Alma College will purchase new equipment to upgrade its optics laboratory and enhance the teaching of optics. The new equipment will be used to (1) provide laboratory experience and undergraduate research opportunities for students enrolled in an upper level optics course, (2) enhance optics teaching in other courses, and (3) support the College's science teacher training and recruitment program. The equipment includes an optical table with vibration-isolating legs, an optical bench, a He-Ne laser, 3 spatial filters, 3 precision mirrors, a laser spectrometer, and a laser power meter. These items, along with equipment already on hand or to be purchased by the College, will equip the laboratory for experiments in electro optics, coherent imaging, spatial filtering, Fourier optics, and holography. Specific experiments in an upper level optics course will illustrate the concepts of coherent optics while preparing the students to work independently in undergraduate optics research. The newly equipped laboratory will also serve students studying optics in introductory physics, physical science, and astronomy courses, and it will support cooperative summer research experiences for secondary science teachers and selected high school students. The college will match the award with an equal amount of funds.
