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Department of Physics

B13 Physics PC Laboratory

What is it and Who is it for?

The PC laboratory is provided by the Department for use by Physics undergraduates (at quiet times postgraduates and staff may also use the room but they must give priority to undergraduates). Periodically, formal teaching will take place in the room but otherwise you are free to come and go within the opening times.

There are 16 identical PCs installed with a range of software suited to the needs of physics undergraduates

Location and Access

The laboratory is situated on the first floor (B floor) of the Physics Building and is reached by climbing the first 3 flights of stairs from the main entrance foyer and passing through the double doors on B floor: the laboratory is immediately on the left.

Access is via a swipe card system using your library card, instructions are posted next to the door. Opening times are 9am - 5.30pm Monday-Thursday and 9am - 5pm Friday.

Software

The computers use Microsoft Windows XP Professional (Vista is not in general use in the University as it had little if any advantages over XP and it was decided to go over to Windows 7 when it has been thoroughly tested. Linux is less well-suited to general usage and would not allow use of all the central facilities).

Installed programmes include:

  • Microsoft Office 2007 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
  • Ghostscript/ghostgum (these are for processing and displaying Postscript files - commonly used for Physics publications)
  • WinEdt (Editor used at Lancaster for the LaTeX document preparation system - widely used by the Scientific Community. See http://www.latex-project.org/intro.html for an introduction)
  • Texmaker (An alternative editor for the LaTeX document preparation system - widely used by the Scientific Community. See http://www.latex-project.org/intro.html for an introduction)
  • Java J2SE Dev kit, Java J2SE Runtime Environment, Netbeans IDE, JCrea, JEdit, PhysEdit. (Tools and utilities for creation of Java applets and programmes)
  • Maple (One of the most useful programmes you will ever come across! Mathematical analysis made easy, well worth learning how to use this: see http://www.maplesoft.com/support/training/index.aspx)
  • Exceed with SSH etc (These are used for accessing UNIX systems and are most likely to be used during later years of an undergraduate course)
  • Matlab (Data processing and analysis)
  • Acroread (For viewing Adobe PDF (portable document format) documents)
  • Illustrator (Drawing items for inclusion in reports and creating posters)
  • Origin (Another programme that you really should get used to using as it is far more suited to scientific graph-plotting and analysis than Excel. Some excellent tutorials at: http://www.originlab.com/index.aspx?s=9&lm=72 )
  • Irfanview (Surprisingly powerful image editor and converter)
  • ImageJ (Another very powerful image editor)
  • IZArc (Programme for 'zipping' (compressing a file or group of files to save space and send via email etc)
  • Firefox (The main alternative to Microsoft's Internet Explorer)
  • Conversion (Utility for converting from one set of units e.g. degrees to radians etc)
  • Designer (technical drawing programme idela for creating diagrams for reports etc)

Printing

Two laser printers are provided in the laboratory, one mono and one colour. Printing for all Physics undergraduates is free on these but for work purposes only. The PCs are also connected to some of the laser printers supplied by ISS, for further details about these and the charges for using them see http://www.lancs.ac.uk/iss/printers/

Fair usage

The PC laboratory is a well-used and highly valued resource for undergraduates, providing unique software for physics and free printing for course work. Please help us to maintain the facility by following the guidelines below.

  1. Eating and drinking are not allowed in the laboratory, this is purely to ensure that the mice and keyboards are not damaged by the inevitable spillages.
  2. PC labs are perfect vectors for distributing viruses and germs!! Please use the provided anti-bacterial hand wash by the entrance - for your protection and others using the room..
  3. Log out of the computer when you have finished and please don't leave the room for extended periods whilst logged on.
  4. Please keep the laboratory as clean and tidy as you can - it is YOUR resource and YOUR responsibility to keep it a pleasant place to work.
  5. Avoid disturbing others by keeping music (headphones only!) down and please don't use your mobile in the laboratory.
  6. Printing is monitored! Whilst the very occasional page of personal work is fine, any large-scale personal printing for yourself or friends will result in printing rights being withdrawn without notice.

Problems

If you have any problems with the computers or printers please send an email to py-it@lancaster.ac.uk or contact Richard Ion (ext 94279, Room C30) or John Windsor (ext 93640, Room C28)

 
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