2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Science Department of Physics Graduate major in Physics
Light and Matter II
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Physics
- Instructor(s)
- Takashi Mukaiyama
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Thu
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- PHY.C447
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 19, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
In this course the instructor will explain the quantum theory of angular momentum through molecular spectra which are easily measured by experiments.
1) From a perspective of angular momentum, students will gain a unified understanding of freedom of motion in a molecule which is a small multibody system composed of multiple nuclei and electrons.
2) We will deal with the angular momentum of orbital electron, vibration, rotation, electron spin, and nuclear spin, as well as their coupling scheme based on quantum theory.
3) After covering some basic topics of the electronic, vibrational, and rotational states and their eigenvalues of a diatomic molecule, we will cover the fine and hyperfine structures which are originated from the interactions including the electron spin and nuclear spin.
4) The instructor will show an example of some advanced experiments that can be established only through the interaction between a single quantum state specified up to the nuclear spin quantum number and coherent electromagnetic wave.
Course description and aims
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 eigenstate and eigenvalue of molecules.
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 verification experiments of fundamental physics.
Keywords
molecular bond, Born-Oppenheimer approximation, molecular orbital, electronic excited state, electron configuration, UV spectrum, IR spectrum, MW spectrum, angular momentum including spin, fine structure, hyperfine structure, quantum stastistics, single quantum state.
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
A lecture will be given using a blackboard and PowerPoint slides. Lecture notes will be provided in the lecture room.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 diatomic molecules. |
| Class 3 | Interaction of electromagnetic wave and a diatomic molecule | Symmetric property of electronic, vibrational, rotational states classified by group theory. |
| Class 4 | Spectroscopy of diatomic molecules | Explain the information obtained from UV, IR and MW spectra |
| Class 5 | Hamiltonian of diatomic molecules with electron spins | Interaction related to electron spins and fine structure as a result |
| Class 6 | Eigen states of diatomic molecules with electronic spins | Classify the coupling scheme of angular momentum vectors according to Hunt |
| Class 7 | Interactions related to nuclear spin, and a single quantum state | Hyperfine resolved single quantum state of a diatomic molecule. |
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)
Lecture note is prepared during class.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Spectra of Atoms and Molecules; Bernath (Oxford) Molecular Quantum Mechanics; Atkins and Friedman (Oxford)
Evaluation methods and criteria
chat and short reports during class, and final exams
Related courses
- PHY.C446 ： Light and Matter I
- PHY.C448 ： Light and Matter III
- PHY.C449 ： Laser Physics
Prerequisites
basic understanding of quantum mechanics