PHYS 329/330 - Experimental Physics

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Computer Information

• gnuplot
  • gnuplot Manual
  • A Brief Introduction to gnuplot
  • gnuplot FAQ
  • gnuplot tips (not so frequently asked questions)
  • gnuplot Central (official web site for gnuplot)
  • Other gnuplot Information
  • Fitting Command: fit [x1:x2] f(x) "file.dat" via a,b,c
    where x1 and x2 give the range of data to be fit, f(x) is a previously defined function (or the function itself), file.dat is the data file, and a, b, and c are the parameters to be fit.
  • Making an EPS version of a plot:
    • set term postscript eps
    • set output "filename.eps"
    • replot
    • set term x11
    The instructions above make a plot with lettering that is the appropriate size for a plot that is meant for your lab notebook. When a plot is scaled down for inclusion in a paper, you probably want to increase the relative size of the lettering. You can do this by changing the first line above to something like
    • set term postscript eps 28
    where the number at the end of the line can be adjusted to give the right size.

• xfig
  • xfig Users Manual
  • xfig Tutorial (pdf)
  • Using LaTeX within xfig
  • Graph 1
  • Graph 2
  • Poster
  • Model
  • EM Pulse

• Bucknell Linux Documentation (html)
  Bucknell Linux Documentation (pdf)

• Brief Emacs Summary

• Brief Unix Summary

• Getting Files Across the Windows/Linux Divide
  
  • From a Bucknell Windows machine: Click on My Computer, and in the address space enter \\unixspace --- this will give you access to all of yourLinux and Unix files.
  • Use any browser to go the URL ftp://username@ftp.netspace.bucknell.edu
    You will be asked for your password. Once you're in, navigate to the appropriate folder, and drag files as needed.

• Using X-Win32 to access the Linux network from a Windows Machine
  • From Task Bar: Start --> Programs --> Programs Q-Z --> X-Win32 8.2 --> X-Win32
  • Click on blue "X" icon that appears in right end of Task Bar.
  • Select the computer and kind of session you would like, e.g., "Linux Remote 1 Terminal" will give you a simple text terminal session; the Graphical option will get you the full desktop.

Papers and Presentation

• LaTeX
  • Simple Paper Template:
    Download the files template.tex, samplefig.eps, and samplefig2.eps. After processing these files you should generate output that looks like this: template.ps

  • More Complete Template from APS: template.aps

  • Sample file containing many more sophisticated examples of how to typeset a physics paper:
    This file apssamp.tex generates the output displayed here: apssamp.ps. Comparing these files side-by-side is a good way to learn lots about typesetting papers.
  • APS homepage for RevTeX (including links to documentation)

  • Tutorials (An random sampling of many that you can find online):
    • Getting Started with LaTeX
    • LaTeX Tutorial
    • A beginner's introduction to typesetting with LaTeX

  • Reference materials
    • The Not So Short Introduction to LaTeX 2e (or LaTeX 2e in 131 minutes)

  • Outline of steps for paper production using LaTeX. (The % signs represent the command line prompt in a unix/Linux terminal session.)
    • Copy template sample.tex to a working file, say paper.tex:
      % cp sample.tex paper.tex
    • Edit paper.tex:
      % emacs paper.tex &
    • Compile the tex file:
      % latex paper.tex
    • Compile the tex file (again):
      % latex paper.tex
    • View the .dvi file:
      % xdvi paper.dvi &
    • You may edit, save, and recompile without closing the xdvi viewer; it will update the displayed version automatically.
    • To print to the printer in Olin 170 (double-sided):
      % dvips -Polin170d paper.dvi
    • To make a pdf file (paper.pdf):
      % dvipdf paper.dvi
    • To make a postsript file:
      % dvips -o paper.ps paper.dvi
    • To convert a postscript file (paper.ps) to a pdf file (paper.pdf):
      % ps2pdf paper.ps

• Projected Talks
  • Beamer User Guide, v3.01
  • Example latex source
  • Example PDF

• Preparing a Manuscript for Publication

• A sample theoretical paper

• A sample experimental paper

Data Analysis

• Marty's Data Analysis Materials