This is the second edition of a well-received book. It provides an up-to-date, concise review of essential topics in the physics of matter, from atoms and molecules to solids, including elements of statistical mechanics. It features over 160 completely revised and enhanced figures illustrating the main physical concepts and the fundamental experimental facts, and discusses selected experiments, mainly in spectroscopy and thermodynamics, within the general framework of the adiabatic separation of the motions of electrons and nuclei. The book focuses on what can be described in terms of independent-particle models, providing the mathematical derivations in sufficient detail for readers to grasp the relevant physics involved. The final section offers a glimpse of more advanced topics, including magnetism and superconductivity, sparking readers' curiosity to further explore the latest developments in the physics of matter.

Autorentext

Nicola Manini is an Associate Professor at the Physics Department of the University of Milan, Italy, where he teaches Structure of Matter and Solid-State Physics. In 1995, he received his PhD in Condensed Matter Theory from SISSA, Trieste. He has worked at Yale University, USA, and at the ESRF in Grenoble, France. He fosters regular research collaborations with SISSA and other Italian and international groups, and his research covers various topics in the theory and simulation of matter, including atomic-scale friction and dissipation; the dynamics of colloids; electronic and vibrational properties of metals, semiconductors, molecular and nanostructured materials; ultracold atomic gases; fullerene C60; geometric phases; and the Jahn-Teller effect.

Inhalt

1 Introductory concepts 1.1 Basic ingredients 1.1.1 Typical scales 1.1.2 Perspectives on the structure of matter (contains spoilers)1.2 Spectra and broadening2 Atoms 2.1 One-electron atom/ions2.1.1 The energy spectrum 2.1.2 The angular wavefunction2.1.3 The radial wavefunction 2.1.4 Orbital angular momentum and magnetic dipole moment 2.1.5 The Stern-Gerlach experiment2.1.6 Electron spin 2.1.7 Fine structure2.1.8 Nuclear spin and hyperfine structure2.1.9 Electronic transitions, selection rules2.1.10 Spectra in a magnetic field 2.2 Many-electron atoms 2.2.1 Identical particles 2.2.2 The independent-particles approximation 2.2.3 Independent electrons in atoms2.2.4 The 2-electron atom2.2.5 The Hartree-Fock method2.2.6 Electronic structure across the periodic table2.2.7 Fundamentals of spectroscopy2.2.8 Core levels and spectra 2.2.9 Optical spectra 2.2.10 Electric-dipole selection rules viiviii Contents3 Molecules 3.1 The adiabatic separation 3.2 Chemical and non-chemical bonding3.2.1 H+23.2.2 Covalent and ionic bonding 3.2.3 Weak non-chemical bonds3.2.4 A classification of bonding 3.3 Intramolecular dynamics and spectra3.3.1 Rotational and rovibrational spectra 3.3.2 Electronic excitations 3.3.3 Zero-point effects 4 Statistical physics4.1 Introductory concepts 4.1.1 Probability and statistics4.1.2 Quantum statistics and the density operator4.2 Equilibrium ensembles4.2.1 Connection to thermodynamics 4.2.2 Entropy and the second principle4.3 Ideal systems 4.3.1 The high-temperature limit4.3.2 Low-temperature Fermi and Bose gases 4.4 Matter-radiation interaction 4.4.1 The laser5 Solids 5.1 The microscopic structure of solids 5.1.1 Lattices and crystal structures5.1.2 The reciprocal lattice 5.1.3 Diffraction experiments 5.2 Electrons in crystals5.2.1 Models of bands in crystals 5.2.2 Filling of the bands: metals and insulators5.2.3 Spectra of electrons in solids 5.3 The vibrations of crystals 5.3.1 The normal modes of vibration 5.3.2 Thermal properties of phonons 5.3.3 Other phonon effects A Conclusions and outlook B Applications: light sources and lighting