Modern Physics and Microelectronics Laboratory

Students in the Astronomy & Astrophysics, Engineering Physics, and Space Physics programs work on advanced experiments in the Modern Physics Laboratory.

The course familiarizes students with science and engineering laboratory techniques, measurement equipment, and analysis methods. The laboratory experiments provide students with hands-on learning to practice solving problems, analyzing real data, and reporting on their work.

Students apply physical principles to explain the operation of sophisticated experimental hardware such as interferometers, spectrometers, vacuum x-ray tubes, photomultiplier tubes, cathode ray tubes, Helium-Neon lasers, and Geiger-Muller tubes.

Students in the Engineering Physics program work on projects in the Microcontrollers and Electronic Instrumentation portion of the lab in order to provide them with a basic background knowledge and familiarity with the elements of computer data acquisition and control that they will encounter in industry.

Equipment

• Dell Optiplex 7050 PC w/ U2417H monitor computers equipped with Pasco Capstone Software and a Pasco 850 Universal Interface
• Extech Digital Multimeters (MN35, MN36, 430)
• 13 benchtop Digital Storage Oscilloscopes (dual channel, 100MHz)
• 11 benchtop BK Precision Function Generators (4011A, 4012A)
• 15 Variable DC Power Supplies (18 V, 3 A)
• 2 Weller WES51 Soldering Stations
• X-Tronic 4000 Series Hot Air Station
• 5 Visual Optical Spectrometers with 1’ resolution
• Various Spectrum Tubes and Power Supplies (H, He, Na, Ne, Hg, Ar)
• 5 Michelson Interferometers
• Specific Charge of Electron Apparatus
• 5 Tel-X-Ometer X-ray System
• Frank-Hertz Experiment
• 5 Spectech UCS30 Gamma Spectroscopy Systems with NaI Scintillation Detectors
• Various Geiger–Müller tubes, counters, and rate meters
• 7 Composite Optical Breadboards
• Pasco Thermal Radiation Experiment
• 6 Lambda Scientific LEAI-42 Millikan’s Experiment Apparatus
• Various Pasco Scientific datalogging sensors and probes including current, voltage, wireless temperature probes, absolute pressure, various light sensors