Essential techniques: Probability distributions and statiscs, error analysis and error propagation, covariance, least-square fitting. Vacuum technology: gas flow equations, flow regimes, types of pumps, gauges and seals. Sensors and analog instrumentation: analog signal processing. Lock in amplifiers and applications: measurements in noise prone environments. Digital electronics: microprocessors and micro-controllers, ADC/DAC, PLCs, computer interfaces.

Semiconductor in equilibrium: Equilibrium distribution of electrons and holes, qualitative description of dopant atoms and energy levels, equilibrium distribution of electrons and holes in extrinsic semiconductor, degenerate and non-degenerate semiconductors, statistics of donors and acceptors, probability function, compensated semiconductors, Fermi energy levels and its variation with doping concentration and temperature, relevance of Fermi energy.

Approximation methods: Variational methods, WKB approximation; time-indepdndent perturbation theory; time-dependent perturbation theory: Interaction picture, Fermi's golden rule, sudden and adiabatic approximations.

Scattering theory: Transition rates and cross sections, Lippmann-Schwinger equation, scattering amplitude, Green's functions; Born approximation; phase shifts and partial waves.

Second quantization: Fock-space representation for bosons and fermions, representation of many-body operators.

Electron-electron interaction: Hartree and Hartree-Fock approximations; Quasiparticles, Landau-Fermi liquid theory for interaction between quasiparticles, equilibrium properties of normal Fermi liquid, 3He: ideal Fermi liquid, transport of quasiparticles, current density.

Instruments and Measurement Systems: Instrument Response, Measurement Quality, Signal to Noise ratio, Measurement Artifacts, Instrument Response Time, Instrumental Time Resolution, Detection Limit and Sensivity, Sources of Uncertainties, Calibration procedures. Basic statistics, concept of error and uncertainty analysis, Error analysis, probability distribution functions, regression analysis, least square fit, goodness of fit, uncertainties in the fit, propagation of error for a simple linear system.

Introduction to hydrometeorology, hydrologic and bio geochemical cycles, Water vapour in atmosphere, Vertical gradients in atmosphere, Atmospheric Boundary Layer, Surface Energy balances, Sensible heat flux, Latent heat flux, heat budgets, Plant canopy interactions with the atmosphere. Evaporation, evapotranspiration and their measurements, empirical equations, potential evapotranspiration, Global carbon cycling, Leaf energy fluxes, vegetation dynamics, Canopy processes and Canopy resistance.

Unit I:

Unit 1: Structure and variability of Earth's ionosphere

Introduction to neutral upper atmosphere and its interaction with solar radiation: Thermal structure of the atmosphere, Heat balance and temperature profile of thermosphere, Dissociation and diffusive separation and thermospheric composition, Exosphere, Solar radiation at the top of the atmosphere, Attenuation of solar radiation in the atmosphere, thermal effect of radiation, photochemical effects of radiation, Airglow

Overview of Polar Geography and Climate; History of Indian Antarctic programme; Physical
characteristics; weather and climate, ice coring in Antarctica for Paleo-environment studies,
logistics of Antarctic Science, opportunities, Antarctic governance and protection of Antarctic
environment, International linkages.
Ice characteristics and physical oceanography of polar seas; Sea ice: types, physical and
mechanical properties, heat flux, temporal and spatial distribution, melting and freezing processes,