Physics Experiments Using PCs

I Mechanics.- 1. Fourier Analysis of Some Simple Periodic Signals.- 1.1 Apparatus.- 1.2 Programs.- 1.3 Experiments.- 1.3.1 Simple Harmonic Wave.- 1.3.2 Beats.- 1.3.3 Amplitude Modulation.- 1.3.4 Rectangles.- 1.4 Didactic and Pedagogical Aspects.- References.- Appendix 1.A.- 2. Point Mechanics by Experiments — Direct Access to Motion Data.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 ORVICO.- 2.2.1 Principle.- 2.2.2 Hardware.- 2.2.3 Software.- 2.3 Examples.- 2.3.1 Ballistic Motion.- 2.3.2 The Rigid Pendulum.- 2.3.3 Frame of Reference.- 2.3.4 Statistical Motion on an Air Table.- 2.3.5 Spheric Pendulum.- 2.3.6 Two Point Masses Observed.- 2.4 Conclusion.- References.- II Thermodynamics.- 3. Application of PID Control to a Thermal Evaporation Source.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 The System to be Controlled: An Inert-Gas-Aggregation Source.- 3.2.1 Background.- 3.2.2 The Inert-Gas-Aggregation Technique.- 3.2.3 A Description of a Real Inert-Gas-Aggregation Source.- 3.3 Description of the PID Control Algorithm.- 3.3.1 The PID Control Algorithm.- 3.4 Implementing the PID Algorithm on a Computer.- 3.4.1 Program Structure and the Use of Interrupts.- 3.5 Adjusting the PID.- 3.5.1 The Ziegler-Nichols’ Methods.- 3.6 Possibilities Offered by the Léman Source.- 3.7 Conclusions.- Acknowledgements.- References.- 4. Computer Control of the Measurement of Thermal Conductivity.- 4.1 Thermal Conductivity.- 4.1.1 Measurement of Thermal Conductivity with Parallel Heat Flow.- 4.1.2 Measurement of Thermal Conductivity with Non-Parallel Heat Flow.- 4.2 Experimental Considerations.- 4.2.1 The Thermocouple as a Temperature Measuring Device.- 4.2.2. The AD595 Thermocouple Amplifier Integrated Circuit.- 4.2.3 Thermocouple Accuracy.- 4.2.4 Calibration of the Thermocouples.- 4.2.5 Thermocouple Selection Multiplexing Circuit.- 4.2.6 Multiplexor Control.- 4.2.7 The IEEE-488 Bus Interface Unit.- 4.2.8 The Control and Measurement Software.- 4.2.9 Discussion of the Experiment.- 4.3 The Computer Simulation.- References.- Appendix 4.A.- Appendix 4.B.- III Solid State Physics.- 5. Experiments with High-Tc Superconductivity.- 5.1 Experimental Setup.- 5.1.1 The Apparatus.- 5.1.2 Electronics.- 5.1.3 Computer, Interface and Software.- 5.2 Measurements.- 5.2.1 Resistance Measurement.- 5.2.2 Tunnel Diode Oscillator Measurement.- 5.3 Results.- 5.3.1 Detailed Analysis of the Resistance and TDO Measurements.- 5.3.2 Thermodynamic and Calorimentric Results.- 5.3.3 Experience Within the Laboratory Course.- References.- Appendix 5.A: Electric Circuit Diagrams.- Appendix 5.B: Spline Fit Program SPLFIT.- 6. Computer Control of Low Temperature Specific Heat Measurement.- 6.1 Basic Physics.- 6.1.1 Specific Heat.- 6.1.2 Low Temperature Specific Heat.- 6.1.3 The Debye Model for the Specific Heat.- 6.1.4 Specific Heat Anomalies.- 6.2 Experimental Setup.- 6.2.1 Specimen.- 6.2.2 Apparatus.- 6.2.3 Electronics.- 6.2.4 Microcomputer Control.- 6.3 Measurements and Results.- 6.3.1 Measurement Principles.- 6.3.2 Using the Computer Program.- 6.3.3 Typical Results.- 6.4 Discussion.- References.- Appendix 6.A: Circuit Diagrams.- Appendix 6.B: Program Listing.- 7. Computer-Controlled Observations of Surface Plasmon-Polaritons.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 A Computer-Controlled ATR Experiment.- 7.2.1 Prism Geometry.- 7.2.2 Computer Control of ATR Measurements.- 7.3 Comments on the Mechanics Design and the Computer Interface.- 7.4 Conclusion.- References.- IV Optics and Atomic Physics.- 8. Molecular Spectroscopy of I2.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 Some Basic Physics of the Diatomic Molecule.- 8.3 Experimental Setup.- 8.3.1 The Classical Arrangement.- 8.3.2 Extensions: Online Use of a Computer.- 8.4 Measurements.- 8.4.1 Calibration of the System.- 8.4.2 Recording the Absorption Spectra.- 8.4.3 Recording the Fluorescence Spectra.- 8.4.4 Some Additional Features of the Program LAmDA.- 8.5 Analysis of the Spectra Using the Program JOD.- 8.5.1 Analysis of Absorption Spectra.- 8.5.2 Some Optional Exercises.- 8.6 Pedagogical Aspects.- References.- 9. Optical Transfer Functions.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 Mathematical Tools.- 9.2.1 Fourier Transforms.- 9.2.2 Theory of Transfer Functions.- 9.2.3 Imaging with Space Invariant Systems.- 9.2.4 Coherent Optics.- 9.2.5 Incoherent Optics.- 9.2.6 Exercises and Questions.- 9.3 Experimental Set Up.- 9.3.1 Preliminary Considerations.- 9.3.2 The Optics.- 9.3.3 The Test Object.- 9.3.4 The Electronics.- 9.3.5 The Adjustment.- 9.3.6 The Software for Experimentation and Evaluation.- 9.4 Evaluation.- 9.4.1 The Tasks.- 9.4.2 The General Procedure of Evaluation.- 9.4.3 Influence of the Detector Slit.- 9.4.4 Pure Defect of Focus.- 9.4.5 Diffraction and Defect of Focus.- 9.4.6 Quasi-Coherent Illumination.- 9.5 Didactic and Pedagogical Aspects.- 9.5.1 Goals.- 9.5.2 Interpretation of Data.- 9.5.3 Presentation of Data.- 9.5.4 Complications and Limitations of the Model.- 9.5.5 Applications of Fourier Optics.- Appendix 9.A: Diffraction by a Sector Star.- References.- V Nuclear Physics.- 10. Nuclear Spectrometry Using a PC Converted to a Multichannel Analyser.- 10.1 Introduction.- 10.1.1 Hardware Concept.- 10.1.2 Target Group.- 10.1.3 MCA Design Alternatives.- 10.2 Basic Physics.- 10.2.1 Interaction of Electromagnetic Radiation with Matter.- 10.2.2 Absorption of Electromagnetic Radiation in Matter.- 10.2.3 Interaction of Particle Radiation with Matter.- 10.2.4 Bremsstrahlung.- 10.2.5 X-Ray Fluorescence.- 10.3 Detectors and Measuring Equipment.- 10.3.1 Scintillation Detectors for ? and ? Spectrometry.- 10.3.2 Signal Recording Equipment; the Multichannel Analyser.- 10.3.3 Energy Resolution of a Detector.- 10.3.4 Radiation Detection Efficiency.- 10.4 Experimental Setup.- 10.4.1 Hardware Setup.- 10.4.2 General Structure of the MCA Program; Program Kernel.- 10.4.3 MCA Program Menues.- 10.5 Experiments.- 10.5.1 General Considerations.- 10.5.2 ?-Ray Absorption; Radiation Intensity Buildup by Compton Interaction.- 10.5.3 ? Spectrum; Energy Loss of Electrons in Matter.- 10.6 Student Reactions.- References.- 11. Parity Violation in the Weak Interaction.- 11.1 Introduction.- 11.2 Basic Physics.- 11.3 Experimental Setup.- 11.3.1 Electronics.- 11.3.2 Software.- 11.4 Measurements and Results.- 11.4.1 General Remarks.- 11.4.2 Energy Calibration.- 11.4.3 Background Measurement.- 11.4.4 Measurement of the ? Polarization.- 11.4.5 Results and Discussion.- 11.5 Didactic and Pedagogical Aspects.- References.- 12. Receiving and Interpreting Orbital Satellite Data. A Computer Experiment for Educational Purposes.- 12.1 Introduction.- 12.2 The UoSAT Satellites.- 12.3 The Receiving System.- 12.4 Discriminating Valid Data from Noise and Interference.- 12.5 The Real Time Data Acquisition System.- 12.6 Whole Orbit Data Analysis.- 12.7 Practical Experience and Further Aspects.- Acknowledgements (from the third author).- References.