Atoms, Molecules and Photons: An Introduction to Atomic- Molecular- and Quantum Physics

This introduction to Atomic and Molecular Physics explains how our present model of atoms and molecules has been developed during the last two centuries by many experimental discoveries and from the theoretical side by the introduction of quantum physics to the adequate description of micro-particles. It illustrates the wave model of particles by many examples and shows the limits of classical description. The interaction of electromagnetic radiation with atoms and molecules and its potential for spectroscopy is outlined in more detail and in particular lasers as modern spectroscopic tools are discussed more thoroughly. Many examples and problems with solutions should induce the reader to an intense active cooperation.
The detailed understanding of matter, its phase transitions and its interaction with radiation could be only reached, after its microscopic structure determined by the kind of atoms or molecules as basic constituents of matter had been investigated. This knowledge allowed the controlled optimization of characteristic properties of matter.Atomicphysicsthereforerepresentsnotonlyanareaofimportantfundamental research, but has furthermore many applications which have essentially formed our present technical world. The understanding of materials and their use in daily life, has major impact of our culture and our attitude towards nature and our environment. This textbook is aimed as an introduction to the microscopic world of atoms, - lecules and photons. Itillustrates howourknowledge about themicroscopic structure of matter and radiation came about and which crucial experiments forced an ext- sion and re?nement of existing classical theories, culminating in the development of quantum theory, which is now accepted as the basic theory of atomic and molecular physics. The book therefore starts with a short historical review about the role of - periments for correcting erroneous ideas and proving the existence of atoms and molecules. The close interaction between experiments and theory has been one of the th th reasons for the rapid development of atomic physics in the 19 and 20 centuries.