67114 - Structure of Matter

Academic Year 2022/2023

  • Docente: Luca Pasquini
  • Credits: 6
  • SSD: FIS/03
  • Language: Italian
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Astronomy (cod. 8004)

Learning outcomes

In this course, the student gains knowledge about: a) the physics of quantum states, in particular electron states, in systems of increasing complexity from hydrogenic atoms to crystalline solids; b) the interactions of these systems with electromagnetic radiation; c) the importance of such interactions for astronomical observations. The student becomes able to apply quantum mechanical principles and methods to calculate energy levels, perturbations, and transition rates. Moreover, he/she learns how to calculate the properties of radiative transitions relevant for astronomical studies, such as energy, lifetime and natural width.

Course contents

  • The hydrogenic atoms
    • Wave functions and energy levels
  • Interaction of hydrogenic atoms with the electromagnetic radiation
    • Transition probabilities
    • Dipole approximation
    • Einstein coefficients
    • Selection rules and optical spectra
    • Scattering of radiation
  • Fine and hyperfine structure of hydrogenic atoms
    • Spin and magnetic moment
    • Spin-orbit coupling
    • Hyperfine structure
    • External magnetic fields: Zeeman effect
  • Many electrons atoms
    • Indistinguishable particles in quantum mechanics: fermions and bosons
    • Two-electron atoms: exchange interaction
    • Central field approximation: configurations and subshells
    • Hartree-Fock method
    • Corrections to the central field approximation: correlation effects: L-S coupling and JJ coupling
  • Interaction of many electron atoms with electromagnetic radiation
    • Selection rules for E1, M1, E2 transitions
    • The optical spectra of the alkali
    • Examples in astronomy, Grotrian diagrams
    • X-ray spectra
  • Molecules: quantum states and interaction with electromagnetic radiation
    • Born-Oppenheimer approximation
    • Electronic structure and symmetry of diatomic molecules
    • The H2+ molecular ion and LCAO method
    • The H2 molecule, covalent bonding
    • Molecular orbitals
    • Polyatomic molecules: hybridization, delocalized orbitals
    • Molecular spectra: rotational-roto-vibrational, and electronic
  • Introduction to the solid state
    • Crystalline versus amorphous solids
    • Solids in the interstellar medium
  • Structure of crystals
    • Periodic lattices
    • X-ray and electron diffraction
  • Electron states in solids
    • Free electron model of metals
    • Bloch states for electrons in a periodic potential
    • Tight binding model of electrons in solids
    • Energy bands and forbidden gap
    • Conductors vs insulators
  • Optical properties of solids
    • Optical materials
    • Interband absorption
    • Luminescence

 

Readings/Bibliography

IMPORTANT: A BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF QUANTUM MECHANICS IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY IN ORDER TO FOLLOW THE COURSE!

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ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS

•B.H. Bransden & C.J. Joachain, Physics of Atoms and Molecules, Prentice Hall, 2° Edition 2003

•R. Eisberg, R, Resnick, Qantum Physics of Atoms, Molecules, Solids, Nuclei and Particles, Wiley

•J. Tennyson, Astronomical Spectroscopy, Imperial College Press

PHYSICS OF SOLIDS

•C. Kittel, Introduction to Solid State Physics, Wiley

•M. Fox, Optical properties of solids, Oxford University Press

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Slides used during the lectures

Specific notes for selected calculations

MATLAB scripts

Teaching methods

Frontal lectures with video-projection when necessary

Exercises (both within lectures and assigned as homework)

Occasional use of anonymous quiz with the Wooclap platform

Selected topic will be treated in "peer instruction" mode

Assessment methods

Written and oral examination:

1) written examination: solution of three exercises

2) oral examination: first part on a course topic chosen by the student, second part on an argument randomly selected by the teacher from a list of topics available on Virtuale

Teaching tools

Selected examples in MATLAB

Wooclap for discussions and polls for each chapter and for topics assigned in "peer instruction" mode

Office hours

See the website of Luca Pasquini

SDGs

Quality education

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.