Using the quantum approach to the subject of atomic physics, this text keeps the mathematics to the minimum needed for a clear and comprehensive understanding of the material. Beginning with an introduction and treatment of atomic structure, the book goes on to deal with quantum mechanics, atomic spectra and the theory of interaction between atoms and radiation. Continuing to more complex atoms and atomic structure in general, the book concludes with a treatment of quantum optics. Appendices deal with Rutherford scattering, calculation of spin-orbit energy, derivation of the Einstein B coefficient, the Pauli Exclusion Principle and the derivation of eigenstates in helium. The book should be of interest to undergraduate physics students at intermediate and advanced level and also to those on materials science and chemistry courses.
Preface
Main symbols used in text
1 Introduction
The existence of atoms
The size of atoms
The structure of the atom
First models - the Thomson atom
Probing the atom
The nuclear model of the atom
Comparison of the model with experiment
The impossibility of the classical nuclear atom
The quantum mechanical picture of the atom
The electron as a quantum particle
Schrodinger’s equation
An electron in the electric field of the nucleus
Electron eigenfunctions
The physical meaning of the quantum numbers n, l, m
The hydrogen atom
Atomic spectra
Spectroscopy as a source of information about atoms
The general characteristics of gas discharge spectra
The hydrogen spectrum
Hydrogen-like spectra
Fine structure in hydrogen an hydrogen-like spectra
Fine structure of spectral lines and electron spin
Fine structure in the hydrogen spectrum
Calculation of the spin-orbit coupling energy
The quantized electron spin
Other causes of fine structure
The widths of spectral lines
the interaction of atoms and radiation
Absorption and emission of radiation
Equilibrium between atoms and the radiation field
The physics of the A and B coefficients
Physical model of the field-atom interaction
Fermi’s ‘golden rule’ for transitions
Allowed an forbidden transitions
Allowed and forbidden transitions
Spontaneous emission
Spontaneous emission and the quantization of the e.m. field
States of the quantized radiation field
The photon
More complex atoms
Schrodinger’s equation for more complex systems
The pauli exclusion principle
The Aufbau principle and electron configurations
The periodic table
The helium atom and term symbols for complex atoms
Spectra and energy level diagrams for helium
Eigenfunctions for the helium electrons – singlet and triplet states
Energy eigenvalues
The effect of the electron – electron interaction
Term symbols and fine structure
Hund’s rules for energy level splitting
Further discussion of atomic structure
Hydrogen-like atoms
Helium-like atoms
The structure of carbon
Other elements
The calculation of atomic orbitals
Self-consistent field calculation of eigenfunctions
The effects of spin-orbit coupling energy- coupling schemes
The atomic physics of lasers
Stimulated emission and amplification
The laser oscillator
Semi-classical theory of the laser
Mode interactions
Quantized-field laser theory
Practical atomic gas lasers
The argon ion laser
The helium-neon laser
Atoms in external fields
The Stern-Gerlach experiment
Atoms in homogeneous magnetic fields – the Zeeman effect
Strong magnetic fields – the Paschen-Back effect
Atoms in static electric fields – the Stark Effect
Intense electromagnetic fields – Ravi oscillation
Atomic bean experiments
The Lamb shift in hydrogen
Single atom experiments
Experiments on single electrons and ions
Trapping neutral atoms
The quantum ‘watched pot’
Cavity quantum electrodynamics
Appendix A Rutherford’s scattering formula
Appendix B Angular momentum operators
Appendix C Time-independent perturbation theory
Appendix D Time-dependent perturbation theory – the calculation of the Einstein B coefficient
Appendix E Quantization of the electromagnetic field
Appendix F the Pauli exclusion principle
Appendix G Eigenstates in helium
Appendix H Exercises
Appendix I Further reading
Appendix J Useful constants
Index
