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Ph103-2017


Physics 103
Atomic and Molecular Physics
Fall 2017

This course will be an introduction to modern atomic and molecular physics. Topics include: resonance phenomena, atomic/molecular structure, and the interaction of atoms/molecules with static and oscillating electromagnetic fields; techniques such as laser cooling/trapping and precision measurement; applications to contemporary research such as atomic clocks, searches for fundamental symmetry violations, and synthetic quantum matter, and other research occurring right here at Caltech.  A more detailed course outline can be found below.

Instructor: Nick Hutzler.  Email hutzler(at)caltech.edu with any questions, or if you would like to learn more.

Prerequisites: Graduate quantum mechanics (such as Ph 125), or instructor's permission.

Lectures are MWF 9-10 AM in Downs 103.  I will bring coffee.


The official course website is hosted on Moodle (Caltech access only.)




Approximate course outline

Two-level systems and resonance.  Classical and quantum magnetic resonance, rotating frames.

Atomic structure.  Hydrogenic atoms, electronic structure, fine and hyperfine structure, multi-electron atoms.

Atoms in static fields.  Zeeman and Stark effects, angular momentum coupling schemes.

Atoms in alternating fields.  Einstein A and B coefficients, dipole approximation, Optical Bloch Equations, saturation, cross sections, broadening, M1/E2 transitions, two photon transitions.

Cooling and trapping. Laser cooling, cryogenic/supersonic/thermal beams, laser slowing, magneto-optical trapping, dipole trapping, magnetic/electric trapping.

More complex systems. Raman transitions, adiabatic elimination, atomic clocks, STIRAP, EIT/CPT, fundamental symmetry violations and searches for new physics, optical lattices.

Molecules. Born-Oppenheimer approximation, vibrational/rotational structure, angular momentum with an internal frame, response in static and alternating fields, electronic structure/molecular orbitals

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