Introduction of Computer-Aided Data Acquisition and Analysis in Advanced Undergraduate Physics Instructional Laboratories

计算机已经彻底改变了物理学的实验方法，但物理专业的学生还没有设备来使用计算机进行数据采集和分析。哈维马德的物理系将把计算机系统整合到三个实验室实验中。第一个实验是傅里叶变换光谱；它需要使用快速傅里叶变换算法进行大量的计算。二是光子统计实验，需要采集和分析大量的数据。第三种是原子光谱实验，依靠计算机辅助数据采集来消除系统漂移，同时提高信噪比。这三个实验都关键地依赖于对计算机的明智使用。为了装备这些实验，将对三台DEC LSI-11/2微型计算机进行升级，增加用于数据采集和通信的硬件和软件，以便接入哈维马德学院VAX计算机中央网络。此外，该部门将采购步进电机，完成傅里叶变换光谱仪和光子计数配件。新设备将用于初级光学实验室、高级先进实验室和学生个人研究项目。

Computers have revolutionized experimental methods in physics, yet physics students have not had the equipment to use computers for data acquisition and analysis. The Physics Department at Harvey Mudd will integrate computer systems into three laboratory experiments. The first experiment is in Fourier transform spectroscopy; it requires extensive computation using the fast Fourier transform algorithm. The second is a photon statistics experiment, which requires the acquisition and analysis of large quantities of data. The third is an atomic spectroscopy experiment which relies upon computer-aided data acquisition to eliminate systematic drifts while increasing the signal- to-noise ratio. All three experiments depend critically on the judicious use of computers. In order to equip these experiments, three DEC LSI-11/2 microcomputers will be ungraded by the addition of hardware and software for data acquisition and for communications to provide access to the Harvey Mudd College central network of VAX computers. In addition, the department will purchase a stepping motor to complete a Fourier transform spectrometer and photon counting accessories. The new equipment will be used in a junior-level optics laboratory, a senior- level advanced laboratory, and in individual student research projects.