Physics: Spectroscopy and the Quantum Description of Matter

<p>Atoms, molecules, and the solid state of matter can be described using the same principles. The electronic structure of matter (i.e. the distribution and dynamics of the electron density) plays a decisive role for its structural and chemical properties, and it is the electronic structure of matter which is mirrored by the results of the spectroscopy techniques used in atomic, molecular, and solid state physics. Therefore, focus is on the description of the electronic structure of molecules and solid materials and its relationship to the spectra obtained in some of the most important spectroscopy methods. Particular emphasis is put on electron spectroscopy. Moreover, the connection between spectroscopy and microscopy is treated for such microscopy methods which primarily image the electronic structure.</p> <p>The course treats the following aspects:</p> <ul> <li>chemical bonds in molecules and the quantum mechanical description of molecules,</li> <li>chemical bonds in solid materials and the quantum mechanical description of solid materials,</li> <li>spectroscopies for the probing of the electronic structure of matter, in particular electron spectroscopy and scanning tunnelling spectroscopy,</li> <li>microscopy techniques which probe the electronic structure of matter.</li> </ul>