Physics 451 Introduction To Experiments

The experiments which we do this semester are divided into several broad categories. There are some experiments that you will be designing and building "from scratch," and others (such as NMR) where the apparatus is mostly set up for you.

You will be expected to learn (by reading outside of class and discussions with us in class) what the physical phenomena is; what kind of experimental techniques we use; how to do the experiment and interpret the results; and, in some cases, what the connection is between your experiment and the real world (NMR and MRI for example). The level of sophistication of data taking and analysis ranges from data taken by hand to experiments interfaced to a computer. In many cases you will be expected to graph your data using a commercial graphics package such as Kaleidagraph to help interpret your results. Although there ia a strong theoretical foundation for each experiment, usually we will not obtain a numerical result that we can compare with theoretical predictions.  The emphasis is on learning to measure and observing the phenomena and its dependance on some physical parameter.

-----
 
  1. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

    2.  

  2. Superconductivity
    1. Electric and magnetic properties of elemental metal superconductors
    2. "Mr. SQUID" - a superconducting "gizmo"
  1. Superfluidity
    1. The Lambda point - the transition from a normal to a superconducting fluid.
    2. Second Sound - thermal waves in a superfluid.
  1. X-Ray Diffraction

    2.  

  2. Nuclear Radiation Physics
-----
 
More Details on the Experiments *Physics 451*
-----
 
{ updated: 1998.08.28 }