Interferometry and Laser Spectroscopy in Undergraduate Physics

马卡莱斯特学院通过激光光谱学的高级实验课程和师生合作研究，将干涉测量学引入本科物理课程。这是通过使用三种不同的干涉仪来完成的：迈克尔逊干涉仪，高精密度球面干涉仪和大孔径平面平行法布里-珀罗干涉仪。所有这些仪器都用来说明激光光谱学课程中介绍的自由光谱范围、精细度和仪器轮廓的概念。迈克尔逊干涉仪被用来研究光学傅立叶变换光谱，作为在现代科学中如此广泛的变换技术的力量和局限性的一个例子。利用球面干涉仪研究了He-Ne、染料和二极管等不同激光系统的腔模式。利用平面平行干涉仪作为高分辨率光谱仪，对激光光源、原子蒸汽光源和固体光源进行了研究。后两种仪器说明了光带宽的层次结构，从气体的非均匀多普勒分布到单模激光的增益限制带宽。两台通用计算机控制和分析来自新仪器的数据。图形编程语言使学生能够快速有效地对这些计算机进行编程。当激光光谱学课程不上课时，这些仪器支持教师/学生在固态光谱学、光纤和天文学方面的研究。该学院将以等额的资金配合该奖项

Macalester College is introducing interferometry into the undergraduate physics program through an advanced laboratory course on laser spectroscopy and faculty/student collaborative research. This is accomplished through the use of three different interferometers: a Michelson interferometer, a high finesse spherical interferometer, and a large aperture plane-parallel Fabry-Perot interferometer. All of these instruments are used to illustrate the concepts of free spectral range, finesse, and instrument profile introduced in the Laser Spectroscopy course. The Michelson interferometer is used to investigate optical Fourier transform spectroscopy as an example of the power and limitations of the transform techniques that have become so widespread in modern science. The spherical interferometer is used to study the cavity modes of different laser systems, such as He-Ne, dye, and diode lasers. The plane-parallel interferometer is used as a high resolution spectrometer to study laser, atomic vapor, and solid state light sources. The latter two instruments illustrate the hierarchy of optical bandwidths, from the inhomogeneous Doppler profile of a gas to the gain limited bandwidth of a single mode laser. Two general purpose computers control and analyze the data from the new instruments. A graphic programming language allows students to program these computers quickly and efficiently. The instruments support faculty/student research in solid state spectroscopy, fiber optics, and astronomy when the Laser Spectroscopy course is not in session. The College is matching the award with an equal amount of funds.4