In this course the instructor will explain the quantum theory of angular momentum through the easily measured experimental result known as optical spectrums of molecules.
1) Students will gain a unified understanding from the perspective of angular momentum of the freedom of motion that molecules have as small multibody systems composed of multiple nuclei and electrons.
2) Therefore we will deal with the angular momentum of electrons, oscillations, rotations, electron spin, and nuclear spin, as well as their modes of binding, with quantum theory.
3) After first covering the basic topics of electron, oscillation, and rotation state for simple, two atom molecules, we will then cover the eigenstate split into microstructure and hyperfine structure, which is found in results of innermolecular interactions including electron spin and nuclear spin.
4) The instructor will show an example of a physics experiment that can only be implemented through the interaction between a single quantum state specified up to the nuclear spin quantum number, and coherent electromagnetic waves.
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) master the quantum theory of angular momentum including orbital electron, rotation, electron spin and nuclear spin.
2) master the interaction among those angular momenta, and understand the Eigen state and Eigen value of molecular states.
3) explain the electronic, vibrational and rotational spectra with fine and hyperfine structure as the result of the interaction with UV, IR and MW radiation.
4) understand how a single quantum molecular state can be used for the study of fundamental physics.
molecular bond, Born-Oppenheimer approximation, molecular orbital, electronic excited state, electron configuration, UV, IR, MW, fine structure, hyperfine structure
✔ Specialist skills | Intercultural skills | Communication skills | Critical thinking skills | Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
A lecture note with several blanks is provided during class. Instead of black board, explanations are directly written on screen by a pen tablet computer. Hearing the explanation, students fill in the blanks and complete the lecture note.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Electronic, vibrational, and rotational state of a diatomic molecule with single electron system | Explain the Hamiltonian and its Eigen state of H2 ion, Explain the origin of molecular bond |
Class 2 | Electronic states of a diatomic molecule with many electron system | Describe the electron configuration and its spectral term of O2 molecule. |
Class 3 | Interaction of electromagnetic wave and a diatomic molecule | Transition moment and selection rules of electronic, vibrational, rotational transitions |
Class 4 | Spectroscopy of diatomic molecules | Explain the information obtained from UV, IR and MW spectra |
Class 5 | Theory of diatomic molecules with electron spin | Interaction related to electron spins and fine structure as a result |
Class 6 | Theory of angular momentum of diatomic molecules with electronic spin | Classify the coupling scheme of angular momentum vectors according to Hunt |
Class 7 | Interaction related to nuclear spin and quantum statistics | Understand the origin of hyperfine structure and nuclear spin weight. |
Class 8 | Fundamental physics using high-precision spectroscopic measurement of molecules | What can we do with a nuclear spin separated single quantum state? |
Lecture note is prepared during class.
Spectra of Atoms and Molecules; Bernath (Oxford) Molecular Quantum Mechanics; Atkins and Friedman (Oxford)
short reports during class and final exams
unspecified