Atoms, Molecules, and Radiation

This course is part of the foundation of modern physics. It provides a foundation of knowledge that is essential for all physics courses, as it lays the groundwork for the theoretical description of the interaction between the electromagnetic field and elementary quantum elements such as two-level systems, atoms, and molecules. It also provides the necessary knowledge for understanding LASERs, modern optical devices, and spectroscopic methods and analyses.

This course aims to introduce the theoretical concepts and methods used to describe the electronic properties of atoms and molecules and the interaction between light and atomic matter: atoms and molecules interacting with electric and magnetic fields, spin and angular momentum, dielectric permittivity, Rabi oscillations, thermal radiation, introduction to laser physics.

- Analytical Mechanics

- Quantum mechanics

Recommended prerequisites

- Electromagnetism

Final written exam

1) Hydrogen atom

2) Moment algebra

3) Time-independent disturbances

4) Magnetism – Spin and magnetic moment

5) Classical description of radiation-matter interaction

6) Black body radiation

7) Quantum description of radiation-matter interaction