Microcomputer-Controlled Automated Nuclear Counting for Advanced Physics Laboratory

这是一个将核计数技术引入典型研究型大学本科物理实验课程的创新项目。该项目的具体目标是指导物理专业学生如何使用核计数仪器及其与计算机控制的自动数据采集系统的结合。通过弗吉尼亚物理协会，我们地区大学的学生和正在重新认证的教师也参与了这个项目。此外，来自Old Dominion其他科学和工程部门的学生通过材料科学计划被整合到该项目中。核计数教学旨在发展和提高核物理以及凝聚态物质和材料物理的实验技能。用一种流行的核磁共振探针测量一些常见氧化铁的低温显微磁性，获得了核仪器的经验。引入该项目是为了培养目前在我们当地研究机构——杰斐逊国家实验室（原CEBAF）和美国宇航局兰格里找到工作的理工科学生。此外，由于许多即将毕业的大四学生正在进入我们正在扩大的核物理研究项目，我们认为这是对我们本科项目的重要改进。这个本科项目符合我们最近修订的本科课程的目标，让即将毕业的大四学生接触到接近研究的经历。该项目还将继续允许我们的高年级学生参与口头和海报展示，并可能发表他们的一些原始发现。该项目是使用廉价核计数技术研究凝聚态物质和材料物理的高级本科教学的一个新的榜样。＊

This is an innovative project which introduces nuclear counting techniques for the study of materials into a senior undergraduate physics laboratory course at a typical research university. The specific goal of the project is to instruct physics majors in the use of nuclear counting instruments and their use with computer controlled automated data acquisition system. Through the Virginia Physics Consortium, students from our regional universities and teachers undergoing re-certification, are also participating in the project. Additionally, students from Old Dominion's other science and engineering departments are being integrated into the project through the Materials Science Program. The nuclear counting instruction are aimed at developing and improving experimental skills in Nuclear Physics as well as Condensed Matter and Materials Physics. Experiences with the nuclear instrumentation are being obtained by using a popular nuclear resonance probe to measure low temperature microscopic magnetic properties of some common iron oxides. The project is being introduced in order to train science and engineering students who are now finding employment at our local research affiliations, The Jefferson National Laboratory (formerly CEBAF) and NASA Langely. In addition, since many of our graduating seniors are entering our expanding research program in Nuclear Physics, we see this need as an important improvement to our undergraduate program. This undergraduate project meets the goals of our recently revised undergraduate curriculum by exposing graduating seniors to a near research experience. The project will also continue to allow our senior students to be involved with oral and poster presentations and possibly publication of some of their original findings. The project is a novel role model for senior level undergraduate instruction using inexpensive nuclear counting techniques for investigations in Condensed Matter and Materials Physics. *