In 2005, I was asked to give a course in semiconductor physics for physics and engineering students that includes both theory and experiments. I could not find a textbook that met the constraints for the course which was a 4th semester course in semiconductor physics for physics and engineering students some of them with no knowledge of statistical mechanics. Existing textbooks are either too simplistic and do not include a comprehensive physical model description of semiconductors which must include a basic amount of both statistical mechanics, quantum mechanics, and solid-state physics. Alternative textbooks are way too lengthy to fit in a 4th semester course of maximum 5 ECTS length and don’t include experiments.
This open access textbook introduces beginning undergraduate students and high school students to the world of quantum mechanics and atomic spectroscopy. Requiring no previous knowledge of physics and no math beyond basic algebra and sines and cosines, this book focuses on concepts to make the excitement of atomic physics more accessible for learners than ever before. It comes replete with learning goals, exercises and solutions, and an optional experimental component, making this text readily adoptable for both the classroom and the undergraduate lab. The book takes the reader on a lively and engaging tour through topics at the forefront of current science, including photons, quantum numbers, atomic energy levels, some different spectroscopy techniques, electronic structure, atomic notation, angular momentum, hyperfine structure, isotope shifts, the strong force, an introduction to the Standard Model of Particle Physics, and more.
Publisher:
Peter J. Polito, James E. Walsh, and Jeff L. Gagnon
License:
CC BY-NC-SA
As stated in previous editions, the purpose of the physics laboratory is not only to reinforce the physical principles studied in the classroom but also to stimulate the development of skills and techniques required to carry out well-designed experimental investigations. It is the hope of the authors that the experimental skills and techniques acquired in this laboratory will be carried over by the student to their respective areas of interest. It is, in fact, strongly suggested that the student make an effort early in their undergraduate career to become familiar with the current research problems in their area of interest. The student should always be aware of the applicability of skills