Atomic Physics: An Exploration Through Problems and Solutions

This book provides a bridge between the basic principles of physics learned as an undergraduate and the skills and knowledge required for advanced study and research in the exciting field of atomic physics. The text is organized in a unique and versatile format --- as a collection of problems, hints, detailed solutions, and in-depth tutorials. This enables the reader to open the book at any page and get a solid introduction to subjects on the cutting edge of atomic physics, such as frequency comb metrology, tests of fundamental symmetries with atoms, atomic magnetometers, atom trapping and cooling, and Bose-Einstein condensates. The text also includes problems and tutorials on important basics that every practicing atomic physicist should know, but approached from the perspective of experimentalists: formal calculations are avoided where possible in favor of 'back-of-the-envelope' estimates, symmetry arguments, and physical analogies. The 2nd edition contains over 10 new problems, and includes important updates, revisions, and corrections of several problems of the 1st edition.

Dmitry Budker
Department of Physics
University of California at Berkeley

Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley (1993),
American Physical Society Award for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Research in Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics (1994),
National Science Foundation Career Award (1998),
Miller Research Professorship (2002-2003),
Elected Fellow of the American Physical Society (2005),
R&D 100 Award for Laser Detected Magnetic-Resonance Imaging (2007). Derek F. Kimball
Department of Physics
California State University - East Bay

Ph. D. from the University of California at Berkeley (2005),
Departmental Citation in Physics, University of California at Berkeley (1998). David P. DeMille
Physics Department
Yale University

Ph. D. from the University of California at Berkeley (1994),
Elected Fellow of the American Physical Society (2005),
Francis M. Pipkin Award (2007).