This laboratory course presents the basic concepts of electromagnetic radiation light, photons, and the electromagnetic spectrum. Sources of photons in nature and biology (biophotons) are considered. Students will learn to operate a sensitive photon counter and conduct experiments in the dark and EM-shielded room. Students will design and implement an original research project with the photon counter, keep a laboratory log book, and deliver an experiment write-up and analysis.
Part I:Laboratory Intensive (July 15-18)
Photon Detection:What are the physical processes involved in photon detection?Mechanically, how do photon counters work?How does the specific photon detection equipment at CIHS work, and how is it operated?How can we use basic physics knowledge to calibrate the detectors?What levels/fluxes of photons are we capable of detecting, and distinguishing from “noise”.Hands on calibration experiments will be conducted by the students.
Experimental Project and Biophoton Theories:Students will develop a well-posed scientific question that can be addressed using the photon detector.Students will design and implement an experimental procedure, to address their posed scientific question, and maintain a laboratory log book of the procedure, results, and analysis.
Part II:Understanding Electromagnetic Radiation, and biophotons.
Lecture/presentations, and selected reading materials (either available online or distributed in class), and tailored to the backgrounds of the students, will be covered in order to develop a working knowledge of the following:What is light?What is the electromagnetic spectrum?Why is light “quantized” as photons?How are frequency and energy of photons related?Why is the speed of light = c?Why does an attempt to understand light involve Special Relativity?What are sources of photons in nature?In popular usage, what are common uses of “light” metaphorically to the physics meaning of the word, and why should we distinguish the two types of usage?
Various theories of biophotonic processes (in humans and biology in general) will be surveyed, including postulated relation of biophoton activity with consciousness and/or meditative/yogic practice. Students will contextualize their experimental results within selected theories.
- Teacher: Thomas Brophy