1. Introduction to PHYS3710 Physics, CUHK http://www.phy.cuhk.edu.hk/djwang/teachlab/index.html

2. Not enough independent experimental project learning opportunities for students in the old physics curriculum; Previous teaching lab courses (PHYS2711 and 2722) provides only basic skills but didn’t prepare our students for real scientific research and work. Background

3. Provide an opportunity for students to experience the whole process of scientific research. Skills to pick up: Independent learning, reading skill (to read some references at the beginning), time-management skill (keep track of the progress in taking data), honesty (honest to the data taken), data analysis, drawing conclusions from data, communication skills (scientific writing or/and oral reporting, discussions with instructors), Eventually, a systemic way of working on a new scientific problem. Purpose

4. 1-unit; compulsory for year-3 students; It is offered in 1st term, 2nd term and summer (Limited quota! For students who can’t finish Lab1 and 2 on time only); One short experimental project to finish independently, which illustrates modern physics and/or experimental technique; For each project, a student should plan to work in the lab for at least 5 days, but no more than 10 days Prerequisite: PHYS1712 and 2711; special permission of the instructor otherwise. Basic structure

5. Projects 12345678 Special rel.C60RadiometerRutherfordMuonCavityNMRHigh Tc YBCO Nuclear detectorCoupled Osc.SolitonHeat engineCu-Ni alloyDiodesCCDBrownian 1.Modern physics and nuclear physics: special relativity, Rutherford scattering, nuclear detector, muon lifetime 2.Solid state physics: C60, High Tc Superconductor YBCO, magnetic properties of Cu-Ni alloy 3.Optics and electronics: optical cavity, ccd, diodes, Brownian 4.Other: radiometer, NMR, water soliton, coupled osc., heat engine

6. Each project will be offered twice; One person per slot; 1.Make your choice before next Monday noon time and mark your name in room 216. 2.Finish the project, including documents reading, preparation, data taking and analyzing within 3 weeks starting from the designated date 3.Another two weeks for report writing. We offer a proof reading opportunity for your draft report if the report is submitted 3 days before the due date. Overall schedule

7. 1. Choose a project slot before next Monday noon time

8. 2. Document reading and reporting Read the relevant references and get familiar with the project: The physics phenomena, the whole procedure of the experiment, details on apparatus operation, material preparation… Discussion with TAs are encouraged. Within two days from the designated starting date, have a discussion with the professors (appointment in advance) to show your understanding and plan of the selected project. Start the experimental part with the Prof’s approval.

9. 3. Experiment Try to get things done with maximum independence: think hard enough before asking for help TAs, technician and professors are available, but you need to make appointments in advance Running experiment after 5:30 pm alone is not allowed: university rule. In special cases, you need to make arrangement with TAs in advance.

10. 4. Lab notebook It is one of the most important part of this course It should be in a detailed, organized, dairy style and reflect the real-time progress of the project It should included, but not limited to these: physics understanding of the project in your own words, overall procedure, experimental schematics, records of experimental parameters, plots of raw data, details of your analysis, results and conclusions All contents on the notebook should be permanent, including mistakes (marked by strikethrough lines) Handwriting should be legible (to you and to others) It should be submitted together with your report Ask Mr. Gary Lai for the notebook itself

11. One of the most important parts of scientific research: in many cases, data analysis takes more time than data taking! One common mistake: show lots of raw data without any analysis! Others: errors misrepresented, units missing 5. Data analysis

13. Journal format: Physics Review (A,B,C,D) Latex is suggested; Word is ok but harder to work with for journal papers. Organization: not fixed, just an example Title: Author and affiliation: Abstract: Main text in sections: 1.Introduction 2.Theory 3.Experiment 4.Results and discussions 5.Conclusion Acknowledgements 6. Lab report

14. Wrong format: harder to follow Physical Review format without using Latex Abstract: duplication of the first and last sentences of the main text! References: not in place Figures: without post-processing, without clear labels (with units) and marks Figures: too many. A series of measurements with only one changing variables should be compiled together to form one figure, if you want to show them. Figures: captions too simple. Everything shown should be explained clearly. 6. Lab report: common mistakes

15. ItemsMarks Physics understanding20 Language, format (overall organization, title, abstract, acknowledge, reference …) 10 Measurements: quantity and quality, lab performance20 Data analysis: error estimation, data fitting, draw conclusion…15 Raw data: log book and its content authenticity and originality10 Time management: finish experiments on time; draft report submission; on time submission of report; 10 Communication with TAs, professors, and technicians10 Clean up: restore reference documents, equipment to original status5 Total100 Hard to quantify exactly, but basically: Marking scheme

16. Lab safety issues Extremely hazardous radiation: Nuclear, x-ray Chemicals: some solvents Electromagnetic radiation: lasers, radio and microwave frequency Low temperature: LN2, He High temperature: furnace HV and UHV Vacuum Make sure you understand the standard operation procedure in dealing with these; If you feel uncertain about any thing of these: stop and ask for help

17. Thanks!