Atomic spectra and light-matter transitions

Build atomic structure from angular momentum and approximation methods, then connect fine structure, hyperfine effects, and spectral line measurements.

10 published lessons1 module280 min of guided study
  1. 01
    Atomic spectra and light-matter transitionsadvanced · 10 lessons

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Atomic spectra and light-matter transitions

Build atomic structure from angular momentum and approximation methods, then connect fine structure, hyperfine effects, and spectral line measurements.

  1. 01

    Hydrogen fine-structure corrections

    Separate Coulomb binding, relativistic corrections, and the approximations behind hydrogenic fine structure.

    28 min
  2. 02

    Spin-orbit coupling and atomic multiplets

    Construct LS-coupled terms and use angular-momentum algebra to predict fine-structure intervals.

    28 min
  3. 03

    Hyperfine splitting and nuclear spin

    Couple nuclear and electronic angular momenta and distinguish magnetic-dipole from electric-quadrupole hyperfine terms.

    28 min
  4. 04

    Zeeman spectra and the Paschen–Back limit

    Choose weak- or strong-field angular-momentum labels by comparing magnetic and internal coupling energies.

    28 min
  5. 05

    Stark shifts and atomic polarizability

    Derive quadratic shifts for isolated parity states and identify the degenerate regime that permits linear Stark splitting.

    28 min
  6. 06

    Many-electron atoms and Hund’s rules

    Use antisymmetry, exchange, and state counting to interpret the empirical ordering of atomic LS terms.

    28 min
  7. 07

    Hartree–Fock atomic orbitals

    Build the self-consistent determinant approximation and distinguish orbital energies from total atomic energies.

    28 min
  8. 08

    Electric-dipole transition rates

    Connect dipole matrix elements, parity, and angular-momentum selection rules to rates, lifetimes, and branching fractions.

    28 min
  9. 09

    Natural, Doppler, and collision linewidths

    Derive linewidths with explicit FWHM and frequency conventions and separate homogeneous from inhomogeneous broadening.

    28 min
  10. 10

    Lamb shift and precision spectroscopy

    Separate radiative, recoil, and nuclear contributions and interpret precision measurements through explicit correction models.

    28 min
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