PY 452 Advanced Physics Laboratory

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Instructors:

Dr. Jack Rowe 157 Partners III, Centennial Campus, 515-3225
Dr. Vijaya Mehta 513-0319 [Labs]
Zhengang Wang 163 Partners III [Teaching Assistant]

Meetings:

Lectures: Monday and Wednesday - 1:30pm-2:20pm - 314 Riddick Hall (after week 4, only on Mondays)
Lab:

• Monday and Wednesday - 2:20pm-4:20pm - 210, 212 Riddick Hall
• The lab is the main part of the course, so schedule conflict must be resolved.

• Non-lab time meetings must be done with a partner for safety concerns
• A key to the labs can be signed out for the non-lab times

Office Hours: MW 1:00pm-1:30pm and by appointment

Course Prerequisites:

• Senior standing or permission of senior instructor

Course Summary:

Physics is an experimental science. Most of the physics theories you have studied began as empirical models to describe experimental results. Theories are not fully accepted until they are tested by experiment. This course is designed to give you the opportunity to experience the techniques, error analysis, experimental design, and tools that are used in experimental physics laboratories. Its format is therefore more like an independent study course than a lecture course. It is your responsibility to manage your time throughout the semester to see that the projects are finished. You will have to complete some written and laboratory assignments, and an experimental project. These are designed so that you will gain familiarity with lab safety, data analysis, use of computers in the lab, electronics, the experimental methods of physics, and the presentation of scientific results. You will be responsible for all aspects of the experimental project including equipment set-up. The apparatus will not be put together or debugged, although the professor and TA will be available as resources to help. The optimization process is the most instructive part of the laboratory experience, and is aided by back-of the envelope calculations using your physics knowledge base. Such calculations and sentient parameter variations are your best tools to insure that the data is artifact-free. You must hand in such calculations to the instructors throughout the semester, occasionally they will be assigned as homework.

Monday group meetings will begin with lectures, discussion of important topics related to the course, and progress reports. You will work on your lab assignments and projects during the remaining time. It is expected that you will spend an average of six hours per week completing assignments, conducting literature research, setting up an experiment, taking data, carrying out calculations, or writing. In addition, you are strongly encouraged to attend research colloquia or seminars in the NC State Physics Department.

Objectives:

• Develop a basic knowledge of advanced lab methods including electronics for understanding existing design properties, building small circuits as is commonly done by physicists, and diagnosing problems in circuits.
• Connect computers to instruments, acquire data, and perform analysis of data using LabView and either a data acquisition card or one of several standard serial or parallel communications protocols.
• Learn the methods of error analysis, experimental design, and tools that are used in experimental physics laboratories.
• Understand standard measurement techniques for several physical properties.
• Choose the appropriate instruments and measurement techniques for a given measurement task.

Equipment Rules:

Equipment is stored throughout the lab in labeled cabinets. For the sake of others, it should be kept where it belongs most of the time. You may leave equipment on the tables while you are actively (that means every day) doing a project, but you must leave it in a state where it will not pose a hazard to other people and leave a note stating who you are and what may or may not be borrowed. Please comply with the notes of other groups. As soon as is reasonable, put the equipment back where it belongs. All tools should be put away immediately after use. It is too easy to make the lab room into a mess, so treat it as your own and keep it tidy.

Brief Statements About the Course:

• Absences should be discussed with the instructor, prior to the absence if possible.
• The Code of Student Conduct and Honor Pledge apply, see "groups" below for policy of joint work.
• The NC State policy on disabled students also applies, with primary importance in the choice of topic for the major project.
• Statement on laboratory safety or risk assumption:
• The PY452 laboratory has several risks that make it less safe than other classrooms.
• The first meeting is devoted to a general description of physics laboratory safety, and some particular hazards in our lab. You are expected to understand the risks and immediately isolate, report and correct (if appropriate) any danger discovered.

Assignments, Requirements, and Grading:

• This course is pass/fail graded by choice.
• Reading assignments are listed below in the columns under the book names.
• Homework and Exams must be done individually. Exam and Lab Report Options will be explained later in a separate handout
• Small exercises will involve well-defined tasks described on the handouts. Work in groups, submit individual reports. Assignment sheets should be used as guides of what to study, not as step-by-step instructions. You should address most of the points raised in your measurements and report.
• All reports should be in standard form (intro, methods, results with figures and captions, discussion including measurement error analysis, conclusion, references) and will likely be a few pages each.
• Each table has an array of test instruments and tools.
• Completion of two major experimental projects. Each student will undertake 2 major projects chosen from the list.
1. A literature search should be completed for each project as noted below.
2. Presentation talk, of approximately 5-10 min, of apparatus to the class including an explanation of how it operates and a demonstration (if applicable) will be done on the dates in the schedule.
3. A formal written report similar to those found in the Physical Review should be submitted by the scheduled dates including the literature search as a bibliography.
4. As a final exam each student will prepare and present a 10-12 minute talk on one of the 2 projects, giving a motivation for the project and the important results. You may wish to practice your talk before this; instructors will be available to give advice and comments. (15 points)
• Throughout the semester, you are required to make 'back of the envelope type calculations whenever possible to verify experimental design, to check acquired values, and to estimate the signal and expected noise sources. These should be shown to the instructor, ask if you need a suggestion. (10 points)

Current Resources and Assignments:

Current assignments are located on a secure page (click on blue “page”. Only current students will have access.

Lab Safety:

Lab safety should always be considered before beginning any experiment. A safety overview is given at the second meeting and should be supplemented with materials in the PY452 library, the University library, or discussions with the instructors. The 'buddy system' (at least two people in the lab during equipment operation) is required for off-hours lab work.

Groups:

For reasons of safety (buddy system), equipment limitations, and to provide a venue for collaborative learning, the class will be divided into groups of approximately 3 people each. The group make-up will be assigned by the instructors based upon the questionnaire results handed in during week 2. Students are individually responsible for completion of all exercises, and are expected to collaborate and discuss problems and results with group members and others in the class in addition to the instructors. The groups will work together on the smaller assignments although individual write-ups are required. Note that group efforts are common in science and other fields, and that effective group participation can be a learned skill.

Reference Texts for PY 452 Advanced Physics Laboratory:

• Data Reduction and Error Analysis for the Physical Sciences, 3rd Edition, by P.R. Bevington and D.K. Robinson, McGraw Hill, New York, 2002, ISBN 0072472278, List $51.25.
• LabView Express Student Edition by Robert Bishop, National Instruments Inc. Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ, ISBN 0131239260, List $53.48.
• Building Scientific Apparatus, 2nd Edition by John H. Moore, Christopher C. Davis, and Michael A. Coplan, Addison-Wesley, Redwood City, 1989, ISBN 0-201-13189-7.
• The Art of Electronics, 2nd Edition by Paul Horowitz and Winfield Hill, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1989.
• LabView for Everyone, by Lisa K. Wells and Jeffrey Travis, Prentice Hall PTR, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 1997.
• Low Level Measurements, 5th Edition, edited by John Yeager and Mary Anne Hrusch-Tupta, Keithley Instruments, Cleveland, Ohio, 1998.
• A User's Guide to Vacuum Technology, 2nd Ed. by John F. O'Hanlon, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1989.
• Experimentation, an Introduction to Measurement Theory and Experimental Design, 3rd Ed. by D.C. Baird, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliifs, NJ, 1995.
• The Art of Experimental Physics, by Daryl W. Preston and Eric R. Dietz, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1991.
• The LabVIEW software manuals.