AMO is a slightly more general area than condensed matter physics, including related phenomena with smaller numbers atoms and optics. The two terms are however sometimes used as synonyms. The term AMO has gained wide usage and acceptability, see e.g.:
If Ciro had had greater foresight, this might have been what he studied at university!
Molecular beams are cool because they create a one dimensional flow of molecules, which makes it easier to observe certain single-molecule effects, as it removes the multi-particle issues from experiments.
Key molecular beam experiments include:
- Stern-Gerlach experiment, which confirmed the existence of spin
- Rabi's NMR experiment, which confirmed the existence of nuclear spin
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Atomic, Molecular, and Optical (AMO) physics is a branch of physics that deals with the study of atoms, molecules, and their interactions with light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation. This field encompasses a variety of processes and phenomena, and it can be divided into three main areas: 1. **Atomic Physics**: This area focuses on the structure and behavior of single atoms. Key topics include atomic energy levels, electron transitions, ionization, and the effects of external fields on atomic systems.