Phys 6110: Atomic Physics

Spring Semester 2019

• Contact information

  Professor:	Robin Côté	Office	Friday
  Office:	P-114	Hours:	1:00-2:00 PM
  Phone:	(860) 486-4912		or by appointment
  email:	robin.cote@uconn.edu

• Text book: Lecture notes should be available on the course web-site a few days after each lecture in pdf format.
• Lectures: Monday and Wednesday, 12:30-1:45 PM, Room GW-103A.
• Assessment: There will be bi-weekly written homework assignments, which will constitute 50% of the grade. The remainder of the grade will be determined from one written midterm exam (around March 11), and one Final project (end of semester). The following weights are used in calculating the final grade in the course.

  Homework	50%
  Midterm	15%
  Final (project)	35%

• IMPORTANT:: The dates of homework assignments, midterm, project presentations, etc., are subject to changes depending on the weather (e.g. snowstorms), or the progress made in the course.

• Academic misconduct: There is a zero-tolerance policy for any form of academic misconduct. An explanation of academic misconduct can be found at http://clasadvising.uconn.edu/academic-misconduct-policies-procedures. In particular, see The Student Conduct Code .

• Course Outline:

  1-	Overview and units
  2-	Spinless hydrogenic atoms and ions
  3-	Angular momentum and intrinsic spin of particles
  4-	Relativistic corrections and Dirac equation
  5-	Fine and hyperfine interactions
  6-	Atoms in external fields (DC and B)
  7-	Atoms in AC fields
  8-	Multi-electron atoms
  9-	Angular momentum revisited
  10-	Lineshapes and spectra
  11-	Effect of collisions
  12-	Scattering of atoms with atoms and ions
  13-	Feshbach resonances
  14-	Long-range interactions and scattering

• Reference Textbooks: many good books describe various aspects of the material covered in this course. Among them

• Harald Friedrich, Theoretical Atomic Physics, Third Edition, Springer-Verlag, 2006, ISBN 3-540-25644-X.
• Dmitry Budker, Derek F. Kimball, and David P. DeMille, Atomic Physics: An Exploration through Problems and Solutions, 2nd Edition, Oxford University Press, 2008, ISBN 978-0-19-953241-4.
  Also available in hardcover. Offers excellent physical insight in systematically treating a variety of extended example problems, but not organized as a full-spectrum textbook.
• Harold J. Metcalf and Peter van der Straten, Laser Cooling and Trapping, Springer-Verlag, 1999, ISBN 0-387-98728-2 (also available in hardcover). An exceptionally lucid text, broader in coverage than its title suggests.
• Richard N. Zare, Angular Momentum: Understanding Spatial Aspects in Chemistry and Physics, John Wiley and Sons, 1988, ISBN 0471858927. Easily the best book available on its subject area.
• Christopher J. Foot, Atomic Physics, Oxford University Press, 2005, ISBN 0-19-850696-1. A highly recommended newer text at an introductory level.
• W. Demtröder, Laser Spectroscopy: Basic Concepts and Instrumentation, 2nd Edition, Springer-Verlag, 1996, ISBN 3-540-57171-X. Excellent coverage of real-world considerations and experimental methods.