Development of Project-Based Advanced Optics Laboratory for Undergraduates

物理学行业对受过光学训练的科学家和工程师的持续需求表明，这一领域需要更多的教育机会。特别是，雇主希望光学专业的毕业生善于解决问题，善于沟通，并能在团队中成功地工作。这些品质很少在传统的实验室环境中被提及。该项目扩展了一门基于项目的高级光学实验室课程，作为奥尔布赖特学院新本科光学课程的实验部分的顶峰。本课程的学生以小组形式设计、实施和测试各种光学设备。这些项目包括一些资助或发表的示范性实验室实验。国家科学基金会资助的例子包括DUE-9952773“加强高级集成学生光学课程”；DUE-9650431“超快现象中高级物理实验室”；以及DUE-9452517“加强迈阿密大学现代光学实验室”。已发表的例子包括K.B.Macadam等人的《具有光栅反馈的窄带可调谐半导体激光系统和Cs和Rb的饱和吸收光谱仪》，AmJ.Phys.60,1098-1111(1992)；R.S.Conroy等人，“用于本科生实验室的可视扩展腔二极管激光器”，AmJ.Phys.68,925-930(2000)；C.Wieman等人，“用于本科生实验室的廉价激光冷却和俘获实验”，amJ.Phys.63,317-330(1995)；S.Smith等人，《用于本科生实验室的廉价光学镊子》，AmJ.Phys.67，26-35(1999)；以及E.Fort等人的《使用全息技术的多路指纹识别》，AmJ.Phys.67、116-119(1999)。选择这些项目和其他项目是为了反映当前的科学和商业光学技术，特别是在光纤、二极管和超快激光领域，并要求学生整合从以前的课程中获得的光学知识。该实验室旨在最大限度地提高灵活性和多功能性，以服务于基于项目的形式。这些设备包括光学支架和部件、激光器、脉冲整形技术、光谱设备、数据采集和光学设计软件、光电二极管、CCD相机以及一些非光学设备，如信号发生器、示波器和离子泵。该实验室的多功能性允许该设备用于其他光学和科学课程的实验和演示，以及现有的社区推广计划。通过咨询由当地光学公司的代表组成的委员会，课程结果与行业需求相匹配，该委员会提供建议和持续评估。

Physics (13) Continued demand by industry for optics-trained scientists and engineers suggests there is a need for expanded educational opportunities in this field. In particular, employers desire optics graduates who are good problem solvers, communicate well, and can work successfully within a team. These qualities are rarely addressed within the traditional laboratory setting. This project expands a project-based, advanced optics laboratory course to serve as a capstone for the experimental portion of the new undergraduate optics curriculum at Albright College. Students in this course work in teams to design, implement, and test various optical devices. The projects include a number of funded or published exemplary lab experiments. NSF funded examples include DUE-9952773, "Enhancement of an Advanced Integrated Student Optics Course"; DUE-9650431, "Intermediate and Advanced Physics Laboratories in Ultra-fast Phenomena"; and DUE-9452517, "Enhancement of the Modern Optics Laboratories at Miami University". Published examples include K.B. MacAdam, et al., "A narrow-band tunable diode laser system with grating feedback and a saturated absorption spectrometer for Cs and Rb", Am. J. Phys. 60, 1098-1111 (1992); R.S. Conroy, et al., "A visible extended cavity diode laser for the undergraduate laboratory", Am. J. Phys. 68, 925-930 (2000); C. Wieman, et al., "Inexpensive laser cooling and trapping experiment for undergraduate laboratories", Am. J. Phys. 63, 317-330 (1995); S. Smith et al., "Inexpensive optical tweezers for undergraduate laboratories", Am. J. Phys. 67, 26-35 (1999); and E. Fort, et al., "Multiplexed fingerprint recognition using holography", Am. J. Phys. 67, 116-119 (1999). These and other projects are chosen to reflect current scientific and commercial optical technology, especially in the areas of fiber optics, diode and ultra-fast lasers, and require students to integrate their knowledge of optics gained from previous coursework. The laboratory is designed for maximum flexibility and versatility to serve the project-based format. The equipment includes optical mounts and components, lasers, pulse-shaping technology, spectroscopic equipment, software for data acquisition and optical design, photodiodes, CCD cameras, and some non-optical equipment such as signal generators, oscilloscopes, and an ion pump. The lab's versatility allows the equipment to be used for experiments and demonstrations in other optics and science courses and in already existing community outreach programs. The course outcomes are matched to the needs of industry by consulting a committee of representatives from local optics companies, who provide advice and ongoing assessment.