Catalog Data:  Laboratory to accompany PHYS 415. Corequisite: Physics 415. One semester; one credit.

Text:  None.  Hand-outs will be given for each experiment.

Goals:
This course is designed to supplement, in a hands-on manner, Physics 415.  Thus, it shares the goals of that course.  In addition, this course is designed to be an exploration of optical phenomena, some of the equipment and techniques that are used to observe them, and some of the applications of these phenomena.  Thus, I intend that you not only study in more detail certain optical processes, but also gain facility in setting up optical experiments and become familiar with some commonly used optical instruments and devices.  Finally, I intend that you gain some facility in keeping a well-documented lab notebook and in communicating your results, two essential skills for a research scientist.

Topics:
This list is a sample of recent experiments that were performed. Experiments change periodically.

• Spencer Spectrometer
• Semiconductor Detectors
• Photomultiplier Tube
• Michelson Interferometer (Measurement of Wavelength)
• Michelson Interferometer (Measurement of Sodium Doublet)
• Michelson Interferometer (Measurement of Air's Refractive Index)
• Fabry-Perot Interferometer (Measurement of Wavelength)
• Michelson Interferometer (Measurement of Glass Dispersion)
• Production of Transmission Hologram
• Production & Analysis of Polarized Light
• Dichroic Sheet Polarizers
• Fresnel Equations
• Fraunhofer Diffraction
• Fresnel Diffraction
• Spectrum Analyzer: Laser Longitudinal Modes
• Diode Lasers: Emission Characteristics

Course instructor webpage:   Dr. John Varriano