2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Science Undergraduate major in Physics
Chemical Physics
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Physics
- Instructor(s)
- Takashi Mukaiyama
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - Class
- -
- Course Code
- PHY.C343
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Apr 2, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
The aim of chemical physics is to build a bridge between physics and chemistry, by establishing physical understanding of chemical phenomena. Among others, the most exciting phenomena in chemistry are chemical equilibrium and chemical reaction, i.e., break down and creation of chemical bonds. This course covers thermo-mechanics and statistical physics of open system of multi-components and quantum mechanics of electrons in material.
In our daily life in which influence of nuclear reactions is very limited, the smallest units that constitute the whole world of matter are positively charged nuclei and negatively charged electrons. The spatial distribution of mass is determined by heavier nuclei, while lighter electrons are flying among the nuclei to keep them in position. If the dynamics of electron is correctly described, the physical properties of matter will be understood properly. As the understanding becomes deeper, some of the properties become possible to control. This is what happened in the 20th century, which started togwther with the birth of quantum mechanics. Nowadays technology like semi-conductor-based integrated circuits florishes so much that modern life without such electronic devices is hard to imagine.
Course description and aims
At the end of this course, the 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 eigenstate and eigenvalue of molecules.
3) explain the electronic, vibrational and rotational spectra as the result of the interaction with UV, IR and MW radiation.
4) Explain the intermolecular dispersion force and the intramolecular force of chemical bond in terms of quantum mechanics of electrons.
5) Explain a chemical reaction by collision dynamics on the adiabatic potential surfce.
Keywords
Molecular bond, Born-Oppenheimer Approx., Molecular orbital, electron configuration, molecular spectrum, quantum statistics, inter molecular force, chemical reaction
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
A lecture note with several blanks is provided before each class. Instead of black board, explanations are directly written on projected screen by a pen tablet computer. Listening the explanation, students fill the blanks and make it as a complete lecture note.
Course schedule/Objectives
Course schedule | Objectives | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | H2 molecule; angular momentum and wave function of single electron system | Quantum mechanical treatment for the angular momentum including spin. |
Class 2 | He atom; wave-function with two electron-system | Exchange symmetry of the equivalent particles |
Class 3 | Many electrons atomic system; angular momenta of excited states | Explain the origin of the periodic table. |
Class 4 | Chemical bond and molecular orbitals | roots of the chemical bonding |
Class 5 | Vibrational and rotational states of H2 ion. | Freedom and treatment of nuclear motion. Exchange symmetry of equivalent nuclei. |
Class 6 | Description of quantum state and its energy eigenvalue. | Hierarchy in the energy structure of molecules |
Class 7 | Molecular symmetry of poly-atomic molecules and group Theory1 | Point group and how to use irreducible presentation |
Class 8 | Molecular symmetry of poly-atomic molecules and group theory2 | Point group and how to use irreducible presentation |
Class 9 | Interaction of electromagnetic waves and molecules | Time-dependent solution of Schroedinger'eq |
Class 10 | Selection rules in the optical transitions | allowed and forbidden transition in atoms and molecules. |
Class 11 | Molecular spectroscopy in the UV, IR, and MW regions | What determines the intensity of spectral peaks |
Class 12 | Molecular interactions | treatment of inter-molecular interactions. Van der Waals force |
Class 13 | Chemical reaction dynamics | The trajectory on adiabatic potential surface |
Class 14 | Cold molecules | Understanding on cold molecules |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
None specified.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Provided during class.
Physical Chemistry;Atkins (Oxford)
Evaluation methods and criteria
Evaluation is based on the reports and the term exam.
Related courses
- PHY.Q207 : Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
- PHY.Q208 : Quantum Mechanics II
- PHY.Q311 : Quantum Mechanics III
- PHY.E205 : Electromagnetism
- PHY.S301 : Statistical Mechanics
Prerequisites
Learning this course based with "Introduction in quantum mechanics" and reminding "Quantum mechanics II"