LFU:online

Advanced understanding of atomic physics

Target group of the lecture: All PhD students who work on problems in quantum optics, quantum information, and quantum many-body physics based on atomic systems, or for students who want to refresh or deepen their know-how in atomic physics.

Content of the lecture: First, using the helium atom, we emphasize the differences between hydrogen and atoms with more than one electron: screening, exchange degeneracy and Pauli principle. Being aware of the differences with hydrogen it turns out that – unexpectedly - many electron atoms can be conveniently analyzed as effective one-electron atoms. This is enabled by the central field approximation. For alkali atoms this is demonstrated by introducing quantum defects. We discuss many-electron wavefunctions, in particular Slater determinants of spinorbitals. We analyze matrix element for Slater determinants and use this to calculate the orbital and spin angular momentum of determinantal wavefunctions. This leads to the Hartree-Fock mean field approximation. This approximation is compared with the Thomas-Fermi approximation for the electron cloud. The difference (for instance shell structure) with the modern fermionic neutral quantum gases is emphasized. At this point we can understand the physics underpinning the Hund rules. This makes it possible to predict the ground state of most elements of the Medeleev periodic table. Fascinating anomalies are explained.

The lecture is sponsored by IQOQI.

First lecture block (IQOQI Schrödingersaal):
Wed, 19 Nov, 11:15-13:00
Thu, 20 Nov, 10:15-12:00 and 15:15-17:00
Fri, 21 Nov, 13:15-15:00

Second block (3 double hours) in January.