Updated 13-Apr-2018
Course Contents
Approximately 3 lectures each on the following topics:
- Experiments that give insights into the structure of the atom
- Schrodinger equation for Hydrogen and fine structure of energy levels
- Many electron atoms Hartree-Fock and Thomas-Fermi models
- Zeeman and Stark Effects
- Interaction of Atoms with radiation, Dipole Approximation, Oscillator Strengths
- Einstein Coefficients, 2 and 3 level atoms and principle of lasing
- Electron-Atom, Ion-Atom, Atom-Atom Scattering, Atoms in strong EM fields,
- Ionisation by charged particles and photons
- Diatomic Molecules, Molecular Orbitals, Angular Momentum
- Born-Oppenheimer Approximation, Potential Energy Curves, Electronic, Vibrational and Rotational degrees of freedom
- Optical, Infrared, Microwave and Raman Spectroscopy
The following topics may be dealt with depending on how we progress.
- Trapping and Cooling of Atoms and Molecules
- Current Research in Atomic and Molecular Physics
TOTAL 40 lectures approximately
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Schedule
We meet on Mondays at 10:50, Wednesdays at 10:50 and Thursdays at 08:30 (in LHC 101).
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Tutor
- Deepak Sharma (deepak.sharma@students.iiserpune.ac.in)
There will be a tutorial on every alternate week. This will be conducted by Deepak, and will be either on Friday at 18:00 hours or during one of the lecture slots.
A problem sheet will be given approximately a few days in advance. Students are expected to attempt solving these problems on their own before the tutorial. Solutions will only be outlined in the Tutorial; problems will not be completely solved. Tutorials will not be graded.
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Course Material
Books
We will mainly follow W Demtröder , but other books will often be useful. This will be indicated in the class.
- Atoms Molecules and Photons, W Demtröder , Springer (2010) 2/e
- Atoms and Quanta, Haken and Wolf, Springer (2010) 2/e
- Physics of Atoms and Molecules B H Bransden and C J Joachain, Pearson International (2011) 2/e
- Quantum Mechanics (Non-relativistic Theory) L D Landau and E M Lifshitz, Course on Theoretical Physics Vol 3, Pergamon Press/Butterworth Heinemann
- Molecular Quantum Mechanics Atkins and Friedman, Oxford Press 4/e
Demotröder's book does not include scattering. Bransden-Joachain and Landau-Lifshitz (Sections 32–35,45 and sections from Chapters XVII,XVIII) should be referred to.
Instructor's Notes
These are my own notes. Please treat them as a mere guideline to topics discussed. They are not proof-read. They will be updated weekly.
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Week-1 Introduction
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Week-2 Hydrogen Atom (Bohr and Schrödinger descriptions)
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H-orbitals Hydrogen Atom Fine Structure
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Week-3 Helium Atom
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Week-4 Multielectron atoms, Hartree-Fock theory
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Week-5 Interaction with Radiation
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Week-6 and Part of Week-5 Lineshapes, Photoelectric Effect
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Week-7 Introduction to Lasers
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Week-8 Diatomic Molecules
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Week-9 Diatomic Molecules (Contd.)
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Week-10 Diatomic Molecules (Contd.)
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Week-10 Diatomic Molecules (Summary)
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Week-11 Scattering (Introduction)
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Week-11 Scattering (Details)
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Week-12 Scattering (Elastic Scattering -- phase shift calculation, form factor estimation)
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Week-13 Scattering (Inelastic)
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Week-13 Scattering (Inelastic, Contd.)
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Week-14 Experiments/Applications (Also see Demtröder Chap 11, 12 and the last few entries in “Supplementary Material”)
Supplementary Material
These are publicly available files from course instructors of various Universities. The free availability of these notes is acknowledged with thanks!
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Randal Telfer, Johns Hopkins University, Essay on the Hydrogen Atom
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Tom Kirchner, York University, Theory for Atomic and Molecular Structure
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A M Fox, Sheffield University, Laser and Atomic Physics
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D M Lucas, Oxford University, Time dependent Perturbation
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Simon Hooker, Oxford University, Molecules and Lasers
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P Ewart, Oxford University, Atomic Structure, Spectroscopy
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R E Johnson, University of Virginia, Atomic and Molecular Collisions
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Also see the Wikipedia page on Rotational and Vibrational Spectroscopy
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Stopping Power, M Inokuti
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Ion-matter interactions and applications
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Accelerator Mass Spectrometry, Hellborg and Skog
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Radiation Therapy, Schardt et al
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Femtochemistry, A Zewail
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Higher Harmonic generation, Tom Allison
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Evaluation
| Course evaluation scheme |
| a. |
End-sem examination |
40% |
| b. |
Mid-sem examination |
30% |
| c. |
Two Quizzes (25 Jan, 28 Mar) |
15% + 15% |
Tutorials, Exams
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