Molecular Physics

Aim

The aims of the course are to provide a basic understanding of quantum mechanics, to enable application of the relations between quantum mechanics and spectroscopic methods for determination of structure in atoms and molecules, and to enable students to make elementary population calculations in quantum mechanical systems. After the course the student should be able to:

• Account for, and apply fundamental quantum-mechanical principles and analyses to model systems and elementary atomic and molecular models
• Explain spectroscopic methods and results in terms of quantum-mechanical principles, and to quantitatively analyze results from atomic and molecular spectroscopies
• Calculate energy distributions in quantum mechanical systems, using elementary statistical thermodynamics

Content

The course introduces the basic concepts and methods in quantum mechanics which are required for describing atomic and molecular structure, and the application of these to spectrosopic methods. The methods for determination of atomic and molecular structure that are treated include vibrational, electronic and magnetic resonance spectroscopies. Basic concepts of statistical thermodynamics are introduced to enable population calculations in quantum mechanical systems. Project assignment where acquisition and analysis of spectroscopic data is included.