Highly Excited Atoms

by Jean-Patrick Connerade

Overview

This book is an introduction to the physics of highly excited, easily perturbed or interacting atoms. The book begins with a brief introduction to the traditional view of electron shells and their properties, and then goes on to discuss Rydberg states, quantum defect theory, atomic f-values, centrifugal barrier effects, autoionisation, inner shell and double excitation spectra, K-matrix theory, atoms in high laser fields, statistical methods, quantum chaos, and atomic effects in solids. The emphasis is throughout on radial properties, orbital collapse, many body effects, the breakdown of the independent particle approach, the emergence of chaos, and the behaviour of atoms inside clusters and solids. A very full account of autoionisation includes not only the standard treatment for isolated resonances, but also several alternative approaches. The book discusses many experimental examples and has many diagrams and a comprehensive reference list.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521017886
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	08/22/2005
Series:	Cambridge Monographs on Atomic, Molecular and Chemical Physics , #9
Edition description:	Revised ed.
Pages:	528
Product dimensions:	6.69(w) x 9.61(h) x 1.10(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; 1. Closed shells, sphericity, stability and 'magic numbers'; 2. Rydberg states; 3. Quantum defect theory for bound states; 4. Atomic f-values; 5. Centrifugal barrier effects; 6. Autoionisation; 7. Inner shell and double excitation spectra; 8. K-Matrix theory of autoionising resonances; 9. Atoms in high laser fields; 10. Statistical methods and 'quantum chaology'; 11. Atomic effects in solids; 12. Atomic clusters; References; Index.

Editorial Reviews

'One of the strengths of this book is its connectivity: topics as diverse as metallic clusters, high power laser effects on matter, Rydberg atoms and quantum chaology are sewn together with remarkable continuity, such that the book reads like a good novel … This graduate level textbook should be accessible to those with a good grounding in quantum mechanics and basic spectroscopy, and is potentially of interest to a range of physical chemists using VUV and X-ray probes of the character of chemical systems in both gaseous and condensed media.' T. P. Softley, Chemistry in Britain

'This is an excellent and important new monograph on the wide range of physics that is studied using atomic systems. This substantial monograph is very clearly written and contains a wealth of informative diagrams. I am sure that all serious students of atomic systems in physics and chemistry should have access to it. Undergraduates wanting to look into the new physics in the field will benefit from dipping into the volume. The author is to be congratulated in producing what will surely become a classic for the field of atomic and molecular physics.' K. Burnett, Journal of Modern Optics

From the Publisher