Probing the Atom: Contents


Chapter 1: Energies and spectral lines
1.1 Anatomy of Hydrogen
1.2 Shapes and widths
Chapter 2: The driven two-level atom
2.1 Dynamics of a two-level atom
2.2 Rotating-wave approximation
2.3 Oscillating-field theory
2.4 Occupation probabilities
Chapter 3: The driven multi-level atom
3.1 Statistical uncertainties and the density matrix
3.2 Time evolution of the density matrix
3.3 Generalised resonant field theory
3.4 Two-state transitions
3.5 Three-state transitions
3.6 Four-state transitions
3.7 Numerical solution of the N-state system
3.8 Coupling elements
Appendix: Eigenvalues and eigenvectors of three- and four-state systems
Chapter 4: Multiple-quantum transitions
4.1 The quantised radiofrequency field
4.2 Remarks on dipole coupling
4.3 The two-level atom (again)
4.4 Coherent field states
4.5 Triple-quantum transitions
4.6 Crossings and anticrossings
4.7 Resolvent operator solution
4.8 One- and three-photon lineshapes
Appendix 4A: Semiclassical theory of multiphoton transitions
Appendix 4B: Resolvents, propagators, and Green's functions
Chapter 5: The decay of coupled states
5.1 Perspectives on radiation damping
5.2 The quantised optical field
5.3 State amplitudes and radiative decay rates
5.4 Emission lineshapes
Chapter 6: Optical detection theory
6.1 The process of detection
6.2 The optical detection function
6.3 The efficiency matrix
6.4 The optical signal
Chapter 7: State selection and lineshape resolution
7.1 The use of sequential fields
7.2 Parallel oscillating fields
7.3 Nonparallel oscillating fields
Chapter 8: Elements of experimental design and application
8.1 General description
8.2 Ion production and extraction
8.3 Ion acceleration and focussing
8.4 Excited atom production
8.5 The radiofrequency system
8.6 Optical detection
8.7 Spectroscopy
8.8 Electron capture and atom formation
Appendix 8A: The paraxial ray equation for ions
Appendix 8B: Effect of standing waves on a resonance lineshape
Appendix 8C: Phenomenological model of the RF chamber
Index