Syllabus for UPSC Physics Optional Subject Exam:

The syllabus for the UPSC Physics Optional Subject Exam is designed to assess the candidate's understanding and knowledge of various concepts and theories in Physics. It covers a wide range of topics from classical mechanics to quantum mechanics and modern physics. The detailed syllabus is as follows:

Paper 1:

1. Mechanics and General Properties of Matter:
- Laws of motion
- Work, energy, and power
- Rigid body dynamics
- Fluid mechanics
- Elasticity
- Thermodynamics
- Oscillations and waves

2. Electricity and Magnetism:
- Electrostatics
- Current electricity
- Magnetic effects of current and magnetism
- Electromagnetic induction and alternating currents
- Electromagnetic waves

3. Optics and Wave Optics:
- Ray optics
- Wave optics
- Interference and Diffraction
- Polarization

4. Atomic and Molecular Physics:
- Structure of atoms
- Nuclear physics
- Molecular physics

Paper 2:

5. Quantum Mechanics:
- Quantum theory
- Schrodinger equation
- Wave-particle duality
- Quantum mechanical operators and their algebra
- Angular momentum and spin

6. Solid State Physics and Electronics:
- Crystal structure
- X-ray diffraction
- Conductors, insulators, and semiconductors
- Magnetic properties of solids
- Superconductivity
- Fundamentals of microelectronics

7. Nuclear and Particle Physics:
- Nuclear properties and types of decay
- Nuclear reactions
- Elementary particles
- Quark model and quantum chromodynamics
- Weak interactions

8. Electronics and Experimental Methods:
- Operational amplifiers
- Digital electronics
- Signal processing
- Experimental techniques and data analysis

9. Mathematical Methods of Physics:
- Complex analysis
- Linear vector spaces
- Group theory
- Partial differential equations
- Laplace transforms

Note: The above syllabus is not exhaustive and may include current updates or changes. Candidates are advised to refer to the official UPSC website or the UPSC Physics Optional Subject Exam notification for the most accurate and up-to-date syllabus information.