Course Overview

This is a physics course whose purpose is to provide an introduction to experimental techniques commonly used in a research laboratory and in physical science. Special emphasis is given to the data analysis techniques based on modern statistical methods. The methodologies are presented mainly from a practical point of view, however it is left to the student to study more thoroughly the theoretical aspects, which are explained in more detail in the notes available below. The structure of the course will evolve as new experiments are developed.

Prerequisites: Ph1a.
Structure: 6 units. One three-hour laboratory session per week, an individual conference with the instructor, pre-laboratory preparation, and analysis of experimental results outside the laboratory period.
Terms: First, second, and third. First term reserved for students repeating course, transfer students and upper-class Physics Majors.
Grading: Freshmen/sophomores/juniors graded pass/fail; senior students receive letter grades. Only one term may be taken for credit.

General information about the course

Section Information

Current term (last update 4/30/08 )

Previous terms

Laboratory Course Notes

The complete set of notes of the current experiments and the data analysis notes can be downloaded from the link below or purchased at the Caltech Graphic Art facilities.
Laboratory notes for the new proposed or under development experiments are available only from this web page.

Basics on Data Analysis

Vademecum for Data Analysis Beginners
Primer on Data Analysis (copyright D. Skelton) Old Notes.

Experiments Notes

Current Experiments Notes

Mechanics

Maxwell Top
Mechanical Oscillator
Inverted Pendulum
Inverted Pendulum supplemental notes

Calorimetry

Thermometer Time Constant Measurement
Calorimeter Calibration
Heat Capacity Measurement

Optics

Fraunhofer Diffraction
Michelson Interferometer
Fabry Perot Interferometer

Electronics

DC Circuits measurements
AC Circuits Measurements
Basics on Semiconductors Physiscs (draft)

Instrumentation

The Analog Oscilloscope (draft)
Basics on Digital Instruments
The International System of Units(Bureau International des Poids et Mesures)

Local Computer Network, Sotware Tools and Tables

Maxwell Top Data Acquisition Programs

Freshman Lab computer network information

Linear fit example using matlab

Exponential fit example using matlab

CurveFit (User Friendly Data Manipulation and Function Fitting Program.)

Fundamental Physical Constants (NIST)

Fundamental Physical Constants Table (from NIST)

Contact Information

Jonas Zmuidzinas
324 Downs M/C 320-47
extension 6229
e-mail: jonas@caltech.edu

Virginio de Oliveira Sannibale
LIGO Project, M/C 18-34, 364 W. Bridge,
Office 6358
e-mail: sannibale_v@ligo.caltech.edu

Freshman Laboratory: 308 East Bridge,M/C 103-33, extension 8067