Undergraduate Experiments in Electron Diffraction

物理与天文系在其现代物理课程中增加了实验部分，并将一些实验从实验物理实验室课程移至现代物理课程。高年级物理专业还增加了一个顶点研究项目。作为这些课程修改的一部分，该系正在增加高能电子衍射（RHEED）设备，供本科生在各种各样的实验中使用。实验适应和借鉴本科实验室的衍射和研究技术，使用RHEED对材料进行测量。使用电子衍射设备的学生自己演示了电子的波状行为，并获得了使用粒子作为物质结构探针的宝贵实践经验。其他更高级的主题包括衍射和互反空间的概念，表面对称和秩序，以及非晶固体和结晶固体之间的结构差异。衍射设备补充了该部门已经拥有的双扫描探针显微镜的实际空间成像能力。电子衍射和扫描探针显微实验是一个强有力的结合，使学生能够更深入地了解重要的基本物理概念，如衍射、隧道和物质的波状性质。在这个项目下开发的实验室手册和辅助材料，除了在网站上发布外，还在AAPT的区域会议上共享。本科生的研究成果分别发表在适当的同行评议期刊上，并在科学会议上发表。

Physics (13) The Department of Physics & Astronomy has added a laboratory component to its Modern Physics course and moved some experiments from the Experimental Physics Laboratory course to theModern Physics course. A capstone research project has also been added for senior physics majors.As part of these course modifications, the department is adding high-energyelectron diffraction (RHEED) equipment to be used by undergraduate students in a wide variety ofexperiments. Experiments adapt and draw from undergraduate labs on diffraction and on research techniques using RHEED to make measurements on materials.Students who work with the electron diffraction equipment demonstrate for themselves the wave-like behavior of electrons and also gain valuable hands-onexperience using particles as a probe of the structure of matter. Other more advanced topics that are covered include the concepts of diffraction and reciprocal space, surface symmetry and order,and structural differences between amorphous and crystalline solids.The diffraction equipment complement the real space imaging capabilities of twoscanning probe microscopes already owned by the department. Together the electron diffractionand scanning probe microscopy experiments make a powerful combination that enable students to gain a deeper understanding of important fundamental physical ideas like diffraction,tunneling, and the wave-like nature of matter. Laboratory manuals and supporting materialsdeveloped under this project are shared at regional meetings of the AAPT in addition to beingposted on web sites. Results stemming from undergraduate research is publishedseparately in appropriate peer-reviewed journals and presented at scientific meetings.