With this volume, Methods of Experimental Physics becomes Experimental Methods in the Physical Sciences, a name change which reflects the evolution of todays science. This volume is the first of three which will provide a comprehensive treatment of the key experimental methods of atomic, molecular, and optical physics; the three volumes as a set will form an excellent experimental handbook for the field. The wide availability of tunable lasers in the pastseveral years has revolutionized the field and lead to the introduction of many new experimental methods that are covered in these volumes. Traditional methods are also included to ensure that the volumes will be a complete reference source for the field.

A variety of plasmas include molecules rather than only ions or atoms. Examples are ionospheres of the Earth and other planets, stellar atmospheres, gaseous discharges for use in various devices and processes, and fusion plasmas in the edge region. This book describes the role of molecules in those plasmas by showing elementary collision processes involving those molecules.

Thermal Beam Sources / N.F. Ramsey -- Supersonic Beam Sources / M.D. Morse -- Fast Beam Sources / A. Chutjian and O.J. Orient -- Vapor Cells and Heat Pipes / C.R. Vidal -- Free Radical Sources / K.M. Evenson and J.M. Brown -- Sources of Metastable Atoms and Molecules / T.J. Gay -- Production of Rydberg Atoms / T.F. Gallagher -- Laser Cooling and Trapping of Neural Atoms / C.C. Bradley and R.G. Hulet -- Optical State-Preparation of Atoms / J.J. McClelland -- Methods and Applications of Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy / G.S. Hurst and J.E. Parks -- Detection of Metastable Atoms and Molecules / H. Hotop -- Excited Level Lifetime Measurements / J.E. Lawler and T.R. O'Brian -- Doppler-Free Spectroscopy / J.C. Bergquist -- Microwave Spectroscopy / R.D. Suenram and A.M. Andrews -- Fast Beam Spectroscopy / L. Young -- Quantum-Beat, Level-Crossing, and Anticrossing Spectroscopy / T.F. Gallagher -- Atom Interferometry / O.H. Carnal and J. Mlynek -- Classical Spectroscopy. C. Kittrell, Pulsed L ...

Over the last quarter of this century, revolutionary advances have been made both in kind and in precision in the application of particle traps to the study of thephysics of charged particles, leading to intensi?ed interest in, and wide proliferation of, this topic. This book is intended as a timely addition to the literature, providing a systematic uni?ed treatment of the subject, from the point of view of the application of these devices to fundamental atomic and particle physics. Thetechniqueofusingelectromagnetic?eldstocon?neandisolateatomic particles in vacuo, rather than by material walls of a container, was initially conceivedbyW.Paulintheformofa3Dversionoftheoriginalrfquadrupole mass ?lter, for which he shared the 1989 Nobel Prize in physics [1], whereas H.G. Dehmelt who also shared the 1989 Nobel Prize [2] saw these devices (including the Penning trap) as a way of isolating electrons and ions, for the purposes of high resolution spectroscopy. These two broad areas of appli- tion have developed more or less independently, each attaining a remarkable degree of sophistication and generating widespread interest and experimental activity.

Comprises a comprehensive reference source that unifies the entire fields of atomic molecular and optical (AMO) physics, assembling the principal ideas, techniques and results of the field. 92 chapters written by about 120 authors present the principal ideas, techniques and results of the field, together with a guide to the primary research literature (carefully edited to ensure a uniform coverage and style, with extensive cross-references). Along with a summary of key ideas, techniques, and results, many chapters offer diagrams of apparatus, graphs, and tables of data. From atomic spectroscopy to applications in comets, one finds contributions from over 100 authors, all leaders in their respective disciplines. Substantially updated and expanded since the original 1996 edition, it now contains several entirely new chapters covering current areas of great research interest that barely existed in 1996, such as Bose-Einstein condensation, quantum information, and cosmological variations of the fundamental constants. A fully-searchable CD- ROM version of the contents accompanies the handbook.

This introduction to Atomic and Molecular Physics explains how our present model of atoms and molecules has been developed over the last two centuries both by many experimental discoveries and, from the theoretical side, by the introduction of quantum physics to the adequate description of micro-particles. It illustrates the wave model of particles by many examples and shows the limits of classical description. The interaction of electromagnetic radiation with atoms and molecules and its potential for spectroscopy is outlined in more detail and in particular lasers as modern spectroscopic tools are discussed more thoroughly. Many examples and problems with solutions are offered to encourage readers to actively engage in applying and adapting the fundamental physics presented in this textbook to specific situations. Completely revised third edition with new sections covering all actual developments, like photonics, ultrashort lasers, ultraprecise frequency combs, free electron lasers, cooling and trapping of atoms, quantum optics and quantum information.

The latest volume in the highly acclaimed series addresses atomic collisions, assessing the status of the current knowledge, identifying deficiencies, and exploring ways to improve the quality of cross-section data.Eleven articles, written by foremost experts, focus on cross-section determination by experiment or theory, on needs in selected applications, and on efforts toward the compilation and dissemination of data. This is the first volume edited under the additional direction of Herbert Walther. Presents absolute cross sections for atomic collisions Uses benchmark measurements and benchmark calculations Discusses needs for cross-section data in applications Contains a guide to data resources, bibliographies, and compendia

This book covers polarization, alignment, and orientation effects in atomic collisions induced by electron, heavy particle, or photon impact. The first part of the book presents introductory chapters on light and particle polarization, experimental and computational methods, and the density matrix and state multipole formalism. Examples and exercises are included. The second part of the book deals with case studies of electron impact and heavy particle excitation, electron transfer, impact ionization, and autoionization. A separate chapter on photo-induced processes by new-generation light sources has been added. The last chapter discusses related topics and applications. Part III includes examples of charge clouds and introductory summaries of selected seminal papers of tutorial value from the early history of the field (1925 – 1975). The book is a significant update to the previous (first) edition, particularly in experimental and computational methods, the inclusion of key results obtained during the past 15 years, and the extended coverage of photo-induced processes. It is intended as an introductory text for both experimental and theoretical students and researchers. It can be used as a textbook for graduate courses, as a primary source for special topics and seminar courses, and as a standard reference. The book is accompanied by electronically available copies of the full text of the key papers in Part III, as well as animations of theoretically predicted electron charge clouds and currents for some of the cases discussed in Part II.

Focuses on research in crucial areas such as: cold atoms and Bose-Einstein condensates, quantum information and quantum computation, and techniques for investigating collisions and structure. This work covers topics that includes the multireference coupled cluster method in quantum chemistry and the role of electronic correlation in nanosystems.

The field of atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) science underpins many technologies and continues to progress at an exciting pace for both scientific discoveries and technological innovations. AMO physics studies the fundamental building blocks of functioning matter to help advance the understanding of the universe. It is a foundational discipline within the physical sciences, relating to atoms and their constituents, to molecules, and to light at the quantum level. AMO physics combines fundamental research with practical application, coupling fundamental scientific discovery to rapidly evolving technological advances, innovation and commercialization. Due to the wide-reaching intellectual, societal, and economical impact of AMO, it is important to review recent advances and future opportunities in AMO physics. Manipulating Quantum Systems: An Assessment of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics in the United States assesses opportunities in AMO science and technology over the coming decade. Key topics in this report include tools made of light; emerging phenomena from few- to many-body systems; the foundations of quantum information science and technologies; quantum dynamics in the time and frequency domains; precision and the nature of the universe, and the broader impact of AMO science.