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Atomic and Optical Physics I


MITx

About 8.421

Atomic Physics I

The first of a two-term subject sequence that provides the foundations for contemporary research in selected areas of atomic and optical phsyics. The interaction of radiation with atoms: resonance; absorption, stimulated and spontaneous emission; methods of resonance, dressed atom formalism, masers and lasers, cavity quantum electrodynamics; structure of simple atoms, behavior in very strong fields; fundamental tests: time reversal, parity violations, Bell's inequalities; and experimental methods.

Prerequisites

Quantum mechanics, linear algebra

Course staff

Wolfgang Ketterle

Professor of Physics


  1. Course Number

    8.421
  2. Classes Start

  3. Classes End

  4. Estimated Effort

    12 hours/week
  5. Requirements

    Yes
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