Physics H190, Spring 2002

Introduction to Molecular Spectroscopy

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When and where: Wednesdays, 4:10-5:40 p.m., room 329 LeConte

Instructor: Associate Professor D. Budker

Office: 273 Birge, Labs: 217, 219, 221, 230, 241, 245 Birge
tel. 643-1829
e-mail: budker@socrates.Berkeley.edu
research group web page: http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~budker/

Office hour: Tu, 1-2, 273 Birge

Format: one 1.5 hr class meeting per week (student participation strongly encouraged), homework

Synopsis and goals of the course:
The course will attempt to provide a brief but systematic introduction to the spectra of diatomic molecules, and will include a discussion of traditional rotational, vibrational, Raman, electronic, and photoelectron spectroscopies, followed by an overview of selected experimental techniques and modern developments, including:

Tests of fundamental symmetries in molecules (parity, time-reversal invariance, and quantum statistics)
Trapping and cooling molecules
Molecular formation from laser-cooled and trapped atoms
Hypersonic beams of molecules
Molecular lasers
Spectroscopy of molecular solids, matrix isolation
Etc.

Approach:
Our approach to this course will be different from that employed by the present instructor in teaching the Honors seminar in the past (see e.g. the H190 Spring 2001 web page).

Required text

Brown, John M. Molecular spectroscopy. Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 1998. QD96.M65 B76 1998

Some other textbooks that may be used in conjunction with this course include:

G. Herzberg. Molecular Spectra and Molecular Structure, v. I. Spectra of Diatomic Molecules. Krieger, Malabar, Florida, 89. (An advanced text; used as a reference by professionals) QC451.H455 1950 v.1

Bernath, Peter F. Spectra of atoms and molecules. Oxford University Press, New York, 1995. QC454.A8 B47 1995

Banwell, C. N. Fundamentals of molecular spectroscopy, 4th ed. London ; New York : McGraw-Hill, 1994, QD96.M65 B36 1994

Various specific topics are covered in additional literature:

S. Svanberg. Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1992. QC454.A8.S85 1992
B. H. Bransden and C. J. Joachain. Physics of Atoms and Molecules. Longman, 1988. QC173.B677 1983 reserve (2 copies)
L. D. Landau and E. M. Lifshits. Quantum Mechanics. QC174.12.L35131 1977 reserve (2 copies)
N. F. Ramsey. Molecular Beams. Oxford, 1990. QC173 .R33 (2 copies)
W. Demtröder. Laser Spectroscopy. Springer, 1996. QC454.D46 1996
I. B. Khriplovich. Parity Nonconservation in Atomic Phenomena. Gordon&Breach, 1991. QC793.3.S9.K4513 1991
I. B. Khriplovich and S. K. Lamoreaux, CP violation without strangeness : electric dipole moments of particles, atoms, and molecules. New York : Springer-Verlag, c1997. QC793.3.V5.K47 1997
A. R. Edmonds. Angular momentum in quantum mechanics. Princeton University Press, 1974. QC174.1.E3 1974
R. N. Zare, Angular momentum : understanding spatial aspects in chemistry and physics. New York : Wiley, c1988. QC793.3.A5.Z371 1987
H. J. Metcalf and P. van der Straten. Laser cooling and trapping. Springer, 1999. QC689.5.L35.M47 1999

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Useful Links, Web Resources

Homework

Assignment 1 (Feb. 13)
Assignment 2 (March 20)
Assignment 3 (April 24)

Acknowledgment and Disclaimer: This material is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. PHY-9733479. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recomendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation (NSF).