PHY315A - Modern Physics Laboratory

Modern experimental techniques with a view to demonstrate the basic concepts in physics through experiments. this course has three components: a) one lecture per week: observation, measurements, quantification and accuracies in physics, error analysis. experiments that changed classical physics: blackbody radiation, the discovery of electron, quantization of charge, e/m ratios, Millikans oil drop experiment, Stern Gerlach experiment, Rutherford scattering, Davisson Germer experiment, discovering atomic nature through optical spectroscopy; production and measurement of high pressure and high vacuum, low and high temperatures; fem to seconds to light years. b) Laboratory work (twice a week): A current list of experiments is available with the Department. c) Small project/open ended experiments: These experiments will be chosen by students after brief library search in consultation with the associated faculty. These may be carried out in research labs and using central facilities.