
2001-2002
1. Dr. S. Jayakumar presented a paper on “Laser Technique for Determination of Ultrasonic velocity” at 8th International Congress at Hong Kong on 4th July 2001.
2. Sri K. Sethusankar attended and presented a paper in XXXI National Conference on “Crystallography” at BARC, Mumbai during June 2001.
3. Sri K. Sethusankar attended and presented a paper in ASCA’01 IU Meeting of Asian Crystallogrephic Association. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 18-21 November 2001.
4. Sri K. Sethusankar attended International Symposium on Crystallography & Bioinformatics in Structural Biology. The Indian Institute of Science and National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, India, November 2-25, 2001.
5. Sri K. Sethusankar attended and presented a paper in Discussion meeting on Structural Biophysics, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai – 25, January 21-23, 2002.
6. Dr. K. Ilangovan presented a research paper in Nuclear physics symposium, Dept. of atomic energy, Saha Institute of Nuclear physics, Kolkata during (25-30) December 2001.
Number of publications: 23
1. K. Sethushankar, “Acta Crystallographica” Section C – Crystal structure Communication, Acta Cryst(2000) c 56, e479 – e480 Data Validation Number IUC 000244 2,2 – Methylenebis (3- hydroxy – 2 – cyclohexen – 1 – one).
2. K. Sethusankar, S.Banumathi, R.Krishna and D.Velmurugan, 2, 2 – Methylene bis (3 – hydroxy – 2 – cyclohexen – 1 – one) Acta Cryst. (2000), C56, e479-e480.
3. K. Sethusankar, S.Thennarasu, S.Shanmuga Sundara Raj, H.K.Fun and D.Velmurugan, 5 – (1 – Acetamido – 3 – methylbutyl) – 5 – methlimidazolidine – 2, 4-dione monohydrate Acta Cryst. (2001), E57 0377-0379.
4. K. Sethusankar, D.Velmurugan, S.Shanmuga Sundara Raj, H.K. Fun, Crystal Structure Analysis of trans 1-(n – phenyl sulfonyl indole – 2’ – y1) – 2 – (3’ – 4’ – dimethoxy 6’ – nitrophenyl) ethane Cryst.Res.Technol.36, 2001, 11,1303-1309.
5. K. Sethusankar, D.Velmurugan, S.Shanmuga Sundara Raj, and H.K.Fun, 1, 2 – Bis(1 – phenylsulfonyl – 3 – phenylthioindol – 2 – yl) ethane Acta Cryst. (2002), E58 0134-0136.
6. K. Sethusankar, D.Velmurugan, B.T.S.Thirumamagal, S.Shanmuga Sundara Raj, and H.K.Fun, 2 – [1 – (Phenylsulfonyl)ethyl]benzoic acid and 2 –[1 – (Phenylsulfonyl) propyl] benzoic acid.. Acta Cryst. (2002), C58, 0257-0259.
7. K. Sethusankar, S.Kannadasan D. Velmurugan, P.C.Srinivasan, S.Shanmuga Sundara Raj, and H.K.Fun Ethyl ? -{2 –[ 4 – (dimetylamino) phenyl – iminomethyl ] – 1 – (phenylsulfonyl) indol – 3 – yl] acrylate. Acta Cryst. (2002), C58, 0277-0279.
8. K. Sethusankar, Diethyl N – phenylsulfonyl – 3 – [? - (2’, 4’ – dichlorophenyl)vinyl] indol – 2 – yl methyl – phosphonate (I) and Diethyl N-phenylsulfonyl – 3 – [?- (4’-bromophenyl) vinyl] indol – 2 – yl methylphosphonate (II). Acta Cryst. (2002), C58, 0450-0454.
9. Jayakumar S. Studies on “Molecular Interaction in potential Detergents and Disinfectants” In Journal of Acoustical Society of India, Vol. XXVII No.1-4, 1999 pp 338-342.
10. Jayakumar S. “Molecular Interaction between Electron Donors and Acceptors” in journal of Acoustical Society of India, Vol. XXVIII No.1-4, 2000 pp 373-379.
11. Jayakumar S., Karunanidhi N. and Kannappan, “Acoustical study of electron Donor-Acceptor systems”, J. Acous. Soc. Ind., 25, IV 13-1 (1997).
12. Jayakumar S., Karunanidhi N. and Kannappan, “Studies on Molecular Interaction in certain Phenol – ccl4 systems” J. Acous Soc. Ind., 25, IV 8.1 (1997).
13. Jayakumar S., Karunanidhi N. and Kannappan, “Spectroscopic investigation of electron polarizibility and molecular interaction in binary liquid mixtures”, National Conference on Spectrophysics, Chennai (1997).
14. Jayakumar S., Karunanidhi N. and Kannappan, “Thermodynamic Study of molecular interactions in binary liquid mixtures”. Proceedings of the National Workshop on Physical ultrasonic, Trichy, 68, (1998).
15. K.Ilangovan and N.Arunachalam, and Pramana, High spin properties of 124 Ba The Journal of Physics, March, 2002.
16. K.Ilangovan, Angular momentum and cranking frequency dependence of level density parameter in paired 122Xe and 124Ba, Proceedings of DAE symposium on Nucl.Phys. (India), 2001.
17. K.Ilangovan, Structural properties of hot deformed 122Xe and 124Ba at high spins using Statistical theory, Proceedings of DAE symposium on Nucl.Phys. (India) 41B (1998).
18. N.Arunachalam, P.Alli periyanayaki and K.Ilangovan, Structural properties of hot rotating 40Ca. Phys.Rev.C55 March (1997).
19. K.Ilangovan, M.Balasubramanian and N.Arunachalam, Excitation Energy as a function of Angular momentum and cranking frequency in super fluid 122Xe and 124Ba. Proceedings of DAE symposium on Nucl.Phys. (India) 40B, (1997) 64.
20. J. Segar, Order chaos transitions in field theories with topological terms - a dynamical approach J. phys . A 30 (1997).
21. J. Segar,Non-linear Chiral Models: Soliton solutions and spatio temporal chaos, Pramana, Vol. 498 (1997).
22. J. Segar, Maps and twists relating U(Sl(2)) and the Non-Standard Un(Sl(2)): Unified Construction B. Abdesselam, A. Chakrabarti R.C. M.Phy.Letts. A Vol 14 No.12(1999) 165-177.
23. J. Segar, Jordanian quantum spheres: M.Phys.Letts.,(accepted for publication).

Distinguished Alumni of the Department of Physics

Spiritual Arena
1. Rev. Swami Athmapriyanandaji Maharaj, Principal, Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira, Belur, Kolkatta

Academicians
2. Dr. M. Sitaraman, HOD, Theoretical Physics, University of Madras, Chennai
3. Dr. Rajaram Nityananda, Director, National Centre for radio Astrophysics, Pune
4. Dr. J.Sethuraman, Professor of Physics, American College, Madurai
5. Dr. T.P. Sheshadri, IISc, Bangalore
6. Dr. K. Srinivasa Rao, Mathscience, Chennai
7. Dr. K.P.N. Murthy, IGCAR, Kalpakkam

Administrators
8. Sri. K.S. Sugavaneshwar, IAS, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Tamilnadu
9. Sri. P.R. Bindu Madhavan, IAS, Chairman, TRB, Govt. of Tamilnadu
10. Sri. B. Balakrishnan, IAS, Government of Tamilnadu
11. Sri. M.S. Jayanth, Southern Railways

Distinguished Sports Personalities
12. Sri. S. Venkataraghavan, Former Captain, Indian Cricket Team

Cultural Ambassadors
13. Sri. S.P. Ramh, Musician
14. Sri. T.R. Rajaraman, Violinist

Alumni who have won International Recognition
15. Dr. J. Jayaraman, University of Brazil
16. Sri. T.V. Ramachandran, Design Engineer, USA

Department of Physics - Endowment Activities

1.Dr.T.S.Ramadurai Endowment Programme

Since 1999, the Department has been conducting a two week annual Endowment Programme in November in memory of Dr.T.S.Ramadurai, eminent Cardiologist. The programme is intended to promote the knowledge of about 15 students at Under graduate level. The students are exposed to thought provoking experiments with the help of experts from IIT and to guest lectures on important topics by eminent professors in the city and in its neighbourhood

In November 1999, 15 B. Sc. Physics students of I, II, and III year were given exposure to recent theoretical and experimental techniques by inviting eminent Professors from IIT, Matscience and University Science Departments to give lectures. Practical sessions on ‘Computer Simulation of Superposition of Waves’, ‘Laser Diffraction – Wavelength Determination’, ‘ Equipotential Surfaces for Different Electrode Configurations’, ‘ Refractive Index of a Liquid bu Studying the Dispersion of Light through a liquid Drop’, ‘Determination of the Ratio of Magnetic Field Strengths of Two Pairs of Magnets’ and ‘Fourier Analysis of Waveforms Using OP.AMP. Active Filters’ were conducted. The Programme was conducted from 01-11-1999 to 13-11-99.

In November 2000, 13 B. Sc. Physics students of I, II, and III year were selected. Apart from lectures from lectures by eminent Professors from IIT, Matscience and University Science Departments and practical sessions the students were taken to Madras Atomic Power Station, Kalpakkam for a day to have Practical Field Training. The programme was conducted from 23-20-200 to 10-11-2000.

In November 2001, apart from the lectures by eminent scholars like Dr.S.Mohan, Dr. Ravichandran, Dr. Gunasekharan, Dr. M.S. Sriram, Prof. S. Palaniswamy and Dr. Aruna, there was a four day practical training for the student participants in the Department of Biophysics & Crystallography under the supervision of Dr. S.S. Rajan. The students were also taken to various Laboratories at Central Leather Research Institute, Adyar.

2.Sri K. Lakshminarayanan Endowment Lectures

Sri K. Lakshminarayanan Endowment Lectures are held every year since 1991 and popular scientists like Dr. P.M. Mathews of Madras University, Dr. E.S. Rajagopal of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Dr. K.S. Viswanathan, Physics Department, Simon Fraser University and Dr. T.P. Seshadri of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore were invited to give talks.