Ph 585   Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics

Physics Department, Oregon State University

Spring 2026 term

Instructor: Oksana Ostroverkhova (Wngr 413)
Lectures: MWF 10 AM Weniger 328

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DateLectures AssignmentsNotes
03/30 Review of hydrogenic atoms.(notes)    
04/01 Interaction of an atom with EM wave.(notes) HW 1 (solutions)  
04/03 Absorption and emission. (notes)   WS 1
04/06 Stimulated and spontaneous emission.(notes)   WS 2
04/08 no class: will be scheduling a make-up    
04/10 Spontaneous emission in the electric dipole approximation. (see notes for 04/03 and 04/06) HW 2(solutions) WS 3 For Problem 1 of HW 2
04/13 Selection rules.(notes)      
04/15 Line shapes and widths. (notes) HW 3(solutions) WS 4 Photon orbital ang. mom. for electric quadrupole transitions
04/17 Line shapes and widths (ctd.) (see notes for 04/15)   WS 5  
04/20 Helium atom.(notes) HW 4(solutions) WS 6 Hansch Nobel lecture (for HW 4)
04/22 Helium atom (ctd).(notes)   WS 7 1st observation of doubly-excited states of He  
04/24 Many-electron atoms. (notes)   WS 8
04/27 The central field approximation. (see notes posted on 04/24)   WS 9
04/29 The periodic table.(notes)   WS 10
05/01 L-S and j-j coupling.(notes) HW 5(solutions) WS 11
05/04 L-S and j-j coupling (ctd.)(see notes from 05/01)    
05/06 Interaction of many-electron atom with EM field.(notes)   WS 12
05/08 Midterm   (10 am, Weniger 328)    
05/11 Molecular structure. (notes) HW 6(solutions)  
05/13 Molecular structure:symmetries. (notes)    
05/15 Molecular rotations and vibrations. (notes)     Ground state of hydrogen molecule