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

The course familiarizes students with science and engineering lab techniques, measurement equipment and analysis methods. The lab 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 to provide them with basic background knowledge and familiarity with the elements of computer data acquisition and control that they will encounter in industry.

Equipment

• Dell Optiplex 7050 PCs with U2417H monitors, equipped with Pasco Capstone Software and a Pasco 850 Universal Interface
• Extech digital multimeters (MN35, MN36, 430)
• 13 benchtop digital storage oscilloscopes (dual channel, 100 MHz)
• 11 benchtop BK Precision function generators (4011A, 4012A)
• 15 variable DC power supplies (18 V, 3 A)
• Two Weller WES51 soldering stations
• X-Tronic 4000 Series hot air station
• Five visual optical spectrometers with 1′ resolution
• Various spectrum tubes and power supplies (H, He, Na, Ne, Hg, Ar)
• Five Michelson interferometers
• Specific charge of electron apparatus
• Five Tel-X-Ometer X-ray systems
• Frank–Hertz experiment apparatus
• Five Spectech UCS30 gamma spectroscopy systems with NaI scintillation detectors
• Various Geiger–Müller tubes, counters, and rate meters
• Seven composite optical breadboards
• Pasco thermal radiation experiment
• Six Lambda Scientific LEAI-42 Millikan’s experiment apparatus
• Various Pasco Scientific datalogging sensors and probes, including current, voltage, wireless temperature probes, absolute pressure, and various light sensors