Making and analysing measurements is the primary task of the experimental physicist. This includes designing experiments. Most experimental work, whether in bench-top situations, or using complex instruments, e.g. at accelerators, telescopes, semiconductor processing laboratories or in space, involves a great deal of work to calibrate, correct and understand the behaviour of the instruments themselves. To many physicists this can be as interesting and involving as the basic physics one is trying to do.

Modern experiments of most kinds frequently use electronic instruments, often highly sophisticated. To exploit these instruments, it is essential to understand how the measurements are made, which, in most cases, rely on basic principles and components whose behaviour in a system may seem complex but can often be reduced to simpler concepts.

The use of instruments is of course not confined to physicists and this kind of experience is valuable in many situations which many students will encounter after graduation. A good physicist will bring a critical mind aiming to understand not only the result of an investigation but the primary reasons for the behaviour of the data.

Understanding

The primary aim of the Instrumentation core course is to understand  the physical principles of electronic based measurements.  There is a strong emphasis on electronics, from fundamentals of analogue and digital circuits to complex components and systems constructed from them. It will also be essential to appreciate how a range of typical sensors operate. It will include areas such as impedance matching, data transmission and frequency domain data processing techniques. Many of the  concepts and techniques in the course are likely to be extremely important in MSci, PhD. or industrial research laboratories.

Course Objectives

Students should :

Understand that there are finite limits to our ability to make good measurements, and why.

Be able to apply basic physics such as  bandwidth limits and Fourier transforms to real  problems.

Acquire theoretical knowledge directly applicable to practical laboratory work, including impedance matching techniques, feedback, operational amplifier circuit design, signal processing, etc.

Appreciate important practical aspects of theoretical knowledge: how important components work, when to impedance match, non-ideal behaviour of op-amps etc.

Acquire a sound understanding of the role of noise in measurement systems and know how to apply noise reduction techniques.

Be able to apply Fourier and Laplace transforms to analyse the behaviour and stability of complex systems.