Walter F. Smith is the Paul and Sally Bolgiano Professor of Physics at Haverford College, where he has taught the advanced lab course more than twenty times. He earned his PhD from Harvard University. He is co-author of more than 30 peer-reviewed research articles, six of which specifically focus on new experimental apparati or techniques, and maintains an active research group centered on the photoelectronic properties of organic nanowires. He is author of the textbook "Waves and Oscillations: A Prelude to Quantum Mechanics".

"Smith (Haverford College) has edited a well-designed and beautifully crafted book for use in the advanced lab—a typical upper-level course taken by the physics major—that is refreshingly based on contemporary laboratory pedagogy. Smith has independently authored 8 of the 21 chapters and coauthored another. The authors of remaining chapters are mostly experienced laboratory faculty. The writing is generally fluid, balancing a friendly informality with precise instruction. The text begins with 5 foundational chapters addressing laboratory philosophy, communicating results, the ethics of research, uncertainty, and statistical analysis. The next 7 chapters focus on electronic technologies, data interfacing, optics, and vacuum technology. The last 8 chapters address more specific subject-matter topics (e.g., "Biophysics," "Condensed Matter Physics") but also include one on developing independent undergraduate projects. . . . this book is a substantial contribution suitable for adoption in programs that support an undergraduate upper-level physics curriculum. Highly recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates. Graduate students and faculty."– J. R. Burciaga, Colorado College, USA, in CHOICE April 2021 Vol. 58 No. 8

• Fundamentals. Introduction. Literature research. Scientific ethics and plagiarism. Experimental design and rules of thumb for conducting experiments. Modeling instruments. Uncertainty analysis and the GUM standard. General approaches to troubleshooting an experiment. Tools of an experimentalist. Vacuum. Cryogenics. Analog electronics and low noise measurements. Digital electronics, microcontrollers, and computer interfacing. Optics. Microscopy. Particle detection. Fields of Physics. Condensed matter physics. Biophysics. Statistical, nonlinear, and fluid physics. Atomic and molecular physics. Optics and photonics. Quantum optics. Particle and nuclear physics

Walter F. Smith is the Paul and Sally Bolgiano Professor of Physics at Haverford College, where he has taught the advanced lab course more than twenty times. He earned his PhD from Harvard University. He is co-author of more than 30 peer-reviewed research articles, six of which specifically focus on new experimental apparati or techniques, and maintains an active research group centered on the photoelectronic properties of organic nanowires. He is author of the textbook "Waves and Oscillations: A Prelude to Quantum Mechanics".

"Smith (Haverford College) has edited a well-designed and beautifully crafted book for use in the advanced lab—a typical upper-level course taken by the physics major—that is refreshingly based on contemporary laboratory pedagogy. Smith has independently authored 8 of the 21 chapters and coauthored another. The authors of remaining chapters are mostly experienced laboratory faculty. The writing is generally fluid, balancing a friendly informality with precise instruction. The text begins with 5 foundational chapters addressing laboratory philosophy, communicating results, the ethics of research, uncertainty, and statistical analysis. The next 7 chapters focus on electronic technologies, data interfacing, optics, and vacuum technology. The last 8 chapters address more specific subject-matter topics (e.g., "Biophysics," "Condensed Matter Physics") but also include one on developing independent undergraduate projects. . . . this book is a substantial contribution suitable for adoption in programs that support an undergraduate upper-level physics curriculum. Highly recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates. Graduate students and faculty."– J. R. Burciaga, Colorado College, USA, in CHOICE April 2021 Vol. 58 No. 8

• Fundamentals. Introduction. Literature research. Scientific ethics and plagiarism. Experimental design and rules of thumb for conducting experiments. Modeling instruments. Uncertainty analysis and the GUM standard. General approaches to troubleshooting an experiment. Tools of an experimentalist. Vacuum. Cryogenics. Analog electronics and low noise measurements. Digital electronics, microcontrollers, and computer interfacing. Optics. Microscopy. Particle detection. Fields of Physics. Condensed matter physics. Biophysics. Statistical, nonlinear, and fluid physics. Atomic and molecular physics. Optics and photonics. Quantum optics. Particle and nuclear physics

Walter F. Smith is the Paul and Sally Bolgiano Professor of Physics at Haverford College, where he has taught the advanced lab course more than twenty times. He earned his PhD from Harvard University. He is co-author of more than 30 peer-reviewed research articles, six of which specifically focus on new experimental apparati or techniques, and maintains an active research group centered on the photoelectronic properties of organic nanowires. He is author of the textbook "Waves and Oscillations: A Prelude to Quantum Mechanics".

"Smith (Haverford College) has edited a well-designed and beautifully crafted book for use in the advanced lab—a typical upper-level course taken by the physics major—that is refreshingly based on contemporary laboratory pedagogy. Smith has independently authored 8 of the 21 chapters and coauthored another. The authors of remaining chapters are mostly experienced laboratory faculty. The writing is generally fluid, balancing a friendly informality with precise instruction. The text begins with 5 foundational chapters addressing laboratory philosophy, communicating results, the ethics of research, uncertainty, and statistical analysis. The next 7 chapters focus on electronic technologies, data interfacing, optics, and vacuum technology. The last 8 chapters address more specific subject-matter topics (e.g., "Biophysics," "Condensed Matter Physics") but also include one on developing independent undergraduate projects. . . . this book is a substantial contribution suitable for adoption in programs that support an undergraduate upper-level physics curriculum. Highly recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates. Graduate students and faculty."– J. R. Burciaga, Colorado College, USA, in CHOICE April 2021 Vol. 58 No. 8

• Fundamentals. Introduction. Literature research. Scientific ethics and plagiarism. Experimental design and rules of thumb for conducting experiments. Modeling instruments. Uncertainty analysis and the GUM standard. General approaches to troubleshooting an experiment. Tools of an experimentalist. Vacuum. Cryogenics. Analog electronics and low noise measurements. Digital electronics, microcontrollers, and computer interfacing. Optics. Microscopy. Particle detection. Fields of Physics. Condensed matter physics. Biophysics. Statistical, nonlinear, and fluid physics. Atomic and molecular physics. Optics and photonics. Quantum optics. Particle and nuclear physics