Scientific Apparatus:

A Course in the Design and Construction

of the Tools of Physical Science

Topics to be covered

(with some selection depending upon students' interests):

Principles of Good Design
Basic Machine Shop Tools
Characteristics of Materials
Joining Materials
Vacuum and High Pressure Systems
Low Temperature Systems, Refrigerators
Optical Design Theory, Components, Spectrometers
Overview of Modern Telescope Design
Lasers and Fiber Optics
PhotoDetectors, Photomultipliers and CCDs
Particle Detectors
Particle Beams and Overview of Accelerators
Introduction to CAD
Computer Interfacing, Virtual Instruments
Introduction to Computer Simulation

Text: Building Scientific Apparatus by Moore, Davis, Coplan, and Greer, Westwood Press, 3rd Ed'n (2002) , plus other materials distributed in class. Be sure to get he 3rd edition of the book as there is more and updated material material from the earlier editions

The course is being taught for the 4th time and is evolving to meet student needs. We will meet for 3 hours per week, Tues and Thurs afternoons 1:30-3:00 in the 4^th floor conference room in Watanabe Hall (417A). The course will start on 17 January 2006 (second week). This course is open to physics, astronomy and other science students (we have had students from chemistry, oceanography and meteorology as well), and is aimed at providing a general background in the instrumentation needed for modern scientific research. Course registration is limited so please contact the instructor.

Professor John Learned; 327 Watanabe Hall; phone: 956-2964; email: jgl@phys.hawaii.edu
last updated 20 December 2005