The Physics of Atoms and Quanta

Hermann Haken is Professor of the Institute for Theoretical Physics at the University of Stuttgart. He is known as the founder of synergetics. His research has been in nonlinear optics (in particular laser physics), solid state physics, statistical physics, and group theory. After the implementation of the first laser in 1960, Professor Haken developed his institute to an international center for laser theory. The interpretation of the laser principles as self organization of non equilibrium systems paved the way to the development of synergetics, of which Haken is recognized as the founder. Hermann Haken has been visiting professor or guest scientist in England, France, Japan, USA, Russia, and China. He is the author of some 23 textbooks and monographs that cover an impressive number of topics from laser physics to synergetics, and editor of a book series in synergetics. For his pathbreaking work and his influence on academic research, he has been awarded many-times. Among others, he is member of the Order "Pour le merite" and received the Max Planck Medal in 1990.

1. Introduction.- 2. The Mass and Size of the Atom.- 3. Isotopes.- 4. The Nucleus of the Atom.- 5. The Photon.- 6. The Electron.- 7. Some Basic Properties of Matter Waves.- 8. Bohr's Model of the Hydrogen Atom.- 9. The Mathematical Framework of Quantum Theory.- 10. Quantum Mechanics of the Hydrogen Atom.- 11. Lifting of the Orbital Degeneracy in the Spectra of Alkali Atoms.- 12. Orbital and Spin Magnetism. Fine Structure.- 13. Atoms in a Magnetic Field: Experiments and Their Semiclassical Description.- 14. Atoms in a Magnetic Field: Quantum Mechanical Treatment.- 15. Atoms in an Electric Field.- 16. General Laws of Optical Transitions.- 17. Many-Electron Atoms.- 18. X-Ray Spectra, Internal Shells.- 19. Structure of the Periodic System. Ground States of the Elements.- 20. Nuclear Spin, Hyperfine Structure.- 21. The Laser.- 22. Modern Methods of Optical Spectroscopy.- 23. Fundamentals of the Quantum Theory of Chemical Bonding.- A. The Dirac Delta Function and the Normalisation of the Wavefunction of a Free Particle in Unbounded Space.- B. Some Properties of the Hamiltonian Operator, Its Eigenfunctions and Its Eigenvalues.- C. Derivation of Heisenberg's Uncertainty Relation.- Solutions to the Problems.- Bibliography of Supplementary and Specialised Literature.- Fundamental Constants of Atomic Physics (Inside Front Cover).- Energy Conversion Table (Inside Back Cover).