Laser-Based Experiments For An Improved Upper-Division Physics Laboratory

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This project is upgrading an existing one-semester Modern Physics Laboratory into a two-semester Junior Physics Laboratory through the development of new experiments in laser spectroscopy and modern optics.Physics majors at Trinity receive an excellent introduction to experimental physics. We have established a first-rate lower-division laboratory sequence, including an exceptional program on the use of computers in physics. However, we are convinced that students at Trinity and many of its peer institutions do not obtain sufficient experience with the advanced experimental techniques employed in today's research laboratories. We are therefore introducing revisions in our curriculum, including a required Senior Thesis research project, to bring students much closer to the research capabilities of contemporary physics. By placing a very high priority on modern experimental techniques, we intend to attract a much larger number of talented majors interested in careers in advanced physics research, and to prepare these majors for study in highly competitive graduate programs.The laboratory improvements defined in this proposal is providing the capstone of our new emphasis on contemporary experimental methods. We are taking advantage of the wide range of advanced experimental topics that can be investigated using moderate-cost lasers, and the high level of student interest in laser-based experiments. A nitrogen-pumped dye- laser system, a Fabry-Perot spectrometer, and Macintosh computer systems are the major apparatus that have been purchased for the experiments. These equipment items are quite versatile; most are being used in more than one investigation. The laser-based experiments proposed here can thus serve as models for the next generation of upper-division physics laboratories.