PriyankB said:
1.) The entrance exam to all the above mentioned institutes((like JEST, INAT, IIAEST, etc.)) are largely based on undergrad or grad level physics and maths, which my engg. course won't prepare me for, so how do I prepare for these exams by myself? Is it even practically possible? If so please suggest some books and strategies to self-study undergrad level physics and maths.
Following are the books that you will need to prepare yourself for undergraduate physics, and help you clear the above mentioned exams, the physics gre as well as prepare you to undertake graduate study in phyics.
Mathematical methods in physical sciences - mary boas :
Before you even pickup a physics book, this is one book that you'll have to be done with almost completely. This is going to take time, an entire year perhaps, and you can do some physics study alongside, perhaps a review at the level of resnick halliday, but it's useless going in for a study of undergraduate physics without the necessary maths under your belt, ask me, I've gone through it and wasted a lot of time.
So before you do anything else, this is the book you have to have under your belt.
Classical Mechanics :
1.) An intro. To mechanics - kleppner and kolenkow
This is a very rigorous book, at a level greater than resnick halliday and sorts, but still lower than more advanced undergraduate mechanics.
This book grew out of the lectures at MIT, by the authors, and this course saw a drop rate of 50% at MIT. So you can judge the level of rigour involved. Although, it's not that difficult too.
2.) classical mechanics - douglas gregory
OR
Classical mechanics - john r. Taylor
Both these Books are at the same level of exposition. I have used the first one. The second one, i.e. the one by taylor is more popular though. There are many other books at the same level. You can go in for anyone of them.
Electrodynamics
An introduction to electrodynamics - d.j. Griffiths
This is a classic at this level of exposition. It has its critics just like any other book, but this is one of the best you can get and this is used in universities all across the world as a standard text.
Quantum mechanics
An introduction to quantum mechanics -d.j. Griffiths
QM is a very subtle subject and so everyone has their own opinions about how it should be taught. But again, this book is used as a standard in most universities across the world, and i personally find it an exceptional book as compared to many others that i have gone through.
But one thing is for sure, that you can't possibly go wrong with this one and its one of the best texts out there to get you started with the subject.
Heat and thermodynamics
Heat and thermodynamics - zeemansky and dittman
Again, lots of comparable books available for the subject at this level, but this one is a standard text for the subject and one of the more popular ones.
These form the basic pillars of physics. Once you are done with them, you can go in for whatever topics catch your attention. But a good grounding in all the above is needed for you to make a meaningful Attempt at any other advanced area of physics.
2.) Do US Universities admit B. Tech students to MS-PhD programmes in A&A? If so what exactly is the admission procedure? Which papers of GRE would I have to answer and how do I prepare for them? Would I need to do internships/research projects/etc? If so, how do I find these in India?
Yes, universities in US, Canada and even UK, will admit students from backgrounds in fields closely related to physics. As an engineering undergrad. you don't really have to worry about eligibility in terms of your degree.
The procedure, for most universities, requires you to submit your application by around december of the year before you intend to join. This would mean, you'll be applying somewhere around the end of your fall semester in your fourth year.
Fall session in most universities starts from august/september.
You prepare for the GRE by first being competent in undergrad. Physics, using the books i mentioned above and then going in for a practice of previous years physics gre papers.
As for the general gre, there are lots of books available and there's plenty of material online. The general gre typically requires not more than a month or two's preparation. So you can stop worrying about that right now. Although, you should start working on your Vocabulary.
For this, you need lots of reading, and a book called "word power made easy - norman lewis".
Remember, you'll be taking both the general gre and the physics gre in the first semester of your fourth year, i.e., your 7th semester.
You'll also have to take TOEFL , as a test of your english proficiency. This is also considered to be a piece of cake as long you are fluent and decent enough at english. A week's specific preparation would be more than enough.
Yes you need as much research expeience as you can get. You need all the more because you come from a non physics background. Try to get involved with physics prof.s at your university in an area that catches your attention.
You could also work in the areas related to your core degree, i.e. electronics as electronics isn't that far afield from physics.
If you can manage to get a pulication, that would be a real bonus as that would improve your profile and make you attractive to the top 20 universities.
Keep a good gpa so that you can apply for summer programmes and internships at various indian institutes like TIFR, HRI, CMI etc.
You can visit their websites for more details.
3.) What is the scope of a PhD in A&A? How hard will it be for me to get a position in academia or in a research institute((both, in India and abroad)) where my job will be directly related to A&A/Physics? Money isn't a big issue for me, I will be content as long as I can secure decent and clean living conditions, food and broadband internet((:P)).
Thanks for taking time to read all this, all help on these will be highly appreciated!
I don't have a good idea about this since i too am an undergrad. In ece right now.
But from what i have read, A&A seems to be one of those areas of physics where jobs are scarce and the pay isn't that good.
And getting a tenure in academia is very difficult in general. You'll have to spend atleast 5 years or so on temporary post docs, that don't pay that well, before you can start thinking about any permanent job.
In India though, the situation is slightly better as of now. You can secure faculty position in one of the many engineering insitutes india, as a physics professor, althoug i don't know wether you'll be able to work in A & A in such institutes.
Also, we can't predict, what it's oing to be like a decade or so from now.
