NetNews Usenet Archive 1993 #1/NN_1993_1.iso/spool/sci/physics/22225

Internet Message Format | 1993-01-07 | 1.8 KB

Xref: sparky sci.physics:22225 sci.materials:1085
Newsgroups: sci.physics,sci.materials
Path: sparky!uunet!noc.near.net!news.cs.brandeis.edu!news
From: [e-mail] (Brendan A McDougall)
Subject: experimentalist issues
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Sender: [e-mail] (USENET News System)
Organization: Brandeis University
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 16:28:27 GMT
Lines: 24

Hi,

As a grad student experimentalist in a young surface science lab, I'm
beginning to find that my most valuable instrument is the phone.  Often
times I need things that are just not easily available and spend days
searching for sources.  Although the Thomas Register, Physics Today
buyer's issue, and other guides are helpful, I think the best source of
information is the person who has already purchased/used what I need and
can direct me to his/her supplier or has an opinion on the equipment they
used.  For example, my latest needle in the haystack search was for a
piece of quartz tubing--5/16"OD X 0.07"ID X few inches long.  My next hunt
will soon be for an open cycle liquid He refrigerator/cold head for the
UHV chamber.  There are few suppliers, but who manufactures the most
reliable, most "easy-to-use" or "grad-student-safe" gear.

There have been monographs on the issue, e.g. Experimetal Methods in Low
Temp. Physics, which are very helpfu--listing techniques and suppliers.
If everything was covered in these "ancient" texts, I wouldn't be doing
research.

I think there is a need for a more timely forum.  Is there interest in
starting a sub-group, e.g. sci.hardsci.exp, that would encompass the needs
of all hard science experimentalists--engineers, chemists, mat sci, et
al.?  Or should one just post to these groups as they are?