The course of Modern Experimental Techniques is composed of four component mini-courses: (1) Vacuum Technology taught by Profs. Ker-Jar Song and Jim Jr-Min Lin, (2) Optics, Lasers, and Optical Signal Detection taught by Prof. Juen-Kai Wang, (3) Laboratory Electronics taught by Prof. Jyhpyng Wang, and (4) Charged-Particle Optics taught by Prof. Yuh-Lin Wang. An introduction of each component mini-course is listed below:

Part 1 (Week 1-Week 4)
Lecturer: Prof. Jim Lin (林志民教授)

Part 2 (Week 5)
Lecturer: Prof. Ker-Jar Song (宋克嘉教授)

Outline:

(1) Vacuum Technology (8-hour lectures and 4-hour laboratory instruction)

List of subjects:
Part I: mean free path, gas flow, adsorption and desorption
Part II: pressure measurements, pumps, chambers and parts, outgas

Introduction:

Do and don't, stories and lessons learned from years of ultra-high vacuum practice.
Experimenting with a real vacuum system for one week after obtaining a learning license. Students will start from venting the system, replacing components, pumping it down, leak/dirt testing, baking, e-beam bombardment, and all kind of strategies to bring good vacuum the fastest way. A residual gas analyzer is available so that students get to know what happens in the chamber for each step of your operation. 3. Some experiments with charged-particle optics may also be performed on this chamber
Grading:

40% from written examination on general principles of vacuum technology, 25% from the grade one gets in the licensing examination, 35% from how good a vacuum one and one's successors can obtain.

Textbook:

Building Scientific Apparatus, 2nd edition or 3rd edition by Moore, Davis and Coplan
Operating manuals of components of the UHV system

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Part 3 (Week 6-Week 9)

Lecturer: Prof. Juen-Kai Wang (王俊凱教授)

Outline:

(2) Optics, Lasers, and Optical Signal Detection (8-hour lectures and 4-hour laboratory instruction)

List of subjects:

ABC of optical components: optics, opto-mechanics, vibration isolation and motion control
Know your laser system: basic principles, laser engineering, frequency conversion and laser safety
Detect optical radiation: intensity, wavelength, polarization and phase
Build an optical instrument: initial concept, computer drawing/simulation, revision and construction
Introduction:

This course is to provide basic knowledge to use optical and laser instruments in laser laboratories and eventually to have a basic training about how to construct an optical setup for a specific experiment.

Grading:

A construction plan for an optical setup: proposal (10%), computer drawing (30%), item list (20%), report (40%)

Textbook:

Fundamentals of Photonics, B. E. A. Saleh and M. C. Teich (John Wiley & Sons, New York 1991).
Laser Spectroscopy: Basic concepts and instrumentation, W. Demtroder (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1996)

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Part 4 (Week 10-Week 13)

Lecturer: Prof. Jyhpyng Wang (汪治平教授)

Outline:

(3) Laboratory Electronics (8-hour lectures and 4-hour laboratory instruction)


List of subjects:
Part 1: circuit construction: circuit elements and diagrams, construction and diagnosis tools, soldering and assembling, shielding and grounding, circuit protection
Part 2: basic electronics: diodes and transistors, impedance and passive filters, amplifiers, active filters and oscillators, negative-feedback control, digital circuits, digital/analog interface

Introduction:

In a modern laboratory, data are transmitted by electronic signals. Machines are also controlled by electronic signals. Therefore it is extremely important for students to know what is going on behind the switches, knobs, cables, detectors, etc. In this course we will teach students the basics of real-world electronics. In part 1, we begin with an extensive introduction to common electronic components and tools, and then we teach some important techniques of circuit construction. In part 2, we shall discuss common building blocks of electronic circuits. Starting from the most basic diodes and transistors, we show the construction of filters, amplifiers, and oscillators. Then we move to feedback control, and finally to digital circuits and digital/analog interface. These building blocks are so often used in laboratory electronics that by knowing them well, students can build up the confidence in handling laboratory electronics.

Grading:

Constructing a working electronic device, such as an electronic clock, a stepping motor system, a function generator, a regulated power supply, etc. (50%)
Written examination. (50%)
Textbook: The art of electronics, 2nd ed. Horowitz and Hill, Cambridge Univ. Press.


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Part 5 (Week 14-Week 15)

Lecturer: Prof. Yuh-Lin Wang (王玉麟教授)

Outline:

(4) Charged-Particle Optics (8-hour lectures and 4-hour laboratory instruction)

List of subjects:

Solving the Laplace equation for a rotationally symmetric electrostatic and magnetic fields
Trajectory of charged particles in static electric and magnetic fields
Gaussian imaging by charged particle
Electrostatic lenses, scanning electron microscope and focused ion beam
Introduction:

Basic principles of image formation using electron or ion beam and a brief introduction to electron and ion microscopy

Grading: Homework assignment

Textbook: Aberration Theory in Electron and Ion Optics (Ximen Jiye, Academic Press, 1986).