A Student's Guide to Atomic Physics

Mark Fox is a Professor of Physics at the University of Sheffield. He is also a Fellow of the Optical Society of America, and the Institute of Physics. His research focuses on optics and photonics, and he specialises in solid-state atoms and quantum dots. He has authored two highly successful books: Optical Properties of Solids (2nd edition, 2010) and Quantum Optics: An Introduction (2005).

'Today a thorough understanding of atomic and molecular physics is surely a prerequisite for a career in astrophysics, especially now that the entire electromagnetic spectrum of many astronomical objects may be open to quantitative examination. Given the need for a sound understanding, the question becomes, how are students to develop a serious interest in atomic and molecular physics? This book by Mark Fox deserves consideration for an atomic-physics course taken by physics (and other) students in the second half of their undergraduate career … I welcome this book for its clear exposition of the basic ideas on atomic structure and spectra. … The health of spectroscopic astrophysics demands that young bright minds are brought into the field in every generation. Texts like that by Mark Fox have a crucial role to play in this context.' David L. Lambert, The Observatory

• Preface; List of symbols; Part I. Fundamental Principles: 1. Preliminary concepts; 2. Hydrogen; 3. Radiative transitions; 4. The shell model and alkali spectra; 5. Angular momentum; 6. Helium and exchange symmetry; 7. Fine structure and nuclear effects; 8. External fields: the Zeeman and Stark effects; Part II. Applications of Atomic Physics: 9. Stimulated emission and lasers; 10. Cold atoms; 11. Atomic physics applied to the solid state; 12. Atomic physics in astronomy; Appendix A. The reduced mass; Appendix B. Mathematical solutions for the hydrogen Schrödinger equation; Appendix C. Helium energy integrals; Appendix D. Perturbation theory of the Stark effect; Appendix E. Laser dynamics; Bibliography; Index.