Highlights
The Department of Physics was established with B.Sc. Physics in 1956 and M.Sc., Physics programme in 1976. In the year 2000, the department was upgraded as a research department with the introduction of M.Phil.and Ph.D. programmes. The research activities of the department focus on Nano Science, Thin Films, Crystal Growth and Molecular Physics. At present the department has 15 staff members out of which 13 are research supervisors. The Department has well-established and well-equipped laboratories for PG,UG and allied courses. The department is equipped with sophisticated instruments like UV-Vis Spectrophotometer, Vacuum Coating Units, Spray Pyrolysis Unit, Muffle furnace, Hot air oven, LCR meter, He-Ne laser, etc., to meet the needs of researchers.
A number of seminars, special lectures by eminent scientists have been arranged for PG students. The students are encouraged to present papers in National and International seminars and conferences. The department offers three papers for the PG students to facilitate them to compete for SET /NET/GATE exams. Over the past 63 years, it has produced successful alumni who are well placed as teachers, scientists in government sectors, post-doctoral fellows of reputed universities and other government organizations.
Some prominent Alumni are:
1. Air Vice Marshal Sharad. Y. Savoor VSM, General Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air command, Indian Air Force, Trivandrum.
2. Air Vice Marshal Dr. N. Vijayakumar VSM, Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Department of Financial Planning, Air Head Quarters (VayuBhavan), Rafi Marg, New Delhi.
3. Mr. Theodore Nimal, Senior Scientific Officer, National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi.
4. Major MuthuKrishnanAyyappan, Indian Army.
5. Mr. M. Anand, Software Engineer, Polaris, Chennai.
6. Dr. R. Kumaresan, Principal, Government Arts College, Coimbatore.
7. Dr. V. Siva, Post-Doctoral Fellow, KalasalingamUniveristy, Sivakangai.
8. Ms. M. PonSudhana, JRF, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore.
9. Mr. A. Kathirvel, JRF, AmirthaUniveristy, Coimbatore.
10. Dr. R. Ganesan, Principal Research Scientist, IISC, Bengaluru.
11. Dr.Saravanan, DRDO Scientist, NewDelhi.
About the B.Sc. in Physics Course at Government Arts College (Autonomous), Coimbatore
The B.Sc. in Physics was established many years ago at Government Arts College, Coimbatore-04, and it celebrated the history of its development from a teacher-training college physics department to its progress into a research-oriented discipline. The course has evolved since its inception in 1956 and has been designed to incorporate theoretical foundations alongside practical laboratory sessions. Students have open access to sophisticated instrumentation, including UV-Vis spectrophotometers, vacuum coating equipment, He-Ne lasers, spray pyrolysis apparatus, as well as LCR meters and muffle furnaces, to enable a broad practical appreciation of the principles of physics. CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Apart from academics, the department also conducts seminars, workshops, and guest lectures to enhance students' exposure to recent industry trends. The learners are also motivated to participate in national/international conferences for higher educational courses, including M.Sc, M.Phil, and Ph.D., as well as competitive examinations such as SET, NET, and GATE. With a 45-year history of producing graduates who have gone on to make significant advances in academia, defence, and research institutions, the program is both academically challenging and applicable to the real world, making it one of the most valuable science programs in the area.