Atomic-Molecular-Optical Physics

Table of Contents

1. Absorbtion and Emission

1.1. Emission Spectrum

Rydberg formula (1888) The spectral lines of hydrogen follows: \[ \nu_{jk} = cR \left( \frac{1}{k^2} - \frac{1}{j^2} \right) \] where \( R \) is called the Rydberg constant.

Rydberg-Ritz Combination Principle (1908) \[ \nu_{jk} = \nu_{jm} + \nu_{mk}. \]

1.2. Emission Coefficient

Emission coefficient is the energy emitted by a unit volume per unit time into a unit solid angle: \[ \varepsilon := \frac{\dd{E}}{\dd{V}\dd{t}\dd{\Omega}}. \]

1.3. Einstein Coefficients

  • published in 1917
\begin{align*} \left( \dv{n_k}{t}\right)_{\rm spont} &= \sum_{j> k} A_{jk}n_j- \sum_{j < k}A_{kj}n_k \\ \left( \dv{n_k}{t}\right)_{\rm abs} &= \sum_{j} B_{jk}n_j\rho(\nu_{jk})- \sum_{j}B_{kj}n_k\rho(\nu_{kj}) \\ \end{align*}

The (spontaneous) emission coefficient \( \varepsilon \) is proportional to the number density via the A coefficient: \[ \varepsilon = \sum_{j\to k}\frac{h\nu_{jk}}{4\pi} n_j A_{jk} \]

1.4. Einstein's Relations

\begin{align*} \frac{A_{jk}}{B_{jk}} &= \frac{8\pi h \nu_{jk}^3}{c^3} \\ B_{jk} &= B_{kj} \end{align*}

The relations between Einstein A coefficients and B coefficients.

2. Reflection

3. Refraction

3.1. Refractive Index

3.1.1. History

Cauchy (1836) \[ n^2 = a + \frac{b}{\lambda^2} + \frac{d}{\lambda^4} + \frac{f}{\lambda^6} + \cdots. \]

Sellmeier (1872) Formulated after the discovery of anomalous dispersion by Christiansen and Kundt, to account for the anomalies. \[ n^2 - 1 = \sum_k \frac{a_k\lambda^2}{\lambda^2 - \lambda_k^2}. \]

Helmholtz (1875) Helmholtz hypothesized the damping of the ether. \[ n^2 - 1 = \sum_k \frac{a_k\lambda^2}{\lambda^2 - \lambda_k^2 + b_k\lambda^2}. \] Although the original motivation is now proven to be wrong, the term itself remains to be important.

Lorentz and Drude The molecules within matter is modelled as harmonic oscillators.

As a plane electromagnetic wave \( E_s(z,t) = E_0\exp(i\omega (t - z/c)) \) passees through a thin dispersive medium, the retarded wave

\begin{align*} E'(z,t) &= E_s(z,t - \Delta t) \\ &= \exp(-i\omega\Delta t) E_s(z,t) \\ &\approx (1 - i\omega \Delta t) E_s(z,t) \\ & = \left( 1 - \frac{i\omega(n-1) \Delta z}{c} \right)E_s(z,t) \\ \end{align*}

is due to the superposition with the wave \( E_q(z,t) \) generated by the oscillating molecules

\begin{align*} E'(z,t) &= E_s(z,t) + E_q(z,t) \\ &= E_s(z,t) - \frac{i\omega\eta q x_0}{2\varepsilon_0 c} \exp(i\omega(t - z/c)). \end{align*}

Thus, we find that the refractive index is \[ n - 1 = \frac{qx_0N}{2\varepsilon_0E_0}. \]

Let us model the molecules with a forced damped oscillator \[ m \ddot{x} = - \omega_0^2x - \gamma \dot{x} + qE_0e^{i\omega t} \] the solution would have the amplitude \[ x_0 = \frac{qE_0}{m}\frac{1}{\omega_0^2 - \omega^2 + i\gamma\omega}. \]

Plugging \( x_0 \) into the equality we drived earlier, the formula for the index of refraction is obtained: \[ n-1= \frac{e^2N}{2\varepsilon_0m}\frac{1}{\omega_0^2 - \omega^2 + i\gamma\omega}. \]

The imaginary part in this formula constitute the decay of the electromagnetic field.

Lorenz-Lorentz Equation \[ \frac{n^2 - 1}{n^2 + 2} = \frac{4 \pi k_e}{3}N\chi \] where \( \chi \) is the polarizability.

Ladenburg and Reiche (1923) \[ \mathbf{P}_k = \frac{c^3 \mathbf{E}}{32 \pi^4 k_e} \sum_{j> k} \frac{A_{jk}}{\nu_{jk}^2(\nu_{jk}^2 -\nu^2)} \]

Kramers (1924) \[ \mathbf{P}_k = \frac{c^3 \mathbf{E}}{32 \pi^4 k_e} \left[ \sum_{j> k} \frac{A_{jk}}{\nu_{jk}^2(\nu_{jk}^2 -\nu^2)} - \sum_{j < k} \frac{A_{kj}}{\nu_{kj}^2(\nu_{kj}^2 -\nu^2)} \right] \]

4. Incandescence

  • Thermal Radiation

5. Luminescence

5.1. Photoluminescence

  • PL

Light emitted by matter excited by light.

5.1.1. Fluorescence

  • 형광

The electron decays from an excited singlet state to singlet state.

5.1.2. Phosphorescence

  • 야광

Delayed light emission after excitation

The electron is excited to a singlet state and moves to a triplet state via intersystem crossing. The decay to ground singlet state is forbidden and much slower. It was first observed in phosphorus, hence the name.

5.1.3. Radiophotoluminescence

Radiation exposure cause photoluminescence

5.2. Thermoluminescence

Light emitted when heated.

5.3. Electroluminescence

  • EL

Light emitted by matter excited by electric field or current.

5.4. Chemiluminescence

Excited by chemical reactions

5.5. Cathodoluminescence

Excited by electron beams

5.6. Bioluminescence

Excited by biochemical reactions in organisms

6. Transition Dipole Moment

6.1. Definition

The transition from state to state has a dipole moment defined by \[ \mathbf{d}_{a\to b} = \langle \psi_b|q\mathbf{r} |\psi_a\rangle. \]

The transition happens only when the dipole moment can interact with the electromagnetic wave.

7. Radiation

8. References

Author: Jeemin Kim

Created: 2026-07-12 Sun 14:28