Areas of physics experimentation requiring high vacuum,including the whole field of particle physics, have beenrelatively unavailable for undergraduates. Yet, vacuum is used inmost scientific or technological fields including physics,optics, materials science, and semiconductors. The complexity andunreliability of older vacuum system designs has precludedstudent use. This project will design a vacuum system which isappropriate for use by neophyte students. Once high vacuum isavailable in the classroom, a wide variety of physics andtechnology demonstrations and experiments becomes newly availableto teacher and student. Through a hands-on approach and strongvisual feedback, the apparatus will make charged particlephenomena come alive for students. Experiments will be designedwhich can be assembled into both preconceived instructional andstudent-conceived experimental setups. These experiments willinclude electron beams, ion beams, particle accelerators, andmass spectrometers. In Phase I, a prototype of a simple andreliable overall vacuum apparatus will be made. Vacuumcomponents, which can be assembled into a limited number ofdifferent particle beam experiments (e.g., cathode ray tube,vacuum gauge, charge to mass ratio), will be designed,fabricated, and tested. An effort will also be made to exploreand evaluate the feasibility of many further experiments madepossible by this kind of apparatus, with an eye to the potentialfor development during Phase II. Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications as described by the awardee: This project will produce a stimulatingscientific experience to attract and teach young scientists. Thisequipment and associated teaching materials should be used inhigh school, technical preparatory school, and college physicslaboratories, as well as in continuing education and/or technicaltraining for technicians in research and development laboratoriesand industry, for both demonstration and hands-on experience withvacuum and a wide range of particle beam technologies.
