Exploring Quantum Physics through Hands-on Projects

PROLOGUE

YOUR QUANTUM PHYSICS LAB

This book assumes that you have some experience in electronic prototype construction. The circuits actually work, and the schematics are completely readable. It will be easy for you to understand them if you know some circuit design. However, the tested, modular circuits, components, and software are easy to use to build practical instrumentation, even if you view them as “black boxes,” and do not explore their theoretical basis.

Of course, there are some basic electronic instruments that you will need in order to build, test, and use the equipment that we describe in this book. At the very least, you should equip your lab with the following:

• Soldering pen, pen rest with wet sponge, solder wire, and solder wick. Preferably, you should use a 70-W soldering station in which you can adjust the temperature between 220–480°C.
• Assorted tools, including a sharp diagonal wire cutter, wire stripper, various screwdrivers, hobby knife, needle-nose pliers, etc.
• Two handheld, autoranging, 4 ¹/₂-digit, digital multimeters (DMMs). We suggest that you purchase two identical units. Tektronix and Fluke multimeters are recommended, but any of their 4 ¹/₂-digit look-alikes (sold for around $35) are okay.
• High-voltage probe (>40 kV) compatible with your multimeter.
• Dual-channel, 60-MHz oscilloscope with FFT module. We recommend a second-hand Tektronix TDS210 with FFT module. However, there are many look-alikes that will work equally well. As a lower-cost alternative, ...