- Optics and Blackbody Radiation
- Three experiments will be performed. (1) blackbody radiation from a tungsten (W) filament. (2) optical absorbance and (3) photoluminescence of a molecular liquid (dye molecules).
- Compton Scattering and Gamma Ray Absorption
- In 1923 Compton discovered that when a beam of x-rays of well-defined wavelength is scattered through an angle by sending the radiation through a metallic foil, the scattered radiation contains a component of a well-defined wavelength which is longer than the original wavelength. This phenomenon is called the Compton effect.
- Atomic Force Microscopy
- Observe atomic and near atomic resolution images of surfaces. Create your own nanoparticle samples to measure.
- Mössbauer Effect
- Measuring changes in the nuclear spectrum of 57Fe in different materials to determine the local magnetic and electronic environment. See G. Wertheim, Mössbauer Effect: Principles and Applications (Academic Press, New York, 1964) or D. P. E. Dickson & R. J. Berry, Mössbauer Spectroscopy (Cambridge U. Press, New York, 1986).
- Raman Effect
- measure excitation spectra of molecules by using inelastic light scattering. See S. Walker & H. Straw, Spectroscopy, vol. 2 (Chapman & Hall, London, 1962) or P. J. Hendra & T.R. Gilson, Laser Raman Spectroscopy (Wiley, London, 1970).
- Muon Speed and Lifetime
- measure speed of cosmic-ray muons and infer relativistic effects; measure the lifetime of muons decaying at rest.
- Hall Effect in Semiconductors
- determine the properties of charge carriers and the band gap in semiconductors. See Preston & Dietz, Chapter 17.
- Saturated Absorption Spectroscopy
- This experiment used a tunable diode laser to measure the frequency shifts of hyperfine excited states in the Rubidium atom, as well as other properties of Rubidium.
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) is a phenomenon which involves the magnetic moment of nuclei processing about a static magnetic field. If this nuclear spin system is exposed to a second oscillating magnetic field at the processing frequency, we can observe a resonance in the coupling. In this experiment, we use RF pulse sequences to probe NMR. We can prepare spins in a certain orientation and watch them relax to random orientation. NMR is a fundamental example of a resonance phenomenon and is also a technologically important tool, such as in medicine NMR imaging of diseased tissue.
Josephson Junction and Superconductivity (Beta)
Explore magnetic levitation and the loss of sample resistance as temperature is lowered, the effects of magnetic field and measurement current near superconducting transition, and the quantum tunneling of Cooper pairs between two superconductors.
Loosely related to the 1997 Nobel Prize in physics, the optical tweezers use a focused laser to create a potential well which can trap micron sized objects. This potential well then acts as a source for a controlled spring force with which to probe biological materials. This experiment is in its initial testing mode. The linked manual is current but often revised.
Extra “Long Experiments” for 457
Mosley’s Law This experiment explores the relationship between x-ray absorption, fluorescence and atomic number.