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PHY 451 Adv Lab| Syllabus

Course Objectives

• To allow you to reproduce and understand the experimental results that are the underpinnings of modern physics.
• To enable you to design, assemble, and perform experiments.
• To familiarize you with experimental techniques employed in contemporary research and industrial laboratories.
• To allow you to develop skills in laboratory redord keeping, data analysis, and scientific graphing.
  • You will record your observations, collect reliable data, and organize your measurements.
• To provide you with an opportunity to develop critical writing skills and understand how to effectively present your scientific work to a larger audience.
  • You will write a professional laboratory report.
  • You will prepare a paper in the style of a scientific journal report.
• To give you a survey, via experimenting, of the sub-fields of modern physics, and the pertinent experimental issues in each.
• To expose you to the realities of the laboratory experience, where things don't always work, where the issues are not always clear, and where progress depends on perseverance, ingenuity, and judgment.
• To learn and appreciate the ethical and social issues that are involved in scientific research. These include the handling of proprietary information, respect for colleagues and adherence to high standards of honesty in reporting scientific results.

Required Texts and Materials

Experiments in Modern Physics (2nd Ed), by Melissionos and Napolitano (Academic Press).

Supplementary Texts and Materials

(free online text)

Experiments in Modern Physics (1st Ed), by Melissionos. (click here to download)
Physics of Light and Optics, by J. B. Peatross and M. Ware (click here to download)

(Copies of the following texts are available in the Adv Lab.)
An introduction to error analysis, by J. R. Taylor (University Science Books)

Class Operation and Requirements

Students work in pairs, and perform three distinct sets of experiments (4 weeks each) during the course of the semester.
The experiments include:

1. computerized Cavendish balance,
2. diode laser spectroscopy,
3. nuclear magnetic resonance,
4. nuclear physics (gamma ray spectroscopy and muon lifetime),
5. optical pumping,
6. photoelectric effect and determination of Plank’s constant,
7. sonoluminescence,
8. superconductivity and superconducting tunneling junction,
9. superfluidity of liquid helium-4.

You may only do one of experiments 2 and 5 and one of experiments 6 and 7. We encourage you to think about and discuss the experiments with the instructors throughout the course, so that you not only learn basic techniques of experimental physics, but also hone your ability to learn through discussions. Lab handouts and supplementary information for each experiment can be downloaded from the course website.
In accordance with MSU’s general regulations, as a three-credit course, PHY 451 requires a minimum of 9 hours of work per week. With this in mind, there are three weeks that are set aside at the beginning, middle, and end of semester that are not required lab time but are intended to allow for the time needed to prepare for future experiments and complete high quality oral and written reports.

Preparation:

As laboratory time is limited, you must read the experimental handouts before class. You will be asked questions by your instructors at the beginning of your laboratory sessions, especially before starting new experiments. These questions will focus on your understanding of what you will measure and how you will perform such measurements before you begin your experiments.

• Pre-Labs:
  The experiments are all described in the laboratory instructions (available as pdf files on the course website). You are expected to print and read the material and prepare yourself before coming to class as there will not be sufficient time to start from scratch during the six-hour laboratory session.
• You will be given a lab notebook for the labs in this course.  You are expected to demonstrate your pre-lab preparation in your lab book.
• The laboratory period for new experiments will start with we examining the pre-lab preparation on your lab notebook.

Lab Performance

The lab performance will be evaluated based on the coordination with our team members, the questions you raise, your skill in setting up the instruments and collecting meaningful data, and your problem solving skills in particular when something is “NOT working”.

Class Time and Attendance:

This is a laboratory course with only a limited number of lectures. The class meets one hour each week for lectures or to discuss laboratory problems students are having and their possible solutions. The lectures will cover such topics as cryogenics, optics, nuclear magnetic resonance, data acquisition and measurement methods, noise, scientific presentations, and ethics in research. Attendance at these lectures is mandatory. Attendance of each laboratory session is also mandatory unless you have been excused by your instructor, in which case you will make-up the missed laboratory time during the make-up week following each experiment. Please be on time to class and lab.

• Lab Attendance:
  

One unexcused absence from lab will result in a drop of 2 point for your course grade. If you are absent from TWO labs without a legitimate reason, your course grade will drop by 5 points. If you are absent from more than three labs, you will receive another drop of 5 points for each additional lab you miss.

• Class Attendance and Participation:
  Regular class attendance is strongly advised and is necessary for students to fully grasp many of the concepts. Students in attendance are expected to be active participants in the course. This participation includes: contribution to class discussions, providing insights into the class discussion topics, raising questions, and relating class material to personal experiences and other course topics. I will reward extra credit to in-class participation throughout the semester.
  
  If you miss a class session, it will be your responsibility to find out the materials that were covered.

Laboratory Notebooks:

Each student will keep an electronic laboratory notebook in which all of your ideas, designs, data analysis, graphs and mistakes will be recorded. (See the handout on lab notebooks for more details.) While you will collaborate in the laboratory, each student will keep his/her own notebook with his/her own analysis. After each experiment is completed, we will grade your lab notebook.

A bound laboratory notebook is also provided to you to take notes. However, you should convert these notes to electronic format for grading.

Lab Reports:

Each student is required to write an individual lab report for experiment #1, and a final report (term paper) for experiment #2 or #3.

Your lab report should “tell a story”: explain what you did, and what you concluded from your work. The report should be a short scientific paper readable by a peer: a student in your major who didn’t perform this lab but otherwise has same general background as you. Writing lab reports at this level is practice in the kind of writing and analysis you would perform professionally on real research projects, just as keeping your lab book should build good habits for your scientific record keeping for real research projects.

Lab Report for Experiment #1:

There is no standard length to this lab report. You need to explain the concepts and the process sufficiently, but do not write pages of description when a few words and a figure will suffice.

Final Report (Term Paper):

By the end of the last week of classes, each student will turn in a term paper on one your experiment #2 or #3. The paper will be presented in the style of a report in a scientific journal such as Physical Review Letters. The content of the paper should be based on your work in the lab as reflected in your notebook but with a broader perspective. It should include a literature survey with proper citations, in-depth analysis, and conclusions, in addition to reporting the main techniques and experimental results obtained. The paper should be 3,000 ± 500 words, double spaced, with one-inch margins.

A draft of the paper will be prepared by Friday, April 11 and will be reviewed by two classmates and your instructors and TAs akin to the refereeing process for papers submitted to scientific journals. The paper will then be rewritten with this feedback in mind.

In-Class Presentation:

Each group will deliver an in-class PowerPoint presentation on one of your completed experiments. The oral presentation should be 12 minutes plus 3 minutes for questions.

Everyone must take part for the presentation. All members of a group will receive the same score for the presentation; that is, the presentation is assessed as a whole and everyone receives this score.

Your presentations will be ‘peer reviewed’. The average score after dropping the lowest and highest ones will account for 30% of your group project grade. The grade given by the instructor and TAs will account for 70%.In addition, extra credits will be given to individuals with outstanding performance.

Course Grading

 

 

Course Policies: Grades

Extra Credit Policy:
Extra credit will be granted for the best five laboratory notebooks, and in-class participation. You will be awarded extra credit for raising good questions, answering questions, providing insights, in-class problem solving, to name but a few. It is thus to your advantage to study the relevant reading in advance. Of course, you also must show up in class to earn these extra points. If extra credit is granted, the additional points are added to your overall accumulative grade. You cannot earn more than 5 points for extra credit; any points over 5 are not counted.

Late Work Policy:
Lab notebooks and term papers turned in late will be assessed a penalty: 1 out of 10 point if it is one day late, and 1.5 out of 10 for each additional days. Assignments and reports will not be accepted if overdue by more than five days.
If an emergency arises and you cannot submit assigned work on or before the schedule due date or cannot take an exam on the scheduled data, you MUST give notification to me NO LESS than 24 HOURS BEFORE the schedule date/time and NOR MORE than 48 HOURS AFTER the scheduled date/time

Grading Objections:
All objections to grades should be made IN WRITING WITHIN ONE WEEK of the work in question. Objections made after this period has elapsed and will NOT be considered.

Grades of "Incomplete":
The current university policy concerning incomplete grades will be followed in this course. Incomplete grades are given only in situations where unexpected emergencies prevent a student from completing the course and the remaining work can be completed the next semester. Your instructor is the final authority on whether you qualify for an incomplete. Incomplete work must be finished by the end of the subsequent semester or the “I” will automatically be recorded as an “F” on your transcript.

Group Work Policy:
This course relies heavily on teamwork and cooperation throughout the semester. Early on in the semester, you will be assigned into groups of two or three to accomplish various experiments in a group effort. You will work with different team members for the labs. Later on in the semester, you may form groups with members of your choice for advanced labs and group projects.

If you are having difficulties with working in groups, please feel free to discuss this with me.

You are encouraged to study together and to discuss information and concepts covered in lecture and labs with other students. You can give “consulting” help to or receive “consulting” help from such students. However, this permissible cooperation should never involve one student having possession of a copy of all or part of work done by someone else, in the form of an email, and email attachment file, a diskette, or a hard copy. You must produce your work independently unless a team output is specified. Should coping occur, both parties involved are accountable and will automatically receive a zero for the assignment. Penalty for violation of this Code can also be extended to include failure of the course and University disciplinary action.

During examinations, you must do your own work. Talking or discussion is not permitted during the examinations, nor may you compare papers, copy from others, or collaborate in any way.

Course Policies: Technology and Media

Computer Skills/Usage:
Students are expected to have frequent access to a computer, and the internet/email as online homework assignments will be given.

Students are also expected to be familiar with:

• a word processing application or productivity suite (e.g., Microsoft Office – Word/Powerpoint or Apple iWork Pages/Keynote or Open Office) OR a document preparation system (LaTeX) as many assignments  may require its use;
• Adobe Acrobat Reader to view course documents.
• http://googleapps.msu.edu/ :
  Google Docs: Share documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.

The software you use to write your reports is irrelevant, as long as you follow the guidelines for the laboratory report. The instructor accepts Microsoft Office, Apple Pages, PDF, and LaTeX electronic files.  When submission of an electronic file is required, please convert your electronic file into one of these.
In many cases, you can analyze your data in a spreadsheet (eg. Microsoft Excel). However, a scientific graphing and data analyzing application is needed for some experiments and lab reports. You may use IGOR Pro or KaleidaGraph installed on the lab computers. IGOR Pro runs on Macintosh and Windows computers.  You may use IGOR Pro on your PC/laptop at no charge for assigned coursework in the Physics Department. Please contact me or Mark Olson to obtain such a course license.

Email:
When sending e-mail to the instructor, please begin the “Subject:” of the message with the following:
PHY 451: <space>

An email without a proper “Subject:” line might be discarded. I will respond to emails typically within 24 hours. If concerns require special attention or are of a sensitive nature and you do not feel like submitting your request via email, please see me in person during the office hours.

Classroom Devices:
You are encouraged to use calculators and rulers in class and labs. Audio/video recording is permitted only in the labs.

Course Policies: Student Expectations

University Writing Center:
The Writing Center (WCMSU) is a free resource for MSU undergraduates and graduates. At the WCMSU, a trained writing consultant will work individually with you on anything you're writing (in or out of class), at any point in the writing process from brainstorming to editing. For more information or to make an appointment, visit the WCMSU website at http://writing.msu.edu.

Professionalism Policy:
Per university policy and classroom etiquette; mobile phones, iPods, etc. must be silenced during all classroom and lab lectures. Those not heeding this rule will be asked to leave the classroom/lab immediately so as to not disrupt the learning environment. Please arrive on time for all class meetings. Students who habitually disturb the class by talking, arriving late, etc., and have been warned may suffer a reduction in their final class grade.

Disability Access:
Students with disabilities who need accommodations in this course must contact the professor at the beginning of the semester to discuss needed accommodations. No accommodations will be provided until the student has met with the professor to request accommodations. Students who need accommodations must be registered with the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD) at MSU, before requesting accommodations from the professor.

Academic Conduct Policy:
Academic dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated.
Academic dishonesty at Michigan State University is defined by the General Student Regulations (http://splife.studentlife.msu.edu/regulations) as conduct that violates the fundamental principles of truth, honesty, and integrity. The following conduct is specifically cited:

Supplying or using work or answers that are not one's own.
Providing or accepting assistance with completing assignments or examinations.
Interferring through any means with another's academic work.
Faking data or results.

If you are uncertain as to what constitutes academic dishonesty, please consult the General Student Regulations for further details. Violations of these rules will result in a record of the infraction being placed in your file and receiving a zero on the work in question AT A MINIMUM.  At the instructor’s discretion, you may also receive a failing grade for the course. 

Plagiarism:
When necessary, we may utilize turnitin.com, an automated system which instructors can use to quickly and easily compare each student's assignment with billions of web sites, as well as an enormous database of student papers.