Atomic and Molecular Physics

Syllabus

1. Group theory and its applications to quantum mechanics of atoms and molecules:
   Introduction to group theory, representation theory, orthogonality theorems, character tables, decomposition of representations, the three dimensional rotation group, examples of applications.
2. Multi-electron atoms:
   The helium atom, building-up of electron shells for larger atoms, theoretical models for calculating energy levels and eigenfunctions, coupling of angular momenta, selection rules for electronic transitions.
3. Diatomic molecules:
   The hydrogen molecular ion (H_2^+), the hydrogen molecule, electronic levels in larger diatomic molecules, angular momenta, approximate methods for calculating energy levels and eigenfunctions, building-up of electron configurations, vibrational levels, rotational levels, selection rules for electronic, vibrational and rotational transitions.
4. Polyatomic molecules:
   Rotational levels, vibrational levels, rotation-vibration coupling.

Sources:

1. M. Tinkham, Group Theory and Quantum Mechanics, McGraw-Hill, 1964.
2. P. Atkins and R. Friedman, Molecular Quantum Mechanics, 5th (or 4TH) ed., Oxford 2011.