The main goal of this advanced laboratory course is to develop skills in experimental physics. We perform experiments which are more sophisticated and more open-ended than those encountered in the introductory series. A second goal is to gain experience with phenomena which are controlled by quantum mechanics. In this way the course will develop your physical intuition about quantum mechanics. Principles of optics and wave phenomena, including the fundamental properties of light, geometrical optics, polarization, interference and diffraction, lasers and optical communication.
Laboratory includes basic optical experiments and an independent lab project.
Some recent independent projects have included holography, fiber-optics communications, microwave optics, and building a telescope. Three lectures, and one three-hour laboratory per week. Learn how to use computers in the laboratory to control experiments and collect data for analysis. One three-hour lab per week.