Atomic and quantum physics

Atomic physics and the underlying quantum theory are the point of departure for many modern areas of physics, astrophysics, chemistry, biology, and even electrical engineering. This textbook provides a careful introduction to the results of methods of empirical atomic physics. A chapter on the quantum theory of the chemical bond provides an introduction to molecular physics. The authors also discuss laser physics and nonlinear spectroscopy, incorporating latest experimental results, and showing their relevance to basic research. Additional items included in the second edition are solutions to the exercises, derivations of the relativistic Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations, a detailed theoretical derivation of the Lamb shift, a discussion of new developments in the spectroscopy of inner shells, and new applications of NMR spectroscopy.