From the APLS Syllabus: “Instrument Seminars occur in weeks 14-16, 18, and 20. Each Instrument Seminar covers three of the available instruments/experiments. Each instrument/experiment has a detailed file (almost all of which were produced by PSAM students in 2016-17; three new experiments introduced this year will have their files produced by faculty). The files are available in the Cave; when possible, instruments will be available for viewing (but not operation!) in the week prior to the corresponding seminar. In advance of the seminar, you will read over the file, taking notes in preparation for the seminar discussion; as needed, you will complete additional research and possibly add to the file. During seminar, we will discuss each instrument, ask and attempt to answer questions we have, and (where possible) demonstrate the operation of the instrument. You will produce an Instrument Seminar Summary for each instrument, starting from a suggested template. These may be (neatly) hand-written or (preferred) type-set. Instrument Seminar Summaries are due by 9am the Wednesday following the Instrument Seminar.“

To prepare for Instrument Seminars, you should split your prep time (see below) among the three instrument files to prepare the following:

1. A list of papers you looked over (at a minimum including the manual for the instrument and other papers you have time to skim, but there is no expectation that you can read the entire instrument file);
2. An attempt at a draft block diagram of the instrument;
3. A summary of your best understanding of the physics the instrument allows you to investigate (recognizing that even with some time with the instrument file, your understanding may still be cursory prior to Seminar);
4. A summary of your best understanding of the physics behind the instrument (see 3. for it being ok if this is surface understanding prior to Seminar) – note that in some cases it will be hard to distinguish between the physics of the instrument and the physics the instrument allows to be investigated;
5. Some sense of the importance of the science/instrument (scientific and/or historic);
6. Most importantly: questions about the science/instrument that you would like to discuss in Seminar, and questions about the significance of the science/instrument (both in physics and in society).

During Seminar, working in small groups, you will:

1. Improve your block diagram;
2. Discuss your understanding and your questions, attempting to answer them for each other;
3. Collect questions you can’t answer for the larger group discussion;
4. Take notes to support your Instrument Seminar Summary.

During Seminar, as a whole class, we will discuss (as time allows) the questions that you collected in your small group that you could not satisfactorily address. As possible, we will collect some data using the instruments.

After Seminar, you will finalize your Instrument Seminar Summaries. Each Instrument Summary should be brief and will contain:

1. The list of papers you looked over.
2. The updated block diagram.
3. A revised and brief discussion of the physics underlying the instrument and/or the science the instrument allows you to investigate.
4. A revised and brief discussion of the scientific and historical importance of the instrument/science.
5. Where possible/applicable, data collected on the instrument or a discussion of observations.

Time Management: APLS is a 4 credit portion of PSAM. On average, you should be spending 10 – 12 ours per week on this part of the program. This includes class time (4 hours/week), leaving 6 – 8 hours per week (on average). This includes time spent preparing for Error Analysis, time reading Instrument Files and preparing for Seminar, and time spent completing your Instrument Seminar Summary.

Let’s say you have decided that you will spend 10 hours/week on average for this part of the program. With the 4 hours of week in class, that leaves 6 hours/week. Allocate up to 2 hours/week for Error Analysis (recall that you can be catching up or working ahead).

That leaves 4 hours.

Spend 1 hour with each instrument file, including taking notes, for a total of 3 hours. Spend 30 minutes preparing those notes for discussion prior to Seminar. Spend 30 minutes after seminar revising those notes into your Instrument Seminar Summaries (note that the in-class Seminar time should be supporting your improved understanding and thus your revision and production of the Summaries).