Atomic Physics

The course intends to introduce the students to the basic principles of the resonant interaction between atoms and electromagnetic radiation. Starting from the semiclassical description of a two-level atom interacting with a monochromatic and quasi-resonant radiation field, they will be able to understand the laser and the different regimes of stimulated, spontaneous and superradiant emission. They will be introduced to the modern techniques of laser cooling and trapping, to the Bose-Einstein condensation and to several collective effects, as the collective atomic recoil laser and the free electron laser.

The student at the term of the course will have learned the following topics:
A) description of absorption, spontaneous, stimulated and superradiant emission.
B) principles of the laser operation
C) main quantum effects in the emission and absorption of photons by a two-level atom
D) basic principles of a magneto-optical trap (MOT) and a dipole trap, with some overview on more advanced techniques, e.g. the Sisyphus effect.
E) basic principles of Bose-Einstein condensation in harmonic traps
F) collective effects, as the collective atomic recoil laser and the free electron laser