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Books > Science & Mathematics > Physics > Atomic & molecular physics
A series of seminal technological revolutions has led to a new
generation of electronic devices miniaturized to such tiny scales
where the strange laws of quantum physics come into play. There is
no doubt that, unlike scientists and engineers of the past,
technology leaders of the future will have to rely on quantum
mechanics in their everyday work. This makes teaching and learning
the subject of paramount importance for further progress. Mastering
quantum physics is a very non-trivial task and its deep
understanding can only be achieved through working out real-life
problems and examples. It is notoriously difficult to come up with
new quantum-mechanical problems that would be solvable with a
pencil and paper, and within a finite amount of time. This book
remarkably presents some 700+ original problems in quantum
mechanics together with detailed solutions covering nearly 1000
pages on all aspects of quantum science. The material is largely
new to the English-speaking audience. The problems have been
collected over about 60 years, first by the lead author, the late
Prof. Victor Galitski, Sr. Over the years, new problems were added
and the material polished by Prof. Boris Karnakov. Finally, Prof.
Victor Galitski, Jr., has extended the material with new problems
particularly relevant to modern science.
All living matter is comprised of cells, which are small
compartments isolated from the environment by a cell membrane and
filled with concentrated solutions of various organic and inorganic
compounds. Some organisms are single-cell, where all life functions
are performed by that cell. Others have groups of cells, or organs,
specializing in one particular function. The survival of the entire
organism depends on all of its cells and organs fulfilling their
roles. Cells are seen differently by biologists, chemists, or
physicists. Biologists concentrate their attention on cell
structure and function. What the cells consist of? Where are its
organelles? What function each organelle fulfils? From a chemists'
point of view, a cell is a complex chemical reaction chamber where
various molecules are synthesized or degraded. From a physics
standpoint, however, some of the fundamental questions involve the
physical movement of all these molecules between organelles within
the cell, their exchange with the extracellular medium, as well as
electrical phenomena resulting from such transport. The aim of this
book is to look into the basic physical phenomena occurring in
cells. These physical transport processes facilitate chemical
reactions in the cell and various electrical effects, and that, in
turn, leads to the biological functions necessary for the cell to
satisfy its role in the mother organism. Ultimately, the goals of
every cell are to stay alive and to fulfil its function as a part
of a larger organ or organism. The first volume of this book is an
inventory of physical transport processes occurring in cells, and
this volume provides a closer look at how complex biological and
physiological cell phenomena result from these very basic physical
processes.
Volume 3 of this three-part series presents more advanced topics
and applications of relativistic quantum field theory. The
application of quantum chromodynamics to high-energy particle
scattering is discussed with concrete examples for how to compute
QCD scattering cross sections. Experimental evidence for the
existence of quarks and gluons is then presented within the context
of the naive quark model and beyond. In addition the text reviews
our current understanding of the weak interaction, unified
electroweak theory and the Brout-Higgs-Englert mechanism for the
generation of gauge boson masses. The last two chapters contain a
self-contained introduction to finite temperature quantum field
theory with concrete examples focusing on the high-temperature
thermodynamics of scalar field theories, QED and QCD.
Volume 1 of this three-part series introduces the fundamental
concepts of quantum field theory using the formalism of canonical
quantization. This volume is intended for use as a text for an
introductory quantum field theory course that can include both
particle and condensed matter physics students. Starting with a
brief review of classical field theory as a jumping off point for
the quantization of classical fields, thereby promoting them to
proper quantum fields, formalism for real and complex scalar field
theories is then presented, followed by fermion field quantization,
gauge field quantization, toy models of the nuclear interaction,
and finally the full Lagrangian for QED and its renormalization.
Volume 2 of this three-part series presents the quantization of
classical field theory using the path integral formalism. For
students who wish to learn about relativistic quantum field theory
applied to particle physics, this accessible text is also useful
for students of condensed matter. Beginning with an introduction of
the path integral formalism for non-relativistic quantum mechanics,
the formalism is extended to quantum fields with an infinite number
of degrees of freedom. How to quantize gauge fields using the
Fadeev-Popov method, and fermionic fields using Grassman algebra,
is also explored before the path integral formulation of quantum
chromodynamics and its renormalization is presented. Finally, the
role played by topological solutions in non-abelian gauge theories
is discussed.
Practically every display technology in use today relies on the
flat, energy-efficient construction made possible by liquid
crystals. These displays provide visually-crisp, vibrantly-colored
images that a short time ago were thought only possible in science
fiction. Liquid crystals are known mainly for their use in display
technologies, but they also provide many diverse and useful
applications: adaptive optics, electro-optical devices, films,
lasers, photovoltaics, privacy windows, skin cleansers and soaps,
and thermometers. The striking images of liquid crystals changing
color under polarized lighting conditions are even on display in
many museums and art galleries - true examples of science meeting
art. Yet, although liquid crystals provide us with visually
stunning displays, fascinating applications, and are a rich and
fruitful source of interdisciplinary research, their full potential
may remain untapped.
This third edition of Peter Bernath's successful Spectra of Atoms
and Molecules is designed to provide advanced undergraduates and
graduate students a working knowledge of the vast field of
spectroscopy. Also of interest to chemists, physicists,
astronomers, atmospheric scientists, and engineers, this volume
emphasizes the fundamental principles of spectroscopy with the
primary goal of teaching the interpretation of spectra. Features
include a presentation of group theory needed to understand
spectroscopy, detailed worked examples and a large number of
excellent problems at the end of each chapter. Prof. Bernath
provides a large number of diagrams and spectra which have been
specifically recorded for this book. Molecular symmetry, matrix
representation of groups, quantum mechanics, and group theory are
among the topics covered; atomic, rotational, vibrational,
electronic and Raman spectra are analyzed. Bernath's clear
treatment of the confusing topic of line strengths as needed for
quantitative applications is featured. This much-needed new edition
has been updated to include the 2010 CODATA revision of physical
constants, and a large number of corrections and clarifications.
Responding to student requests, the main new feature is the
addition of detailed worked examples in each chapter. Spectra of
Atoms and Molecules, 3e will help demystify spectroscopy by showing
readers the necessary steps in a derivation, as well as the final
result.
Nanomaterials and nanostructures are the original product of
nanotechnology, and they are the key building blocks for enabling
technologies. In this context, this book presents a concise
overview of the synthesis and characterization methods of
nanomaterials and nanostructures, while integrating facets of
physics, chemistry, and engineering. The book summarizes the
fundamentals and technical approaches in synthesis, and processing
of nanostructures and nanomaterials, giving the reader a systematic
and quick picture of the field. The text focuses on functional
aspects of nanomaterials that have a high relevance to immediate
applications, such as catalysis, energy harvesting, biosensing, and
surface functionalization. There are chapters addressing
nanostructured materials and composites, and covering basic
properties and requirements of this new class of engineered
materials.
Elements of Photoionization Quantum Dynamics Methods focuses on the
RMT approach for multiphoton quantum dynamics, which is employed to
tackle the problem of laser-induced atomic dynamics. This recently
developed formulation has shown the potential to become one of the
mainstream ab initio theoretical approaches capable of describing
the quantum dynamics of multielectron quantum systems exposed in
ultrashort intense laser pulses lasting at the femtosecond
timescale ( 10-15 sec). The method itself builds on the
division-of-space concept and has evolved as an extension of the
well-established atomic R-matrix method to incorporate time in its
formulation. It is this way that its name was inherited, R-matrix
with time incorporation (RMT), although no R-matrix appears
anywhere in the formulation.
Electrostatic accelerators have been at the forefront of modern
technology since 1932, when Sir John Cockroft and Ernest Walton
developed the first accelerator. Although the electrostatic
accelerator field is more than 90 years old, the field and the
number of accelerators is growing more rapidly than ever. This book
provides an overview of the basic science and technology that
underlies the electrostatic accelerator field so it can serve as a
reference guide and textbook for accelerator engineers as well as
students and researchers who work with electrostatic accelerators.
Our understanding of subatomic particles developed over many years,
although a clear picture of the different particles, their
interactions and their inter-relationships only emerged in the
latter part of the twentieth century. The first subatomic particles
to be investigated were those which exhibit readily observable
macroscopic behavior, specifically these are the photon, which we
observe as light and the electron, which is manifested as
electricity. The true nature of these particles, however, only
became clear within the last century or so. The development of the
Standard Model provided clarification of the way in which various
particles, specifically the hadrons, relate to one another and the
way in which their properties are determined by their structure.
The final piece, perhaps, of the final model, that is the means by
which some particles acquire mass, has just recently been clarified
with the observation of the Higgs boson. Since the 1970s it has
been known that the measured solar neutrino flux was inconsistent
with the flux predicted by solar models. The existence of neutrinos
with mass would allow for neutrino flavor oscillations and would
provide an explanation for this discrepancy. Only in the past few
years, has there been clear experimental evidence that neutrinos
have mass. The description of particle structure on the basis of
the Standard Model, along with recent discoveries concerning
neutrino properties, provides us with a comprehensive picture of
the properties of subatomic particles. Part I of the present book
provides an overview of the Standard Model of particle physics
including an overview of the discovery and properties of the Higgs
boson. Part II of the book summarizes the important investigations
into the physics of neutrinos and provides an overview of the
interpretation of these studies.
Dalton's theory of the atom is generally considered to be what made
the atom a scientifically fruitful concept in chemistry. To be
sure, by Dalton's time the atom had already had a two-millenium
history as a philosophical idea, and corpuscular thought had long
been viable in natural philosophy (that is, in what we would today
call physics).
Atoms in Chemistry will examine episodes in the evolution of the
concept of the atom, particularly in chemistry, from Dalton's day
to our own. It begins with an overview of scientific atomic
theories from the 17th through 20th centuries that analyzes
corpuscular theories of matter proposed or entertained by natural
philosophers in the 17th century. Chapters will focus on
philosophical and religious conceptions of matter, 19th-century
organic structural theories, the debate surrounding the truth of
the atomic-molecular theory, and physical evidence accumulated in
the late 19th and early 20th centuries that suggested that atoms
were actually real, even if they were not exactly as Dalton
envisioned them. The final chapter of this book takes the reader
beyond the atom itself to some of the places associated with the
history of scientific atomism. As a whole, this volume will serve
as a passport to important episodes from the more than 200-year
history of atoms in chemistry.
This book is on inertial confinement fusion, an alternative way to
produce electrical power from hydrogen fuel by using powerful
lasers or particle beams. Two huge laser facilities are presently
under construction to show that this method works. It involves the
compression of tiny amounts (micrograms) of fuel to thousand times
solid density and pressures otherwise existing only in the centre
of stars. Thanks to advances in laser technology, it is now
possible to produce such extreme states of matter in the
laboratory. Recent developments have boosted laser intensities
again with new possibilities for laser particle accelerators, laser
nuclear physics, and fast ignition of fusion targets. This is a
reference book for those working on beam plasma physics, be it in
the context of fundamental research or applications to fusion
energy or novel ultra-bright laser sources. The book combines quite
different areas of physics: beam target interaction, dense plasmas,
hydrodynamic implosion and instabilities, radiative energy transfer
as well as fusion reactions. Particular attention is given to
simple and useful modeling, including dimensional analysis and
similarity solutions. Both authors have worked in this field for
more than 20 years. They want to address in particular those
teaching this topic to students and all those interested in
understanding the technical basis.
This textbook describes the physics of semiconductor nanostructures
with emphasis on their electronic transport properties. At its
heart are five fundamental transport phenomena: quantized
conductance, tunnelling transport, the Aharonov-Bohm effect, the
quantum Hall effect, and the Coulomb blockade effect.
The book starts out with the basics of solid state and
semiconductor physics, such as crystal structure, band structure,
and effective mass approximation, including spin-orbit interaction
effects important for research in semiconductor spintronics. It
contains material aspects such as band engineering, doping, gating,
and a selection of nanostructure fabrication techniques. The book
discusses the Drude-Boltzmann-Sommerfeld transport theory as well
as conductance quantization and the Landauer-Buttiker theory. These
concepts are extended to mesoscopic interference phenomena and
decoherence, magnetotransport, and interaction effects in
quantum-confined systems, guiding the reader from fundamental
effects to specialized state-of-the-art experiments.
The book will provide a thorough introduction into the topic for
graduate and PhD students, and will be a useful reference for
lecturers and researchers working in the field.
This book is a long-term history of optics, from early Greek
theories of vision to the nineteenth-century victory of the wave
theory of light. It shows how light gradually became the central
entity of a domain of physics that no longer referred to the
functioning of the eye; it retraces the subsequent competition
between medium-based and corpuscular concepts of light; and it
details the nineteenth-century flourishing of mechanical ether
theories. The author critically exploits and sometimes completes
the more specialized histories that have flourished in the past few
years. The resulting synthesis brings out the actors' long-term
memory, their dependence on broad cultural shifts, and the
evolution of disciplinary divisions and connections. Conceptual
precision, textual concision, and abundant illustration make the
book accessible to a broad variety of readers interested in the
origins of modern optics.
The neutron is an elementary particle that has been extensively
studied, both theoretically and experimentally. This book reviews
and analyses the results of the mainly experimental research on the
neutron and rationalizes what is known so far about its intrinsic
properties. The book covers topics that have not previously been
dealt with in detail, including the gravitational properties of the
neutron, precise determination of its mass, beta-decay, and its
electromagnetic properties. This translation is an updated version
of the original Russian text and also covers the more recent
advances made during the past 7-8 years, including the application
of methods based on the storage of ultra-cold neutrons to the study
of beta-decay, new precise measurement of the mass of the neutron,
and confirmation of modern theories of the internal structure of
the neutron.
Advances in Quantum Chemistry, Volume 86 highlights new advances in
the field, with this new volume presenting topics covering Can
orbital basis sets compete with explicitly correlated ones for
few-electron systems?, Converging high-level equation-of-motion
coupled-cluster energetics with the help of Monte Carlo and
selected configuration interaction, Coupled cluster downfolding
techniques: a review of existing applications in classical and
quantum computing for chemical systems, Multi-reference methods for
the description of dynamic and nondynamic electron correlation
effects in atoms and molecules, Exploring the attosecond
laser-driven electron dynamics in the hydrogen molecule with
different TD-CI approaches, and much more. Additional sections
cover Molecular systems in spatial confinement: variation of linear
and nonlinear electrical response of molecules in the bond
dissociation processes, Relativistic Infinite-order two-component
methods for heavy elements, Second quantized approach to exchange
energy revised - beyond the S^2 approximation, Calculating atomic
states without the Born-Oppenheimer approximation, Convergence of
the Correlated Optimized Effective Potential Method, and more.
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