M.Sc. In Space Sciences (with Specialization in Space Physics)

The Space Science programme consists of Space Life Sciences, Planetary Atmospheres, Ionospheric Physics, Physics of Geomagnetic Phenomenon and Space Weather.

Quantum Mechanics: Quantum mechanics of one particle system, Quantum mechanics of Heisenberg, Matrix mechanics and transformation theory of quantum mechanics, Theory of angular momentum and spin, Zeeman effect, Time dependent and time independent approximation methods and applications, scattering theory, Dirac equation, low order radiation processes, relativistic quantum mechanics.

Electrodynamics: Concept of potential and its applications; Single and multiple boundary value problems; The electromagnetic fields energy, forces and momentum relations; Maxwell’s equations’ solutions of the wave equation; Applications to radiating systems, Elements of relativistic electrodynamics, Moving charges, classical electron theory.

Planetary Atmospheres: Concepts of the Earth’s atmosphere; Atmospheric nomenclature, hydrostatic equations, scale height, geopotential height; chemical concepts of the atmosphere; thermodynamic considerations, elementary chemical kinetics; composition and chemistry of middle atmosphere and thermosphere; thermal balance in the thermosphere; modelling of neutral atmosphere; Dynamics of the Earth’s atmosphere; Solar radiation and its effect on atmosphere; Atmospheres of planets and satellites.

Ionospheric physics:The ionosphere; photochemical processes; Chapman’s theory of photoionization; production of ionospheric layers; loss reactions and chemistry of ionospheric regions; morphology of the ionosphere. Ionospheric propagation and measurement techniques: Effect of ionosphere on radio wave propagation; refraction, dispersion and polarization; magneto-ionic theory; critical frequency and virtual height; oblique propagation and maximum usable frequency; ground-based techniques-ionosonde; radars; scintillations and total electron content (TEC), photometers, imagers and interferometers, ionospheric absorption; rocket- and satellite-borne techniques.

Space Weather: Elements of space weather: Geomagnetic storms, sub-storms and current systems; coronal mass ejections; modification of the Earth’s magnetosphere during magnetic disturbances and its implications; effect of magnetic disturbance on high, mid, and low latitudes. Measurement techniques for solar and geomagnetic parameters: Optical techniques for solar parameters; radio techniques for solar parameters; X-ray; Space Missions. Space Weather Prediction: Modeling of Space Weather parameters.

Space Plasma Physics: Collision free plasma theory: particle orbit theory, adiabatic invariants, plasma waves, resonances and instabilities, chocks. Collision dominated plasma theory, Boltzman equations and moments leading to MHD flow problems, Magnetosonic waves and shocks, hydromagnetics equilibria and stability energy principles, Rayleigg-Taylor instabilities, Onsager relations.

Physics of Geomagnetic Phenomena: Elements of solar physics: Structure and composition of the Sun; the Sun as a source of radiation; sunspots and solar cycles; solar flares. Magnetic field of the Earth and other planets: Models for generation of geomagnetic fields, Transients variations of geomagnetic fields; diurnal variation of geomagnetic fields. Equatorial anomaly. Magnetosphere of the Earth and other planets, plasma sphere and Van Allen radiation belts; magnetosphere of other planets. Geomagnetic field modeling. Aurora and applications of airglow measurements for ionospheric dynamics and composition.