Applied Electronics: Construction of an Alternating Square Wave Current Generator for Nuclear Quadropole Resonance Spectroscopy

Abstract

This project was assigned and undertaken with two definite ends in view. The first dealt with my interest in the field of applied electronics and my intention to enter this field upon graduation. Unfortunately, my total laboratory experience consisted of the laboratory work associated with the ten-week electronics course offered at Kalamazoo College. Thus, it was desirable that I get the "feel" of electronic design and construction techniques in order that I might more realistically decide if applied electronics, indeed, is to be my career field. Yet very little can be attempted with such a meager background, for any original designing requires more knowledge than I possessed and more time than I was allowed. The second end of this project was compatible with the above difficulties. It was desired that a piece of electronic apparatus be built from an existing schematic diagram for use in nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The device needed was an alternating square wave current generator capable of providing a maximum current of six amperes. Also needed were the associated power supplies for this device, to be designed to fit on the same chassis as the generator.