Molecular Physics

In this section, we will study the binding and excitation of simple molecules. Atoms bind into molecules by sharing electrons, thus reducing the kinetic energy. Molecules can be excited in three ways.

Why don't atoms have rotational states?
The atomic state already accounts for electrons angular momentum around the nucleus.

About which axes can a molecule rotate?

Do you think identical atoms will make a difference?

This material is covered in Gasiorowicz Chapter 20, and in Cohen-Tannoudji et al. Complements $C_VI$, $E_{VII}$, $C_{XI}$.



Subsections

Jim Branson 2013-04-22