402-2883-00L Physics III
Semester | Autumn Semester 2017 |
Lecturers | J. Home |
Periodicity | yearly recurring course |
Language of instruction | English |
Abstract | Introductory course on quantum and atomic physics including optics and statistical physics. |
Objective | A basic introduction to quantum and atomic physics, including basics of optics and equilibrium statistical physics. The course will focus on the relation of these topics to experimental methods and observations. |
Content | Evidence for Quantum Mechanics: atoms, photons, photo-electric effect, Rutherford scattering, Compton scattering, de-Broglie waves. Quantum mechanics: wavefunctions, operators, Schrodinger's equation, infinite and finite square well potentials, harmonic oscillator, hydrogen atoms, spin. Atomic structure: Perturbation to basic structure, including Zeeman effect, spin-orbit coupling, many-electron atoms. X-ray spectra, optical selection rules, emission and absorption of radiation, including lasers. Optics: Fermat's principle, lenses, imaging systems, diffraction, interference, relation between geometrical and wave descriptions, interferometers, spectrometers. Statistical mechanics: probability distributions, micro and macrostates, Boltzmann distribution, ensembles, equipartition theorem, blackbody spectrum, including Planck distribution |
Lecture notes | Lecture notes will be provided electronically during the course. |
Literature | Quantum mechanics/Atomic physics/Molecules: "The Physics of Atoms and Quanta", H. Hakan and H. C. Wolf, ISBN 978-3-642-05871-4 Optics: "Optics", E. Hecht, ISBN 0-321-18878-0 Statistical mechanics: "Statistical Physics", F. Mandl 0-471-91532-7 |