Facilities
In the department of physics, we believe that the theory and experiment are the two sides of the physics coin. For this reason, we have a corresponding laboratory for each theoretical course. Our undergraduate laboratories are equipped with modern facilities that are continuously renovated. The department of physics is implementing a new concept in teaching its freshman courses and laboratories. These are going to be conducted in an integrated way, where the instructor introduces a theory then runs the corresponding experiment followed by a problem session. A video showing the most recent applications of the subject is played afterwards. Before coming to the class, the student will be provided online with another video that illustrates the theory, such concept is referred to as flipped classroom. All these blended learning techniques are applied in a round table environment, which allows peer instruction. It is important to mention here that our department is unique in the middle-east region in applying this interactive studio classroom concept. This initiative greatly helps in achieving one of our major goals to reshape the teaching philosophy from being instructor-centered to be student-centered.
Classical Mechanics, Sound and Heat Studio Classroom
The lecture component is followed by a related focused experimental work using modern setups. Certain sessions also feature problem-solving activities which serve both the experimental work and the lecture. All these activities are done in the same room.
The lab has been recently modernized to include, among others: high-resolution force sensors, motion sensors, rotary motion sensors, temperature sensors, air track setups, photogates, in addition to experiment-specific setups.
Computational Physics Lab
Students work toward mastering computational skills and tools which are needed to solve physical problems in both classical and modern physics using different computational techniques and basic programming languages such as C++ and MATLAB. The lab contains desktop personal computers powered by classroom licensed MATLAB.
Electricity and Magnetism Studio Classroom
The instructor introduces a theory then he may run the corresponding experiment followed by a problem session. A video showing an application of the subject can be played afterwards. Before coming to the class, the student could be provided online with a video illustrating the theory.
The lab has been recently renovated to include modern setups containing voltage sensors, magnetic field sensors, rotary motion sensors, AC/DC circuits, and multi-meters.
Electronics Laboratory
Students perform basic experiments on passive components, diodes and transistors. They also conduct the corresponding simulations using PSpice.
The lab is equipped with modern experimental setups including oscilloscopes and function generators with a digital display as well as digital multi-meters and advanced circuit boards. The lab is also equipped with computers for simulations.
Energy Materials Research Lab
This lab is focused on designing, synthesizing, and understanding materials for applications in energy conversion and storage, sensing, desalination, and quantum computing. The lab is equipped with electrospinner, solar simulators, quantum efficiency setup, potentiostats, power supplies, furnaces, biogas analyzer, CDI system, UV reactor, gas chromatograph, and workstations.
Microwave and Millimeter Wave Research Lab
The purpose of this lab is the experimental characterization of microwave and mm-wave circuits and antennas. For circuits, S-parameters are measured. As for antennas, in addition to S-parameters, radiation patterns are also measured. The lab is equipped with vector network analyzer (67 GHz) together with its full set of accessories. Standard gain horn antennas, as well as on-wafer probes, are also available.
Modern Physics Laboratory
Students perform different experiments demonstrating modern physics theories. Examples of such famous experiments are photoelectric effect, Compton scattering, Millikan oil drop and Frank-Hertz.
The facilities in this lab are a combination of in-house made custom experiments as well as modern computerized experimental setups. In addition, it contains a variety of measurements tools such as electric sensors, magnetic sensors, temperature sensors, and controllers.
Nuclear Laboratory
Students carry out introductory experiments, which allow them to learn various methods and techniques for identification and detection of different types of radiation such as alpha, beta and gamma rays.
The lab is equipped with different types of radiation detectors such as scintillation detectors, gas-filled detectors, Geiger counters, single and multichannel analyzers which are used in gamma spectroscopy.
Optics Laboratory
Students perform basic experiments on ray and wave optics. These experiments cover reflection, refraction, interference, diffraction and polarization of light. In addition, students perform some simulations using MATLAB.
The lab contains advanced experimental setups such as lasers, diffraction gratings, optical lenses, filters, different types of light and laser sources as well as light detectors which are controlled by computers.
Photonics and Optical Communications Laboratory
Students perform basic experiments on optical fibers. The experiments cover various applications in communication and sensing exploiting the use of both single and multimodal optical fibers.
The lab is equipped with cutting-edge experimental setups such as: solid-state laser, polarized laser sources, power meters, polarizers, beam splitters. High precision optical tables are used for stability and accuracy.
Solar Energy Laboratory
This lab will allow students to grasp the experimental sense of the solar energy theoretical concepts conducted in the corresponding courses. They will be familiar with different types of solar energy harvesting including photovoltaic and thermoelectric. Connecting solar panels to the power grid will be also demonstrated.
Solid-State Laboratory
Students perform experiments to measure the different properties of matter under different conditions such as conductivity, dielectric constant, and charge carriers concentration.
The lab is equipped with black-body radiation and Hall-effect experiments. It also includes various high precision meters, such as Gauss-meter, pyrometers, joules meter, and pico/nano current and voltage meters.
Thermo-acoustics Research Lab
Thermoacoustic heat engines on different scales are developed in this lab. The purpose of these engines is to harvest the incident solar radiation converting it into acoustic vibrations then to electricity. The lab is equipped with linear alternators of different sizes, together with a full set of accessories. Different electronic loads, power and lock-in amplifiers are also available. A large number of sensors (pressure, temperature, and displacement) as well as infrared cameras are present.