Atomic and Molecular Physics

Paper Code: 
24PHY223
Credits: 
4
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

This course will enable the students to – 

  • develop an understanding of the atomic and molecular structure.
  • develop an understanding of the interaction of atomic and molecular systems with external homogeneous static electric and magnetic fields.
  • enable the students to apply the knowledge acquired from study of this paper to analyze atomic and molecular spectra or to solve problems related to Atomic and Molecular Physics, Molecular Spectra of diatomic molecules, Vibrational and Rotational energy levels and Raman spectra.

 

Course Outcomes: 

Course

Learning outcomes

(at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment 

Strategies

Course Code

Course Title

24PHY223

 

 

 

Atomic and Molecular Physics

 (Theory)

 

 

 

CO51: Interpret the hydrogen spectrum.

CO52: Build an understanding of identical particles and the physical significance of Pauli’s exclusion principle and Calculate energies of different states of Helium atom.

CO53: Apply the perturbation theory to degenerate and non–degenerate systems and distinguish Zeeman effect and Stark effect.

CO54 : Solve bound state problems using WKB method.

CO55: Analyze different types of spectra viz. Alkali metal spectra, Alkali earth metal spectra,  Raman spectra and Electronic spectra.

CO56: Contribute effectively in course - specific interaction

Approach in teaching:

Interactive Lectures, Discussion, Tutorials,  Demonstration, Problem Solving in tutorials

 

 

Learning activities for the students:

Self learning assignments, Effective questions,  Seminar presentation, Solving numerical.Additional learning through online videos

Class test, Semester end examinations, Quiz, Solving problems, Assignments, Presentations

 

12.00
Unit I: 
Hydrogen Atom

Gross structure energy spectrum, probability distribution of radial and angular (l=1,2) wave functions (no derivation), effect of spin, relativistic correction to energy levels and fine structure, magnetic dipole interaction and hyperfine structure, the Lamb shift (only qualitative description).

10.00
Unit II: 
Systems with Identical Particles

Indistinguishability and exchange symmetry, many particle wave functions and Pauli's exclusion principle, spectroscopic terms for atoms.

The Helium atom,Variational method and its use in the calculation of ground state and excited state energy.                                 

14.00
Unit III: 
Interaction with External Fields

Non degenerate first order stationary perturbation method, perturbed harmonic oscillator, Zeeman effect(Normal, Anomalous) and calculation of interaction energy, degenerate stationary perturbation theory, atom in a weak uniform external electric field and first and second order Stark effect, Linear Stark effect for H-atom levels 

                                                

11.00
Unit IV: 
The Hydrogen molecule

Hitler-London method for H2 molecule, WKB method for one dimensional problem, application to bound states (Bohr Sommerfield quantization) and the barrier penetration (alpha decay problems).

 

13.00
Unit V: 
Spectroscopy (Qualitative)

General features of the spectra of one and two electron systems (singlet, doublet and triplet spectra) and their selection rules, salient features of Raman spectra and its applications,comparison with infrared spectra, general features of electronic spectra, Frank and Condon's principle.

Essential Readings: 
  • “Elementary Atomic Structure”, G.K. Woodgate, Second Edition Clarendon Press, Oxford. 
  •  “Atomic and Molecular Physics”, T.A. Littlefield. 
References: 
  • "Quantum Physics of Atoms, Molecules, Solids and Nuclear Particles”, Eistaberg and Rasmic. 
  • “Quantum Mechanics : A Modem Approach”, Ashok Das and A.C. Melfessions, Gordon and Breach Science Publishers. 
  • “Atomic Spectra”, White. 
  • “Molecular spectra”, Herzberg. 

 

E content:

 

 

 

Academic Year: 
2024-2025
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