General information

Theoretical physics department provides lecturers for the general theoretical physics courses (classical universities program), viz.:Theoretical Mechanics, Electrodynamics, Quantum Theory, Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics. The successful passing of these courses (being a part of the bachelor ones) allows a student to deal with complex physical problems based on his own choice.

Within the framework of “Theoretical physics” specialization our department trains specialists on the condensed matter physics, magnetic phenomena, statistical physics, spectroscopy, nanophysics, heterostructures etc. Special attention is paid to basic courses of computer physics.

This set of courses is closely related to the main scientific fields of our department:

- Resonance properties of solids (EPR and MR, optical spectra of ionic crystals, electron-phonon interaction, crystal fields and spin relaxation in crystals). Laser materials.

- Superconductivity (HTS and traditional one), magnets and connected phenomena.

- Nanosystems and spintronics (magnetic and kinetic phenomena in low-dimensional systems (films, multilayers, quasi-2D structures)). Metals, dielectrics, magnets, superconductors, semiconductors.

- Dielectric relaxation and physical phenomena in self-similar systems (fractal structures). “Random” sequence treatment and detection of weak signals.

In the recent 5 years the department’s researches have been funded by international and federal grants (the total is about 200K $ per year). Bachelors, masters and postgraduate students actively participate in these explorations.

The basic of our department is to train the highly qualified specialists for scientific research and explorations, needs for higher education and new technologies. In the last 50 years 345 students have graduated our department. Forty three of them (that corresponds more than 10%) have defended the Russian highest scientific degrees (Doctor of science) and more than 125 of them have received the degree of Candidate of science (that is equivalent to the PhD).

Our department graduates are

heads of institutes – 2,
heads of departments – 19,
deans – 2,
financial analysts, directors, bank clerks, traders – 9,
company directors – 6,
programmers – 15,
Even (!) the State Duma deputy’s assistant – 1, ambassador -1, musicians – 2, singer – 1, priest – 1, and etc.

Many of our department graduates permanently work abroad (last years’ figures): Germany - 5, USA - 7, France – 2, Canada – 2, Singapore – 1, Israel – 3, Australia – 1, and etc.

Among our department graduates one is Academician and two are Corresponding Members of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Structure of education

Bachelor’s course (theoretical physics) – 4 years

Defence of Bachelor’s thesis

Master’s course (theoretical and mathematical physics) – 2 years

Defence of Master’s thesis

Postgraduate Courses (theoretical physics) – 3 years

Defence of a Candidate’s thesis (PhD)

Doctoral candidacy (theoretical physics) – 3 years

Defence of dissertation of Doctor of Science

Laboratories and new equipment

A new international laboratory “Information technologies and fractal signal processing” is to be launched this year (2011) (together with the radioelectronics department and Jinan University, China). The equipment for the Russian side of the project has been received from Germany.

Besides, our department has a research laboratory for computer physics.

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