Non-interacting particles gases: Bose and Fermi statistics. Black body. Interaction between atoms and electromagnetic radiation; line shapes. Hydrogenic atoms; fine structure of atomic spectra; atoms in static external fields. Exchange interaction; Born-Oppenheimer separation. Crystals: direct and reciprocal lattice; Bragg's diffraction. Lattice vibrations and specific heat. Electron gas in periodic potentials: Bloch theorem, weakly-bound electrons model and energy bands.
Lev D. Landau and Evgenij M. Lifshitz. Theretical Physics vol. 5 – Statistical Physics .
B.H. Bransden and C.J. Joachain. Physics of atoms and molecules .
N.W. Ashcroft and N.D. Mermin. Solid State Physics
Learning Objectives
Understanding of commonly observed properties of atoms, molecules and solids on the basis of quantum and statistical mechanics. Ability to quantitatively evaluate some properties of atoms and solids, Critical understanding of books and scientific papers discussing topics related with the Physics of Matter.
Prerequisites
Courses required: Mathematical Analysis II, Analytical mechanics, Physics II
Recommended courses: Quantum Mechanics
Teaching Methods
52 hours of class lectures supplemented by exercises - 6 CFU
Further information
Office hours
See on web page: http://old-www.fi.infn.it/cmtg/ac/
Type of Assessment
Oral exam including a numerical exercise
Course program
Ideal classical gas and weakly degenerate quantum gases; Fermi gas at T=0; degenerate Bose gas and Bose condensation. Classical and quantum harmonic oscillators. Electromagnetic field at thermal equilibrium and black-body radiation. Semiclassical theory of atom-e.m. field interaction; line shapes. Hydrogenic atoms: relativistic corrections, fine structure; Zeeman and Stark effects. Two- and many-electrons atoms; exchange energy. Born-Oppenheimer separation and adiabatic approximation. Crystals: direct and reciprocal lattice; diffraction experiments. Lattice vibrations and specific heat of insulators. Electrons in crystal lattices: Bloch theorem; weakly bound electrons; origin of energy gap and energy bands.
For more details see the web page:
http://www.fi.infn.it/cmtg/ac/