Atomic and Nuclear Physics

Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear & Particle Physics in 10 chapters — from “The Hydrogen Atom: Bohr and Beyond” to “Modern Frontiers and Open Questions”.

Chapters

  1. The Hydrogen Atom: Bohr and Beyond
    • Introduction: The Puzzle of Atomic Spectra
    • The Rydberg Formula and Empirical Spectroscopy
    • Bohr's Postulates and Quantization
    • Derivation of the Rydberg Constant
    • Success of the Bohr Model
    • Failures and Limitations
    • The Bridge to Quantum Mechanics
  2. Quantum Atom: Wavefunctions and Probability Densities
    • From Orbits to Probability Clouds
    • The Schrödinger Equation for Hydrogen
    • Radial Wavefunctions and Probability Densities
    • Angular Wavefunctions: Spherical Harmonics
    • Selection Rules for Radiative Transitions
    • Fine Structure and the Lamb Shift
    • Barrier Penetration and Quantum Tunneling
  3. Multielectron Atoms and the Periodic Table
    • The Helium Atom and the Failure of Independent Electrons
    • The Pauli Exclusion Principle
    • Electron Configurations and Shell Structure
    • Hund's Rules and Multielectron Configurations
    • The Periodic Table: Structure and Organisation
    • Ionisation Energy and Periodic Trends
    • Other Periodic Trends: Electron Affinity and Atomic Radius
  4. X-Rays: Production, Diffraction, and Bragg's Law
    • Introduction: Discovery and Nature of X-Rays
    • X-Ray Production: The X-Ray Tube
    • X-Ray Interaction with Crystals
    • Applications of X-Rays
    • Summary and Historical Impact
  5. Lasers and Coherent Light
    • Introduction: Spontaneous vs. Stimulated Emission
    • Einstein's A and B Coefficients
    • Population Inversion and Gain
    • Three-Level Laser Systems
    • Four-Level Laser Systems
    • The Laser Cavity and Mode Structure
    • Properties of Laser Light: Coherence, Monochromaticity, Directionality
    • Selected Applications
    • Summary and Outlook
  6. Nuclear Structure
    • Introduction: The Atomic Nucleus
    • Nucleons: Protons and Neutrons
    • Nuclear Binding Energy and Mass Defect
    • The Semi-Empirical Mass Formula (SEMF)
    • Nuclear Shell Model: Qualitative Picture
    • Nuclear Stability and the Valley of Beta Stability
    • Summary and Preview
  7. Radioactivity
    • The Discovery and Nature of Radioactivity
    • Alpha Decay
    • Beta Decay: Transmutation of Nucleons
    • Gamma Decay and Nuclear Excited States
    • The Law of Radioactive Decay
    • Activity and Units of Measurement
    • Decay Chains and Secular Equilibrium
    • Radioactive Dating
  8. Nuclear Reactions: Fission and Fusion
    • Nuclear Reactions and Q-Values
    • Cross-Sections and Reaction Rates
    • Nuclear Fission
    • Nuclear Fusion
    • Energy Scales and Applications
  9. A Particle Physics Primer: Up to the Standard Model
    • The Four Fundamental Forces
    • Quarks and Leptons: The Fundamental Fermions
    • Hadrons: Mesons and Baryons
    • The Standard Model: Forces and Gauge Bosons
    • The Higgs Mechanism and the Higgs Boson
    • Experimental Particle Physics: Accelerators and Detectors
    • Open Questions Beyond the Standard Model
  10. Modern Frontiers and Open Questions
    • Introduction: From the Standard Model to the Universe
    • Neutrino Physics
    • Dark Matter: The Missing 85%
    • Precision Measurements and Anomalies
    • Cosmology Meets Particle Physics
    • Future Colliders and Detectors
    • Outlook: Toward a Unified Understanding