Atomic and Molecular Physics

Aerospace Engineering

Instructor Name: Professor Amal Kumar Das

Institute: IIT Kharagpur
Department: Physics

About Instructor: After completion of B. Sc (Hons) in Physics and M. Sc in Physicsfrom Calcutta (Kolkata)
University in 1994, I did Ph. D on experimental solid state physics and material science from Institute of
Physics, Bhubaneswar. After completing post doctoral research on magnetic properties of solids from Paul
Drude Institute, Berlin, Germany, I joined as a Faculty in Department of Physics, Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT) Kharagpur in 2004 and teaching different subject to UG and PG students. Especially I have
taught atomic and molecular physics at IIT Kharagpur last six years.

Pre Requisites: : No pre-requisites

Core/Elective: : Core
UG/PG: : UG
Industry Support : Atomic and molecular physics is a fundamental subject and Knowledge of this subject is
compulsory for them who are working in physical, chemical and optical laboratories/industries.

Course Intro: : Atom and molecule are the fundamental unit for all matters in universe. Matter, whatever the states, is
made of atoms. The properties of all matters are governed by the electronic structure of atom and molecule. They have
individual properties like electronic, magnetic and optical properties, which are quite different from the collective
properties of matter made of atoms and molecules. This course will enlighten the knowledge of atoms and molecules
and build up the pre-requisite knowledge for all science and engineering field.

COURSE PLAN

SL.NO Week Module Name

1 1 Experimental observations and
theoretical prediction of constituents of
an atom
2 2 Bohr-Sommerfeld model of atomic
structure
3 3 Quantum number and vector model
4 4 Quantum mechanics and hydrogen atom
5 5 Effect of electric and magnetic field on
atomic spectra
6 6 Selection rules
7 7 Alkali atoms and spectra
8 8 Many electron system
9 9 Rotational spectra of molecules
10 10 Vibrational spectra of molecules
11 11 Electronic spectra of molecules
12 12 Molecular structure and spectroscopy