Programme

1- Bohr model for hydrogenoid atoms. Spectroscopic series in absorption and emission.
Quantum theory for the hydrogenoid atom. The Schoedinger equation of an electron in the Coulomb field.
Eigenfunctions and energy levels. Classification of states. Some properties of radial atomic functions.

2- Interaction of the hydrogenoid atom with the e.m. The interaction
electron-field e.m. treated with the theory of dependent perturbations
from time. Term of absorption and term of issue.
Transition probability for absorption and stimulated emission.
Cross section for absorption. Spontaneous emission.
Dipole approximation. Selection rules.

3- Grotrian's diagram. Radiation polarization and helicity of the photons. Einstein coefficients.
Shape of lines due to lifetime levels.

4- Relativistic corrections. Spin-orbit interaction. Darwin term.
Fine structure corrections to the hydrogenoid atoms.

5- Effects of static electric and magnetic fields. Stark effect. Effect Normal Zeeman. Paschen-Back effect. Abnormal Zeeman effect.

6- Definition of atomic units. Two-electron atoms.
Independent electron approximation. Interaction
electron-electron as perturbation. Variational method. Excited states.
Coulomb energy and exchange for states with two electrons. Levels of energy immersed in the continuous.

7- Atoms with many electrons. Central field approximation. scheme
of levels. Many particle wave function, Slater determinant.
Hartree-Fock equations and exchange term.

8- Hund scheme of levels and rules. LS coupling Rules of Hund in the presence of the term spin-orbit. Examples of energy levels for non-equivalent electrons and for equivalent electrons. Coupling j-j.

9- Selection rules for atoms with many electrons in the approximation of dipole. Spectra of alkaline atoms, quantum defect. Spectra of the atom of He is an alkaline earth.

10- Molecular Physics. Born-Oppenheimer approximation. Problem of Schroedinger for electrons. Equation for nuclei.

11- Molecular hydrogen ion. Application of the LCAO method.
Symmetry properties of diatomic molecules. Hydrogen molecule with the molecular orbitals method. LCAO method in general.
Binding and anti-binding states. Covalent bond and ionic bond.

12- Dynamics of nuclei. Rotational and vibrational levels. Moment total angular of nuclei and electrons.

13- Potential of Morse. Anharmonic corrections. Centrifugal corrections to the potential of Morse.

14- Transitions between vibrational and rotational levels. Selection rules.
Examples for diatomic etronuclear molecules.
Raman effect. Electronic transitions.

Core Documentation

B. H. Bransden and C. J. Joachain "Physics of Atoms and Molecules" (I-st or II-nd edition)

Type of delivery of the course

Both lessons and exercises will be performed at the blackboard, additionally some special topics will be developed through the use of powerpoint presentations.

Attendance

Attendance is not mandatory but always strongly recommended.

Type of evaluation

The course grade is based on a written exam and an oral exam. The written exam may be completed in one of two ways: Two-part option. The Atomic Physics and Molecular Physics sections may be taken separately. Each section consists of one problem and must be completed within 90 minutes. The two sections are graded separately and may be passed on different exam dates. The written-exam grade is the arithmetic average of the two section grades. Comprehensive-exam option. Students may instead take both sections as a single three-hour exam. Both problems must be submitted together at the end of the exam, and the exam receives one overall grade. Individual problem scores from a comprehensive exam cannot be retained. Students who pass the comprehensive exam may not keep the result of one problem and retake only the other. To improve their written-exam grade, they must retake the entire comprehensive exam. Submitting a new comprehensive exam automatically replaces the previous grade. The first Atomic Physics section exam will be offered during the April midterm week. At the June, July, and September exam sessions, students may take either section separately, take both sections as two 90-minute exams, or take the three-hour comprehensive exam. The two-part option is available only through the September exam session. Both sections must be passed by the end of that session. If only one section has been passed by that deadline, its grade will expire. Beginning with the January exam session, students who have not completed both sections must take the comprehensive exam. A section that has already been passed may be retaken during the June, July, or September sessions. Submitting a new attempt automatically cancels the previous grade, even if the new attempt does not receive a passing grade. After passing both sections or the comprehensive written exam, students have one year from the date they completed the written requirement to take and pass the oral exam. Students who do not pass the oral exam may retake it within that one-year period without losing their written-exam grade. After one year, the written-exam grade expires. Exceptional circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The oral exam covers three main topics: two in Atomic Physics and one in Molecular Physics. Each topic receives a separate grade based on the student’s responses to the main question and any follow-up questions. The oral-exam grade is the arithmetic average of the three grades. However, passing the oral exam is based on an overall assessment of the student’s performance. The final course grade reflects the student’s overall performance on both the written and oral exams and is not necessarily the arithmetic average of the two grades.