Topics in Atomic Physics

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiv

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2. Background

   Pages 1-13

3. Angular Momentum

   Pages 14-45

4. Angular Momentum—Two Sources

   Pages 46-72

5. The Quantum Mechanical Hydrogen Atom

   Pages 73-91

6. The Classical Hydrogen Atom

   Pages 92-104

7. The Lenz Vector and the Accidental Degeneracy

   Pages 105-125

8. Breaking the Accidental Degeneracy

   Pages 126-144

9. The Hydrogen Atom in External Fields

   Pages 145-177

10. The Helium Atom

    Pages 178-195

11. Multielectron Atoms

    Pages 196-213

12. The Quantum Defect

    Pages 214-229

13. Multielectron Atoms in External Fields

    Pages 230-245

14. Interaction of Atoms with Radiation

    Pages 246-277

15. Back Matter

    Pages 279-288

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The importance of the ?eld of atomic physics to modern technology cannot be overemphasized. Atomic physics served as a major impetus to the development of the quantum theory of matter in the early part of the twentieth century and, due to the availability of the laser as a laboratory tool, it has taken us into the twen- ?rst century with an abundance of new and exciting phenomena to understand. Our intention in writing this book is to provide a foundation for students to begin researchinmodernatomicphysics. Asthetitleimplies,itisnot,norwasitintended to be, an all-inclusive tome covering every aspect of atomic physics. Any specialized textbook necessarily re?ects the predilection of the authors toward certain aspects of the subject. This one is no exception. It re?ects our - lief that a thorough understanding of the unique properties of the hydrogen atom is essential to an understanding of atomic physics. It also re?ects our fasci- tion with the distinguished position that Mother Nature has bestowed on the pure Coulomb and Newtonian potentials, and thus hydrogen atoms and Keplerian - bits. Therefore, we have devoted a large portion of this book to the hydrogen atom toemphasizethisdistinctiveness. Weattempttostresstheuniquenessoftheattr- tive 1/r potential without delving into group theory. It is our belief that, once an understanding of the hydrogen atom is achieved, the properties of multielectron atoms can be understood as departures from hydrogenic properties.

• Dirac equation
• Zeeman effect
• autoionization
• hydrogen atom
• particles
• quantum mechanics

• Department of Physics, St. Louis Community College, St. Louis, USA

  Charles E. Burkhardt

• Department of Physics, University of Missouri—St. Louis, St. Louis, USA

  Jacob J. Leventhal

Charles E. Burkhardt earned his Ph.D. in experimental atomic physics at Washington University in St. Louis in 1985. He is Professor of Physics at Florissant Valley Community College in St. Louis. Jacob J. Leventhal earned his Ph.D. in experimental atomic physics at the University of Florida in 1965. He is Curators' Professor at the University of Missouri – St. Louis. They have collaborated on experimental atomic physics since 1980, publishing numerous papers in research and teaching journals.

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