PHYS 299
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    <h1>Intermediate Experimental Methods</h1>
    <p>Thushara Perera</p>
    <p>Office: C007C in CNS<br> 556-3888<br> email: tperera<br> Office Hrs: Monday 1-4 and Thursday 9-11.</p>
    <p>Text: <i>Hands on Introduction to LabVIEW</i> by J. Essick</p>
    <p>Class room: WN 010 and other labs (especially for white board space)<br> Class days and times: 1:10-2:25 on T R</p>
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<h2>Course Description</h2>
<p>This will be a broad survey (not deep, but at the level of Feynman Lectures) of experimental methods in physics built around several labs.</p>
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<h2>Course Organization</h2>
<p>There will be four labs, three presentations, and several quizzes. The last of the labs will be a final project. The labs and presentations will be done in groups of two. We will switch groups once during the semester. The first pairings will be assigned
    by me. Then, at mid-semester, new groups will be assigned based on common interest for the final project (and Presentation 2). Here is the current plan for the course components.</p>
<ol>
    <li>We will start by delving further into the Essick book (started in Modern Physics). We will concentrate on specific parts of the text to learn more about data acquisition and computer control of instruments. We will also explore the use of microcontrollers
        (e.g. Arduino) and FPGAs for this purpose and learn the basics of A to D and D to A conversion. This component will culminate with software-based PID control loops.
        <p>Lab 2: motion control (2 groups), temperature control in cryostat (1 group), temperature control of room or stove (1-2 groups). We will first use canned systems (controller boxes/boards). Then we will build our own control elements and aim for
            comparable performance. 5 weeks.</p>
        <p>Hereafter, the text will serve as a reference for experimental techniques and data analysis.</p>
    </li>
    <li>How to nurse a weak signal to life. In class, students will learn about noise, noise sources, and techniques for minimizing noise, such as working at low temperature. We will then turn to electrical noise/interference and briefly survey topics such
        as proper grounding and shielding, twisted pairing, four-wire measurements, pre-amplification, filters, lock-in detection, and other topics from the "Kiethly low-level measurement" book.
        <p>Lab 1: A simple experiment with clear bounds to start off with. Some measurement (TBD) involving a subset of the above techniques. Experiments may differ between groups. Aspects not covered in this lab will be explored in the final project. 2
            Weeks.</p>
        <p>Presentation 1: Unique aspects of each group's adventures in Lab 1 and Lab 2. I will help groups choose topics. 20+15 min.</p>
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    <li>Analysis of experimental data. Fitting theory to data (emphasis on error analysis) and the use of Fourier transforms, especially in the context of the convolution theorem, will be discussed.
        <p>Lab 3: We will analyze data sets from real experiments using <i>data analysis software</i> such as Igor, Matlab, and IDL (not LabVIEW, not Mathematica). Our department's faculty have a diverse set of experimental expertise in astronomy/astrophysics,
            materials physics, condensed matter physics, AMO physics, and particle/nuclear physics. You should ask for a real data from one of our faculty, based on your interests. 3 weeks.</p>
        <p>Presentation 2: Each pair (picked according to interest) will explore a current cutting-edge physics experiment and present an experimental technique used in that experiment (that perhaps you already have some experience with, from prior lab work).
            Perhaps you can discuss the experiment that was the source of your Lab 3 data. 20+15 min.</p>
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    <li>The use of CAD, fabrication, and machining in experiments. Class coverage will be very brief. Let's make sure that the final project you pick will give you plenty exposure to these topics (soldering, machining, 3-d printing etc.).
        <p>Lab 4 (Final Project): Each pair (picked according to interests) will choose a substantial experimental project to work on. Projects can be based on AJP articles or the topics you explored for Presentation 2. Feel free to pick a "consultant" from
            among the departmental faculty (to run ideas by, get advice from) for this project. 5 weeks.</p>
        <p>Presentation 3: Final Project</p>
    </li>
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<h2>Grade breakdown</h2>
<p>- Quizzes: 15%<br> - Lab Notebooks (web based): 13%<br> - Success of Labs 1 through 3: 40%<br> - Presentations: 12%<br> - Final Project: 20%</p>
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