OPTI 474/574
07/06
OPTI 474/574 Atomic Physics for Experimentalists (3) II. (Identical
with Phys.474/574.) Experimental techniques to generate, analyze and detect
photons from X-ray to IR; interpretation of spectra from gases, liquids,
solids and biological macromolecules; light scattering, polarization.
Course Outline (75-minute lectures):
This course is for the experimentalist and the theorist. Like OPTI
473/573, it deals with the experimental techniques needed to check results predicted
by Atomic Theory. It will cover both new topics and some selected topics
from 473/573 in more detail. Topics will be selected from the following list.
Topics 1, 2 and 3 will comprise the first part of the course.
1. Interferometry - Fabry Perot and Michelson Interferometers,
Fourier Spectroscopy, high resolution spectroscopy, the shift and shape of
spectral lines, convolutions.
2. Atomic Spectra - X-rays, complex spectra, many electron
spectra, molecular spectra autoionization and Auger electron spectroscopy,
molecular orbit theory and X-ray lasers.
3. Applications - Energy levels, mean lives, transition
probabilities, line intensities, particle densities, plasma diagnostics, temperature
measurements, electric and magnetic field measurements.
4. Spectroscopic Techniques - Beam foil, phase shift, Hanle
effect, level crossing, relative and absolute intensity calibrations.
5. Spectroscopic Sources - Beam-foil, hollow cathode, pulsed
electron, q - pinch, sliding spark, laser induced plasma, high frequency
discharge.
6. Instruments – Photographic films and plates,
photomultipliers, photodiodes, CCD’s and other detectors, gratings (ruled and
holographic), optical multichannel analyzers, solid state detectors,
optical interfacing – lenses, mirrors, optical fibers, computer
interfacing – detector to NIST-NBS standards.
7. Spectra of Liquids, Solids and Particulates – Polarized
light scattering technique, Mueller matrices and Stokes vectors, particle size and
optical constants, radiation transfer, absorpiton, spectra of biological
systems.
8. Particle Spectroscopy – Mass, charge, velocity, momentum and
energy analysis, biological cell sorting.
Knowledge of the fundamental topics covered in this course is
necessary for anyone working in astronomy, chemistry, biology,
electrical engineering, optical sciences, atmospheric sciences or
physics. Throughout the course we decide what instrument and technique
is best to make a particular measurement and how to optimize data-taking
procedures. Students can suggest what topics they would like covered.
Outside lecturers who are experts in a particular area will present
several lectures. The grade for the course will be decided from an 80
problem homework set, one short paper and a final oral exam.
Grading Criteria:
- In order to receive the grade of A in the course, the following
must be done:
- satisfactorily complete an 85 problem homework set,
- write a three-page paper on a topic of the student’s choice
related to the course,
- pass an oral exam covering the homework problem set.
There will be no quizzes, in-class exams or final exam.
The problems will be due in three parts and handed in on time.
Part 1 – Problems 1-30 due on the class date before October 15,
Part 2 – Problems 31-60 due on the class date before November
30
and lab manual questions
Part 3 – Problems 61-85 due two class periods before the last
day of class.
Each problem will receive one of the following grades:
Satisfactory 10 no points off
Should have done better 5 5 points off
Unsatisfactory 0 10 points off
The instructor will grade the problem sets and return them to the
students so that they can correct the mistakes and ultimately do
satisfactory work on all of them. By the official date of the final
exam, all corrected problems should be returned to the instructor
for final grading.
The 85 problem homework set is worth 90% of the grade, and the
paper and oral exam are worth 10%. Loss of 10 point will be a grade
of B, etc. No incompletes are given unless negotiated in advance.
The first homework set will be returned for corrections, the
second and third set might not. All problems are due by 5:00 p.m. of
the last day of classes. They can be put in the instructor’s
mailbox. NOTHING is accepted after that date!
The paper is due on the second to the last week of classes.
- All students are required to meet with the instructor before the
last three weeks of the semester to discuss the problems.
No Textbook required
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