The Physics of Atoms and Quanta

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XX

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2. Introduction

   Pages 1-4

3. The Mass and Size of the Atom

   Pages 5-26

4. Isotopes

   Pages 27-36

5. The Nucleus of the Atom

   Pages 37-48

6. The Photon

   Pages 49-67

7. The Electron

   Pages 69-80

8. Some Basic Properties of Matter Waves

   Pages 81-93

9. Bohr’s Model of the Hydrogen Atom

   Pages 95-124

10. The Mathematical Framework of Quantum Theory

    Pages 125-152

11. Quantum Mechanics of the Hydrogen Atom

    Pages 153-170

12. Lifting of the Orbital Degeneracy in the Spectra of Alkali Atoms

    Pages 171-179

13. Orbital and Spin Magnetism. Fine Structure

    Pages 181-203

14. Atoms in a Magnetic Field: Experiments and Their Semiclassical Description

    Pages 205-221

15. Atoms in a Magnetic Field: Quantum Mechanical Treatment

    Pages 223-260

16. Atoms in an Electric Field

    Pages 261-294

17. General Laws of Optical Transitions

    Pages 295-310

18. Many-Electron Atoms

    Pages 311-322

19. X-Ray Spectra, lnternal Shells

    Pages 323-336

20. Structure of the Periodic System. Ground States of the Elements

    Pages 337-359

The highly positive affirmation and wide reception that this book continues to receive from professors and students ahke is the occasion for this 7th edition. Once again we have included a number of valuable suggestions for improvements, which we address as appropriate. In addition, we refer to a number of developments in atomic physics. Of these new developments in regard to exotic atoms, we mention antihydrogen in par­ ticular, because fundamental experiments in matter and antimatter can be expected in the future. Furthermore, we have inserted a chapter on the behaviour of atoms in strong elec­ trical fields. Experiments with corresponding lasers could only recently be realized. We thank our Jenaer colleague, R. Sauerbrey, for his contribution of this chapter. We have also included a new chapter on the behaviour of the hydrogen atom in strong magnetic fields. The results are of profound interest for two very different fields of physics: on the one hand, according to classical physics, one expects chaotic behaviour from Rydberg atoms in magnetic fields that can be created in the laborato­ ry; thus, an association can be drawn to aspects of chaos theory and the problems of quantum chaos. On the other hand, the very strong fields necessary for low quantum numbers are realized in the cosmos, in particular with white dwarfs and neutron stars.

• Atomic physics
• hydrogen atom
• quantum mechanics
• quantum physics
• quantum theory
• spectra
• spectroscopy

• Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany

  Hermann Haken

• Physikalisches Institut, Universität Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany

  Hans Christoph Wolf

• Freie Universität Berlin, Fachbereich Physik, Berlin, Germany

  William D. Brewer

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