Western Washington University will acquire instrumentation which will provide students in our Optics Concentration with hands-on exposure to modern methods of laser spectroscopy, optical detection, signal processing, and computer-based data acquisition. The Physics Department will purchase a PRA LN120C2 Combination Nitrogen/Dye Laser System, a Stanford Research Systems Model SR400 Gated Photon Counter, and an IBM PC/XT Compatible Computer. These instruments form a versatile combination which will enable the students to perform a wide variety of laser spectroscopy experiments in absorption, fluorescence, Raman, opto-acoustic, opto-galvanic, and photothermal deflection spectroscopy. In addition, the nitrogen/dye laser system will serve as a teaching tool for the study of these important laser types. This project is significant because it brings to the undergraduate laboratory, devices and techniques which are routinely used in graduate, government, and industrial research laboratories. It will enable students to understand and utilize laser spectroscopic techniques for the analysis of matter at an earlier stage of their careers. Finally, it will serve other institutions through the publication of student lab experiments which will be developed. Western Washington University will match the NSF grant with an equal amount of funds.
