Atomic and Optical Physics I

Syllabus

Course Meeting Times

Lectures: 2 sessions / week, 1.5 hours / session

Prerequisites

8.05 Quantum Physics II

Main Topics

• The two-state systems: Resonance
• Atoms—electronic structure
• Helium atom
• Fine structure and Lamb shift
• Hyperfine structure; Magnetic fields
• Atoms in electric fields
• Interaction of an Atom with an Electro-Magnetic Field
• Einstein’s A and B coefficient
• Saturation of transitions
• Line shapes
• Two-photon transitions
• Coherence
• Dicke superradiance

Requirements

There will be ten problem sets. Assignments will usually be due one week after they have been handed out. There will be no quiz or final exam, but a term paper at the end of the course. This will be a paper in the style of a publication in Physical Review Letters on a topic of mutual interest. The term paper and the homework have equal weight for the total grade. The term paper will be due on the day of the last class.

Grading

ACTIVITIES	PERCENTAGES
Assignments	33
Midterm Quiz	33
Term paper	34

Calendar

LEC #	TOPICS	KEY DATES
1	Resonance I
2	Resonance II
3	Resonance III
4	Resonance IV
5	Resonance V and Atoms I	Homework 1 due
6	Atoms II	Homework 2 due
7	Atoms III
8	Atoms IV
9	Atoms V and Atoms in External Fields I	Homework 3 due
10	Atoms in External Fields II	Homework 4 due
11	Atoms in External Fields III
12	Atoms in External Fields IV and Atom-light Interactions I	Homework 5 due
13	Atom-light Interactions II
14	Atom-light Interactions III	Homework 6 due
15	Atom-light Interactions IV
16	Atom-light Interactions V	Homework 7 due
17	Atom-light Interactions VI and Line Broadening I
18	Line Broadening II
19	Line Broadening III
20	Line Broadening IV and Two-photon Excitation I	Homework 8 due
21	Two-photon Excitation II and Coherence I
22	Coherence II	Homework 9 due
23	Coherence III
24	Coherence IV	Homework 10 due
25	Coherence V