Electronics for Scientists

Electronics for Scientists  provides a practical and concise introduction to electrical circuits,   signals, and instrumentation for undergraduate students in the physical   sciences. No previous familiarity with electronics is required and   concepts are grounded in the relevant physics. The book aims to give   students the electronics background needed to be successful in   experimental science.

The book  begins with the  fundamentals of DC circuits. This is followed by AC  circuits and their  analysis using the concept of impedance. The  transfer function is  introduced and used to analyze different types of  filter circuits. The  conversion between time-domain and  frequency-domain signal  representations is reviewed. Transmission lines  are introduced and used  to motivate the different approach to  designing microwave-frequency  circuits as compared to lower-frequency  circuits. The physics of  semiconductors is reviewed and used to  understand the behavior of diodes  and transistors, and a number of  diode and transistor circuits is  analyzed. The operational amplifier  (op-amp) is introduced and several  op-amp circuits are analyzed.  Techniques for quantifying noise in  electrical measurements are  described and common sources of noise are  discussed. The last major  topic is digital circuits, which include  analog-to-digital conversion,  logic gates, and digital memory circuits.  The book concludes with a  brief introduction to quantum computing.

Designed   for a one-semester course, this book brings together a range of topics   relevant to experimental science that are not commonly found in a  single  text. Worked examples are provided throughout the book, and each   chapter concludes with a set of problems to reinforce the material   covered. The subject of electronics is indispensable to a wide array of   scientific and technical fields, and this book seeks to provide an   approachable point of access to this rich and important subject.