5 ECTS Credits — Semester 1 — Major
Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics (AMO) is a branch of physics that deals with the behavior of atoms, molecules, and light. It often involves the study of how individual atoms and molecules interact with electromagnetic radiation (light), at the scale of one or a few atoms, and energy scales around several electron volts. This field of physics is important for understanding various physical phenomena and has applications in areas such as quantum computing, precision measurements, and laser technology. AMO physics has numerous real-world applications, including the development of advanced imaging techniques, precision clocks, and sensitive detectors used in various industries such as healthcare, telecommunications, and defense.
Syllabus
• Introduction: key steps of electrons, photons and atoms studies
• Elements of quantum mechanics
• One-electron atoms: Schrödinger equation for one-electron atoms
• Special hydrogenic systems
• Interaction with electromagnetic radiation
• Fine and hyperfine structures
• Interaction with external fields
• Many-electron atoms
• Central field approximation
• The periodic system of elements
• Corrections to the central field approximation: L-S and j-j couplings
• Interaction with electromagnetic radiation and with static fields
• Molecular structure
• The Born-Oppenheimer approximation
• Molecular orbital theory
• Calculation of electronic structure
• Molecular rotations and vibrations
• Molecular electronic transitions
Suggested bibliography
• Bransden, B. H.; Joachain, CJ. Physics of Atoms and Molecules, Prentice Hall
• Band, Y. B. Light and Matter: Electromagnetism, Optics, Spectroscopy and Lasers, John Wiley & Sons
Prerequisites
- Basic Quantum Mechanics (Physics Bachelor’s level).