Overview

This class covers topics in time-dependent quantum mechanics, molecular spectroscopy, and relaxation, with an emphasis on descriptions applicable to condensed phase problems and a statistical description of ensembles.

1. Time-Dependent Quantum Mechanics: Time-evolution operator, two level system, interaction picture, time-dependent perturbation theory, density matrix.
   
   
2. Interaction of Light with Matter: Electric dipole Hamiltonian, absorption and stimulated emission, absorption spectroscopy, Raman scattering.
   
   
3. Correlation Function Description of Spectroscopy: Correlation functions, absorption lineshapes, linear response theory, fluctuation-dissipation, Kramers-Kroenig relations.
   
   
4. Relaxation and Dynamics: Irreversible relaxation, system-bath interaction, coupling to nuclear motion, energy transfer, electron transfer.
   
   
5. Nonlinear Spectroscopy: Nonlinear response functions, density matrix description, diagrammatic perturbation theory, resonant and nonresonant experiments.

Recommended Texts

Cohen-Tannoudji, Claude, Bernard Diu, and Franck Laloë. Quantum Mechanics. Vols. 1 and 2, 2nd ed. Paris, France: Wiley-Interscience, 1977. ISBN: 0471569526. [Covers several topics in the first half of the class with a somewhat different approach.]

Schatz, George C., and Mark A. Ratner. Quantum Mechanics in Chemistry. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 2002. ISBN: 0486420035. [This is an important book to have. It has the most overlap with the topics we will cover, uses a similar language and notation, and treats the problems at a similar level.]

McHale, J. L. Molecular Spectroscopy. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1999. ISBN: 0132290634. [This text covers basic light matter interactions, correlation functions, and various molecular spectroscopies.]

Mukamel, S. Principles of Nonlinear Optical Spectroscopy. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1995. ISBN: 0195132912. [This is an advanced text that treats quantum dynamics, correlation functions, response functions, coupling of a system to a bath, and nonlinear spectroscopy.]

Assignments

There are approximately eight problem sets which can and should be worked on together. A take home final exam for this course will be due on the last day of classes. It should not be discussed with your classmates.

Grading