Physics of Atoms and Ions

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiii

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2. Quantum Mechanics and the Structure of Structure of Atoms and Ions

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. The Development and Concepts of Atomic Physics

      Pages 3-29

   3. The Hydrogen Atom

      Pages 30-61

   4. Two-Electron Atoms and Ions

      Pages 62-84

   5. Light Atoms

      Pages 85-116

   6. The Structure of Heavy Atoms

      Pages 117-146

   7. Excited Atoms

      Pages 147-180

   8. Positive and Negative Ions

      Pages 181-207

   9. The Autoionization States of Atoms and Ions

      Pages 208-226

3. Atoms in Interactions and Collisions

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 227-227

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   2. Atoms in External Fields

      Pages 229-248

   3. Interactions Involving Atoms and Ions

      Pages 249-284

   4. Diatomic Molecules

      Pages 285-309

   5. Atom Interaction in Systems of Many Bound Atoms

      Pages 310-334

   6. Elastic Collisions of Atomic Particles

      Pages 335-359

   7. Resonant Processes in Slow Atomic Collisions

      Pages 360-395

   8. Inelastic Slow Atomic Collisions

      Pages 396-411

   9. Collisions with Transitions in States of Continuous and Quasi-Continuous Spectra

      Pages 412-435

4. Back Matter

   Pages 437-442

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Intended for advanced students of physics, chemistry, and related disciplines, this text treats the quantum theory of atoms and ions within the framework of self-consistent fields. It treats the structure and spectra of atoms and ions, their behavior in external fields, and their interactions, including collisions. Data needed for the analysis of collisions and other atomic processes are also included, making the book useful as a reference for researchers as well as students. In the main text, simple and convincing methods are used to explain the fundamental properties of atoms, molecules, and clusters; details and more advanced aspects of these topics are treated in the problems at the end of each chapter. The first part of the book is devoted to properties of atoms and ions considered as quantum systems of electrons orbiting a heavy Coulomb center. Self-consistent fields and the shell model give a logical and consistent picture, and provide reliable models for the analysis of atomic properties. The second part deals with interactions and collisions of particles -- including bound systems, such as molecules, clusters, and solids. The aim here is to relate the internal structure of the atoms to the interactions between them, providing useful insights for applications; the accompanying data in tables, charts, and spectra complement the theoretical discussion.

• Cross section
• Pauli exclusion principle
• Thomas-Fermi model
• atomic wave function
• elastic scattering
• excitation transfer
• long-range interaction
• metallic cluster
• metastable
• multicharged ions
• positive ions
• quasidiscrete electron term
• quenching
• scattering
• spin exchange

From the reviews:

"As a reference book on atomic physics, it is probably quite comprehensive. … A really good idea of the author has been to cover the basic principles in the main text of each chapter and reserve the last third of each chapter for … questions with detailed answers involving a large amount of mathematics. … it may be very useful for those who already have a profound understanding of atomic physics but want to refresh their knowledge … ." (Jan Posthumus, Physicalia, Vol. 26 (1), 2004)

• High Temperatures Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

  Boris M. Smirnov

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