Atomic and Molecular Physics, 7.5 Credits
About the course
Atomic and molecular physics is of fundamental importance in an education in physics. To start with, it is the most direct, concrete application of quantum mechanics. Thus, it promotes the understanding of, and concretizes the importance of quantum mechanics. Moreover, fundamental atomic and molecular structure is the basics for all that we know about matter. In order to understand e.g. condensed matter, nuclear physics and particle physics, one must first learn the basics in atomic and molecular physics. Included in the course will be fundamental atomic and molecular structure. Systems will be treated with an increasing level of complexity. First, we go through the hydrogen atom, thereafter helium, alkali atoms and other atoms. A concrete application of perturbation theory is given when one starts with a central field approximation and then step by step introduces orbital angular momentum, spin, spin-orbit interaction, nuclear effects and the influences of external fields. The treated molecules are to start with diatomic. Bond mechanisms such as ionic bonds and covalent bonds are introduced and placed on a quantum mechanical footing. Vibrational and rotational structure is treated, as is the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. At the end of the course, we treat polyatomic molecules.
Level of Education: Basic with academic experience
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Department of Physics
