PHYS 431 - OPTICS LAB, FALL 2003

Lab coordinator: Prof. Stuart Tessmer
Room 4237 BPS Building
Telephone:355-9200 x2210
Email: tessmer@pa.msu.edu

Office Hour: 1:30 Mondays in Rm 1250 BPS, or by appointment

Teaching Assistant: Dominic Bologna
Lab Technician: Mark Olson

Welcome to the Phys 431 Optics Lab. We hope it will be an enjoyable semester and that we will learn a thing or two. The lab meets at 6pm in Rm 1250 BPS; Sec. 1 is Monday night, Sec. 2 is Wednesday night, Sec. 3 is Tuesday night. Below we summarize the content and requirements of the lab.

Requirements

You are required to attend one 2.8 hour lab per week. We require you to use a lab notebook to assist you in organizing your experimental notes and for recording raw data. This notebook will not be turned in with your write-ups, but may be checked for a variety of reasons. Please also bring a 3.5” floppy to allow you to bring home digital images. There will be no opportunities to make up missed labs.

Partners

The experiments will be performed in groups of two. (Groups of three should only occur if an odd number of students attend.) Of course, you should divide the labor with your partner. For example, only one person need record the data in their lab book. Although each group must perform the experiment independently, you are encouraged to observe and discuss experimental points with the other groups.

Write-ups

Click here for write-up example.

Each partner is required to write a formal report for each experiment performed, due at the beginning of the following lab. We will have 11 experiments in all. Each group must perform their own analysis, and the write-ups must be written independently. Hand written reports will not be accepted. The write-ups should be prepared using a word processor, such as MS Word, with imported graphics and images when applicable. The format is based on the style of a Physical Review article. Each report is worth a total of 10 points. The following sections must be included (point values shown in brackets).

Title [0]
Title of experiment. Please include your name and the name of your partner at the top of the title page.

Abstract [1]
This briefly states the major result of the experiment. For example: “A Michaelson interferometer has been used to determine the difference in wavelength of the sodium D lines. A value of 5.9 ? 0.2 Å was found, which agrees with the accepted value.”

Introduction [2]
This summarized the main ideas of the experiment and the conclusions of appropriate theory. A sketch of the experiment should be included.

Analysis & Discussion [5]
Quantitatively compare your data with expectations. Error estimates must always be given. Do not recopy all the raw data for your report. Give examples and/or the range of the numerical values where appropriate. Present data by graphs as much as possible. Do the measurements ? error estimation agree with theory? If not, can you suggest possible sources of the discrepancy?

Conclusion [2]
A brief statement summarizing your results is required. Did you find what you expected? What improvements would you make if you were to repeat the measurements?

Labs

Here is a tentative list of the labs. Click below to see the complete procedures. You are strongly encouraged to read them in advance of each lab.

WEEK	LAB
Sept 2-4	L1: Thin Converging Lens
Sept 8-10	L2: Thin Divergent Lens
Sept 15-17	L3: Periscope and Telescope
Sept 22-24	L4: Microscope
Oct 6-8	L5: Atomic Force Microscope
Oct 13-15	L6: Interference Fringes & Newton’s Rings
Oct 20-22	L7: Michelson Interferometer
Oct 27-29	L8: Single & Double Slit
Nov 10-12	L9: Diffraction Grating
Nov 17-19	L10: Spatial Filter
Dec 1-3	L11: Polarization

Grades

Your score will consist of the highest 10 of the 11 write-up scores. Hence the maximum point total is 10 x 10 = 100. At the end of the semester your point total will be scaled to count 40% toward your final grade.