Theoretical Atomic Physics

Book Description

This established text and reference contains an advanced presentation of quantum mechanics adapted to the requirements of modern atomic physics. It includes topics of great current interest such as semiclassical theory, chaos and Bose-Einstein condensation in atomic gases. The third edition of Theoretical Atomic Physics extends the successful second edition with a detailed treatment of the wave motion of atoms near the anticlassical or extreme quantum regime, and it also contains an introduction to some aspects of atom optics that are relevant for current and future experiments involving ultra-cold atoms. Various problems are included together with complete solutions. Because it has more emphasis on theory, this book enables the reader to appreciate the fundamental assumptions underlying standard theoretical constructs and to embark on independent research projects.

Chaos in Atomic Physics (Cambridge Monographs on Atomic, Molecular and Chemical Physics)

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Lucid, pleasant introduction to the field
A good Summary, but not a good text book

Chaos in Atomic Physics (Cambridge Monographs on Atomic, Molecular and Chemical Physics)
R. Blümel , and W. P. Reinhardt
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0521017904

Book Description

The study of chaos is today one of the most active and prolific areas in atomic physics. This book describes the manifestations of chaos in atoms and molecules, and is an introduction to this fascinating area. The first part of the book deals with the theory and principles of classical chaos, which are then applied to actual atomic and molecular physics systems in the second part of the book. The book covers microwave-driven surface state electrons, the hydrogen atom in a strong microwave field, the kicked hydrogen atom, chaotic scattering with CsI molecules and the helium atom. The book contains many diagrams and a detailed reference list.

Customer Reviews:

Lucid, pleasant introduction to the field.......2007-04-15

If you're an atomic physicist, or someone interested in quantum physics in general which might have a chaotic classical regime, this is a fantastic light treatment of the subject. I think it's written clearly enough, a first year graduate student shouldn't have much difficulty with it. Any Ph.D. in physics should be able to read it. It is a start to finish survey of the field as current in 1997.

It starts off with a decent explanation of chaos in classical mechanics, leading up to what is probably the best brief treatment of chaos in quantum mechanical (and wave mechanical) systems I have ever read. You won't become an expert in 'quantum chaos' from reading chapter 4, but you will be well informed in the subject. From there, the book goes on to treat the standard models and experimental systems; the kicked rotor, the microwave ionization of hydrogen (as pioneered by Jim Bayfield and Peter Koch). It ends up with a nice treatment of the helium atom. There are a few experimental odds and ends I would have put in this chapter (easy for me to say), dealing with experimental reasons chaos in helium may be unobservable, but that's probably a silly complaint on my part.

I didn't really understand why they put in the chapter on CdI scattering; I figure diamagnetic hydrogen is a more important and interesting quantum chaotic system -I'm guessing this is because the authors did some work with this system. No accounting for taste, I suppose.

There are things I'd like to see included in such a book; I think Joe Ford's late contributions to the field were very important. For example, I do not think the "Ford paradox" has been adequately thought through by anyone, and I think it is a very important question. It should be one of the great challenges of science; it touches on the very roots of quantum mechanics (and dynamics) in a clear and compelling way. Of course, only a few of my chums have even heard of the Ford paradox, so I probably can't complain too much that B & R don't think it is important enough to talk about. Future editions should probably also treat the Loschmidt Echo, as that seemed to be a fertile area of research as to characterization of quantum chaos around the time I left the field.

All in all, this is a great example of clear, witty scientific writing on a very interesting subject.

A good Summary, but not a good text book.......1998-12-01

This text is a very good summary of chaos in atomic and molecular physics. It starts by giving some examples in the first champter and then builds its way up from numerical chaos, classical chaos, and finally quantum chaos. Unfortunately, this material is relatively new and not part of the core cirriculum of most undergrade physics programs so most of the material is unfamiliar to most students. However, along with a book which goes more in depth to the fundementals of the subject it would make a fine text (but not alone).

Advanced Beam Dynamics Workshop on Effects in Accelerators, Their Diagnosis and Correction (AIP Conference Proceedings)

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Advanced Beam Dynamics Workshop on Effects in Accelerators, Their Diagnosis and Correction (AIP Conference Proceedings)

Manufacturer: American Institute of Physics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1563960060

Atoms in Strong Magnetic Fields: Quantum Mechanical Treatment and Applications in Astrophysics and Quantum Chaos (Astronomy and Astrophysics Library)

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Atoms in Strong Magnetic Fields: Quantum Mechanical Treatment and Applications in Astrophysics and Quantum Chaos (Astronomy and Astrophysics Library)
H. Ruder , G. Wunner , H. Herold , and F. Geyer
Manufacturer: Springer-Verlag Telos
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Dynamics of Dissipation
P. Garbaczewski , and R. Olkiewicz
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Book Description

This collection of lectures treats the dynamics of open systems with a strong emphasis on dissipation phenomena related to dynamical chaos. This research area is very broad, covering topics such as nonequilibrium statistical mechanics, environment-system coupling (decoherence) and applications of Markov semi-groups to name but a few. The book addresses not only experienced researchers in the field but also nonspecialists from related areas of research, postgraduate students wishing to enter the field and lecturers searching for advanced textbook material.

Experimental Study and Characterization of Chaos (Directions in Chaos, Vol 3)

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Experimental Study and Characterization of Chaos (Directions in Chaos, Vol 3)
Molecular, and Atomic Physics (1989 : Trieste, Italy) Workshop on Condensed Matter
Manufacturer: World Scientific Pub Co Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Irregular Atomic Systems and Quantum Chaos

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Irregular Atomic Systems and Quantum Chaos
J. Gay
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Book Description

Chaotic behavior and its universality have been identified only recently in a number of atomic and molecular systems with a few degrees of freedom. This book covers the study of irregular behavior in few-body systems, with emphasis on the aspects of atomic physics. Areas studied include the atom in a magnetic field, microwave ionization of Rydberg atoms and quasi-Wagner crystals in ion traps, all of which have become the experimental and theoretical prototypes for studying quantum chaos. The contributors to this volume provide thought-provoking discussions of recent developments, trends and controversies in this exciting field.

Ismep '94: Second International Symposium on Medium Energy Physics Beijing, China August 22-26, 1994

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Ismep '94: Second International Symposium on Medium Energy Physics Beijing, China August 22-26, 1994
Weiqin Chao
Manufacturer: World Scientific Pub Co Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Time, Quantum and Information

Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 354044033X

Book Description

This collection of essays presented to Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker on the occasion of his 90th birthday addresses a wide readership interested in astronomy, physics, and the history and philosophy of science. The articles treat subjects such as the social responsibility of scientists, thermonuclear processes in stars and stellar neutrinos, turbulence and the emergence of planetary systems. Furthermore, considerable attention is paid to the unity of nature, the nature of time, and to information about, and interpretation of, the structure of quantum theory, all important philosophical problems of our times. The last section describes von Weizsäcker's ur-hypothesis and how it will theoretically permit the construction of particles and interactions from quantized bits of information.

Heavy Flavor Physics: Proceedings of the Bimp Symposium on Heavy Flavor Physics (Beijing Institute of Modern Physics Series, Vol 1)

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Heavy Flavor Physics: Proceedings of the Bimp Symposium on Heavy Flavor Physics (Beijing Institute of Modern Physics Series, Vol 1)
Chao Kuangta , and Gao Chongshou
Manufacturer: World Scientific Pub Co Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Book Description

The bassist in a gay punk band reflects on his troubled relationship with the band's guitarist/singer. In the wake of the Matthew Shepard murder, a Wyoming ranch manager conceals his affair with another man. A young African American breaks up with his white boyfriend at a series of dinners at Cuban-Chinese restaurants. The attempt to repeal a gay rights ordinance divides a Southern college town. And in the title story, a downsized computer engineer tutors a gay Vietnamese immigrant in pop culture, cyberspace, and weight loss--only to learn a vital lesson about American life circa Y2K. Welcome to the world of Richard Grayson, the writer "Newsday" called "convulsively inventive" and "Kirkus Reviews" found "oddly charming." In "The Silicon Valley Diet," his ninth collection of short stories, Grayson zeroes in on gay baby boomers and Gen Xers making their way in a wired world.

Customer Reviews:

Searching For A Complete Love Life.......2003-10-20

In all of the twelve short stories contained in "The Silicon Valley Diet", the reader encounters men who range in age, as well as race, culture, sexual orientation, and insecurities. Being a straight white female raised Souther Baptist; I was a little apprehensive of reading such a new age type of book. However trying to identify with the characters was not as hard as I thought it would be. Grayson has a remarkable ability to let the reader feel as if he/she has known the characters for years, or at least encountered such affectionate characters in their lifetime.
Each story dealt with many problems that any relationship may encounter - lack of communication, different expectations, or even just being too different. But Grayson is able to make a profound statement about American culture: We are all searching for success in one way or the other, whether it be in love, work, or even body image; we are all searching for success in our life. The stories created within this book are just examples of the struggle different types of people have gone through to continue the search. I'm not sure I would recommend this book to my sixty year old grandmother, but for the more internet/pop culture savy singles that I know, I think this is considered a must read. It's a fun and very informative look into the love lives and games that gay men encounter while searching for completeness.

Confusion.......2003-10-14

"The incessant familiarity of the writer's secret self makes his world entertaining and bizarre. The dialogue is consistently, even ingeniously funny" (The New York Times Book Review). Well, the only thing in this quote that I agree with is that his world is bizarre. Okay, it is entertaining also. But, there was nothing at all consistent about the dialogue. At some parts of the collection, I felt that there was a different speaker than the original point of view. For example, the last section from The Five Stages of Eating at Cuban-Chinese Restaurants. It seems as though only this section of the entry comes from Terence's point of view. Is this done on purpose or unintentionally? I found myself asking these types of questions throughout the entire collection of short stories. I became so worried about trying to find a hidden message or something along those lines, most likely due to the structure and sarcastic tone of the story, that I became even more confused. However, it is obvious that this author has a talent in writing familiarity. No matter how different a middle aged, gay man's world is from mine, I still felt a familiarity in his thoughts. Not a book that I would read every day. (...)

Worth the read.......2003-03-10

I really enjoyed this unique collection of short stories with an overall unifying theme--people and their wonderfully amusing idiosyncrasies. This quirky and slightly eccentric book is composed of twelve shorter pieces that make up the whole. As the narrator experiences each new love or each seemingly unrelated experience, he takes an inimitable approach to fitting all the pieces together. It reads like nonfiction, like a memoir of a [non straight] man's truly crazy existence as he moves from one place to another. The characters are so real and the situations so poignant that this is one book that can be read cover to cover in a single sitting. The author plays with some interesting techniques in a few of the stories like in "Moon Over Moldova" that I'm not sure worked quite the way they were supposed to. The story was interwoven with some jargin-layden paragraphs about the land of Moldova that seemed totally unrelated to the story itself (I ended up skipping most of them), but when the author stuck to the characters, he had a winning voice. One technique, that seemed to have named the book, involved a diet plan that the narrator was concocting,and amazingly enough, worked quite well. It also was a device to act as a metaphor for much of what the narrator said throughout the book and tied it all together. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a witty and intelligent narrator with some great stories to tell.

An expansive view.......2002-08-24

The gay characters in this book are decidedly odd. Take Elihu and Kevin in Grayson's story "Salugi at Starbucks." They are fortyish Jewish-Americans from Brooklyn who e-mail each other. The narrative is told in alternating e-mail messages from Elihu, still in Brooklyn, only recently out to his parents, and first-person remembrances of Kevin, who's known Elihu ever since high school. Both are loners who seem unable to sustain committed relationships. Kevin is a perpetual graduate student who wanders from campus to campus while Elihu abandoned a college teaching career for relatively unimportant jobs on Wall Street.
Ostensibly, Kevin and Elihu tell the story of Elihu's meeting with Bud, a chef, on a trip to New Orleans and his preparations for Bud's moving into his Brooklyn Heights co-op. It eventually becomes clear, first to Kevin, and ultimately to Elihu, that Bud has been lying about moving to New York (and perhaps about everything in his life, from his job at Antoine's restaurant to his kid brother with AIDS in Austin). Kevin goes along with his friend's fantasy of preparing for Bud's arrival even as they both know deep down that the situation is merely a way for Elihu to combat the loneliness and emptiness in his life. When Kevin does meet Elihu at a Manhattan Starbucks after Elihu has learned he's been taken for a sucker (no pun intended), Kevin can't understand why Elihu isn't angry. Elihu replies that he's not angry because he's at least managed to occupy himself for months and besides, "I've got an interesting story to tell people."
Other stories in The Silicon Valley Diet feature relationships of white guys with Asian, black, or Latino would-be boyfriends. In three stories - "Spaghetti Language," "The Five Stages of Eating at Cuban-Chinese Restaurants," and "Those Old, Dark Sweet Songs," the narrator describes his affair with Terence, a young, somewhat flaky African American.
But Terence does not seem to be the same character in each of the stories. In "Spaghetti Language," he works in the men's clothing department at an Atlanta store who frowns when he sees a display of outfits, not because he doesn't like the clothes but because "I don't like the way they're lit." In "Cuban-Chinese Restaurants," Terence is still a Southerner, but the couple are in New York, having a series of breakups, never connecting in their sometimes hilarious non sequitur conversations. While the Cuban-Chinese restaurants they frequent may feature an easy mix of two disparate cuisines, it is clear that the unnamed narrator and Terence can't get past their different ways of looking at the world. The narrator tries to get Terence to see that his beloved nephew is not really his twin brother's son, that the baby is totally white, Terence - like Elihu in "Starbucks" - prefers his fantasy to harsh reality.
In "Songs," Terence is still the narrator's lover, still black, but he's a successful fashion designer; although their sex life ("light bondage") is great, a worldwide shortage of chocolate is the impetus for their impending breakup as the narrator compares his parents' lifelong love affair unfavorably with his inability to connect with Terence, who is obsessed with making money.
"Mysteries of Ranch Management," set in Wyoming soon after the Matthew Shepard murder, begins with the deliberatively provocative statement, "He never should have gotten into that truck with them," from Betty, the wheelchair-bound best friend of the narrator and sister of his closeted cowboy lover, Brant. The implication is that in a harsh homophobic culture, sensible gay men come out at their own peril, is disturbing, but the narrator and Brant settle for a low-key, easy-going secret relationship even though, as it is gingerly put, they are "sexually incompatible." If it's not even half a loaf, Grayson's narrator says, it's better to have "a slice of goddamn bread," especially in a place like Wyoming.
In the long title story, the narrator is another computer whiz kid who attempts to Americanize a recent Vietnamese immigrant he's met through a personals ad. His best friend and ex-boyfriend Andy Ishigura, an assimilated Japanese-American, who warns Justin that he is condescending to Duc when he suggests Duc change his name to Doug. Grayson's take on multiculturalism is never more interesting than in this story, which examines not only another failed gay relationship in which friendship ("buds") prevails over passion, but what it means to be an American in a society where Duc's Vietnamese little nephew comes home speaking Spanish because all the other kids at his day care center are Mexican. Set in a Silicon Valley where dot-com start-ups are still booming, the story nevertheless points out that not everyone in San Jose and San Francisco - particularly the Mexican and Vietnamese communities - are reaping the benefits of "the greatest legal concentration of wealth in the history of our planet."

As in Shakespearean comedies, everyone is paired up at the end - Duc with another Vietnamese guy, Andy with the "flatliner" Mauricio ("what he lacks in bandwidth he makes up in inches," Andy remarks), and Justin with the half-Jewish, half-Asian Indian Jay, whose entire knowledge of his South Asian heritage "comes from reading the Kama Sutra and watching the movie Gandhi" - but these pairs are more or less imperfect, and by implication, doomed. "The Silicon Valley Diet" is not just the book Justin is writing - the diet is so ridiculously strict only an obsessive-compulsive could follow it - it hints at the limits of relationships in a digitalized world.
Grayson is a social critic disguised as a fiction writer, and that's presented in all of his stories, whether the tale of a memorial service for a childhood friend who died of AIDS ("Willie 95") or the gay punk rock scene ("Boys Club") or a graduate student's relationship with two gay activists, Javier and Bryan) in the course of an anti-gay referendum in a college town ("Moon Over Moldova"). Grayson has an expansive, funny, and heartbreaking view of this planet and the gay men and women who inhabit it.

Humorous critique of gay (and straight) people's lives.......2001-06-18

The stories in this volume show how difficult it is to be gay -- that is, to be a human being. The characters are basically all the same person: a bright, loquacious, ironic Aerican gay male who may be white or black, Asian or Hispanic, 22 or 42, who deals with society, family, and the culture of the mass media with humor, compassion, and a touch of self-pity. I liked the story about the gay punk rock band the best, but the story of the closeted gay cowboy ranch manager was also very affecting, especially in light of the fact that it takes place in Wyoming after Matthew Shepard's murder. The author seems to like women and old people, too -- or his characters do. A nice, pleasant read. I laughed aloud a few times, and it usually takes a lot to get me to do that.

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