ASTR 5110 Fall 2022 Homepage
ASTR 5110 Atomic and Molecular Physics Fall 2022: Syllabus
Content
The APS department has agreed on a
model syllabus
for Atomic and Molecular Physics.
The course falls into three parts:
- Statistical Mechanics (4 weeks)
- Atoms and Radiation (8 weeks)
- Molecules (2 weeks)
1. Statistical Mechanics (4 weeks)
-
Per AJSH notes (see notes)
2. Atoms and Radiation
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Atoms: Overview (1 week)
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Collisional and radiative processes
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Atomic units
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Bohr Atom
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Atomic Structure
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Selection Rules
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Spectra
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Review of Quantum Mechanics (1 week)
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Schrödinger Equation
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Operators
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Angular Momentum
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Perturbation Theory
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Rates
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Hydrogen Atom (1 week)
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Wavefunctions
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Spin
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H-atom spectroscopy
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Fine-structure, Hyperfine structure, Zeeman effect, 2-photon transitions, Lamb shift
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Multi-Electron Atoms (2 weeks)
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Structure: configuration, LS term, J level
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Construction of terms
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Isoelectronic sequences
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Radiative selection rules
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Lines: Resonance, Allowed, Forbidden, Semi-forbidden, Fine-Structure
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Radiative Processes (2 weeks)
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Radiation from moving charges
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Multipole expansion
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Oscillator strengths
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Spontaneous emission, absorption, stimulated emission
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Einstein relations
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Line profiles: Doppler, Lorentz, Voigt
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Introduction to Radiative Transfer Equation
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Opacity sources
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Excitation, Ionization, Cooling (1 week)
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Detailed Balance
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Collisional processes
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Rates: collision strength, Born approximation, generalized oscillator strength
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Two-level atom
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Plasma diagnostics: density, temperature
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Ionization equilibria: thermodynamic, collisional, photoionization
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Cooling function
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Thermal instability
3. Molecules (2 weeks)
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Bonding
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Electronic-vibrational-rotational
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Notation: diatomic molecules
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Vibrational levels: simple harmonic oscillator
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Rotational levels: top
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Nuclear-electronic angular momentum coupling: Hund's cases
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Symmetry of homonuclear molecules: para/ortho
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Ro-vibrational spectra
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Franck-Condon principle
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Hönl-London factors
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Selection rules
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Assocation, dissociation, predissociation
Class is in-person
This is an in-person class.
Class will not be available synchronously on zoom.
However, classes will be recorded, and posted to canvas.
My intention is to have the recording posted to canvas
on the same day as the lecture.
The canvas recordings are behind the CU firewall,
accessible only to people in the class.
By participating in the class, either in person or remotely,
you agree to have your participation (image and audio) recorded.
CU rules prohibit you from recording the class separately.
Problem Sets
There will a problem set most weeks, 11 problem sets in all.
Each set will be due before class the following Wednesday.
They are intended to be frequent, and not too long.
No problem sets are planned after the Fall Break.
Please upload your solutions in pdf to canvas.
Please make sure your solutions are easily readable before you submit them.
Midterm
There will be a single midterm on Statistical Mechanics.
The midterm will be a 24-hour, open-book, open-web, take-home exam.
You may do the midterm during any consecutive 24 hour period
during the week it is available.
Final
The Final will be a
Project,
which in accordance with APS rules you must do by yourself,
although you are free to discuss the Project with others.
For the Project, you will pick a paper
(or possibly a short series of related papers)
from the
arXiv
that relates to the subject matter of this course
(Atomic and Molecular Physics), and:
-
(70/100)
Write a report on the paper.
Your report should:
-
(20) Summarize the content, context, motivation, and conclusions of the paper.
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(30) Include a reasoned exposition of
the atomic and/or molecular physics used in the paper,
touching not only on the atoms and molecules themselves,
but also on the collisional and radiative processes involved.
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(20) Critique the paper,
as if you were refereeing the paper.
As always in a referee's report,
your criticism should be specific, factual, and constructive,
as opposed to generalized, opinionated, and unactionable.
-
(15/100)
Prepare a no more than 10 minute video presentation,
which you will record on zoom and upload to canvas.
-
(15/100)
Defend your presentation during a 7.5-minute question period in class.
Presentations will be made during the week following Fall Break.
APS policy requires that the AMP exam should comprehensive,
so your report should cover more than just a single narrow aspect
of atomic and molecular physics.
Grading
Grading will be weighted as follows:
| Problem Sets | 60% |
| Midterm | 20% |
| Final | 20% |
Policies
The Univerity has in place various policies
regarding your rights and responsibilities as a student,
and it offers various support services to help you.
Please consider the
CU required syllabus statements as part of this syllabus.
Common Courtesy
I expect you:
-
To give the class your full attention.
You may expect me:
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To finish lectures on time.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
ASTR 5110 Fall 2022 Homepage
Updated 2022 Nov 6