The study of atomic physics propelled us into the quantum age in the early twentieth century and carried us into the twenty-first century with a wealth of new and, in some cases, unexplained phenomena. Topics in Atomic Physics provides a foundation for students to begin research in modern atomic physics. It can also serve as a reference because it contains material that is not easily located in other sources. A distinguishing feature is the thorough exposition of the quantum mechanical hydrogen atom using both the traditional formulation and an alternative treatment not usually found in textbooks. The alternative treatment exploits the preeminent nature of the pure Coulomb potential and places the Lenz vector operator on an equal footing with other operators corresponding to classically conserved quantities. A number of difficult to find proofs and derivations are included as is development of operator formalism that permits facile solution of the Stark effect in hydrogen. Discussion of the classical hydrogen atom is also presented. Using the correspondence principle this provides a transition from classical to quantum concepts. It is also adapted to describing certain characteristics of multi-electron atoms. The book is intended for graduate students who have had introductory quantum mechanics, but undergraduates who have had such a course can also benefit from it. There are more than eighty problems at the ends of chapters with all answers given. A detailed solutions manual, in some cases giving more than one solution, is available to instructors. Charles E. Burkhardt earned his Ph.D. in experimental atomic physics at Washington University in St. Louis in 1985. He is Professor of Physics at Florissant Valley Community College in St. Louis. Jacob J. Leventhal earned his Ph.D. in experimental atomic physics at the University of Florida in 1965. He is Curators' Professor at the University of Missouri - St. Louis. They have collaborated on experimental atomic physics since 1980, publishing numerous papers in research and teaching journals.

 A unique survey of various aspects of atomic physics, based on a comparative analysis of the hydrogen atom with multi-electron atoms.  One of the book's central themes is the concept of degeneracy (both classical and quantal), its origins, and its consequences.  Includes a complete chapter on the separability of the Schroedinger equation in parabolic coordinates (i.e., not restricted to spherical coordinates).  The book is also distinguished by its focus on the currently "hot" topic of coherent states.

Charles E. Burkhardt earned his Ph.D. in experimental atomic physics at Washington University in St. Louis in 1985. He is Professor of Physics at Florissant Valley Community College in St. Louis. Jacob J. Leventhal earned his Ph.D. in experimental atomic physics at the University of Florida in 1965. He is Curators' Professor at the University of Missouri St. Louis. They have collaborated on experimental atomic physics since 1980, publishing numerous papers in research and teaching journals.

Background.- Angular Momentum.- Angular Momentum - Two Sources.- The Quantum Mechanical Hydrogen Atom.- The Classical Hydrogen Atom.- The Lenz Vector and the Accidental Degeneracy.- Breaking the Accidental Degeneracy.- The Hydrogen Atom in External Fields.-The Helium Atom.- Multielectron Atoms.- The Quantum Defect.- Multielectron Atoms in External Fields.- Interaction of Atoms with Radiation.- Answers to Problems.- Index