PhD areas in Mechanical Engineering.

[Urmi Roy]

Hi,
I am basically very interested in Physics,and right from when I was in school,I wanted to take up a career in Physics. However,due to certain reasons,I could not get admitted into a Physics major degree.
In order to stay as close to main stream Physics as possible,I took up Mechanical Engineering,as it deals with thermodynamics and fluid mechanics extensively,which are two of my favourite topics. However,I want to learn more about areas like quantum mechanics,relativity,etc which I have always been fascinated about.

Is there any area of Mechanical Engieering which deals with subjects like quantum mechanics and relativity,on which I could do my post graduation and later PhD?

 

[fss]

Both QM and relativity are more physics and electrical engineering. You might be able to do something with particle accelerators which deal with both disciplines, but again that's more of a physics domain than a mechanical engineering domain.

 

[Urmi Roy]

What about Thermodynamics?The microscopic point of view(i.e statistical mechanics),of Thermodynamics might give me an opportunity to look into quantum mechanics also,couldn't it?

 

[Urmi Roy]

Okay,so if there are no fields of mechanical engineering that deal with quantum mechanics or relativity,could someone tell me about some areas that I could pursue for my post -grads and PhD, that would bring me atleast close to mainstream Physics?

 

[hadsed]

Why exactly can't you just major in physics? Surely you could switch sometime in the next few years?

 

[Urmi Roy]

Well,in India,switching from Engineering to mainstream Physics is very rare and people don't really look at it in a positive way...I could try going to the US,but I would have to clear the PGRE,for which I would further have to do the entire syllabus of the B.Sc Physics course during or after my Engineering course-impossible!Ofcourse,I do have PGRE in mind,but I don't think it's a good idea to depend on it too much.