Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Updated 2025-07-16
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!
Solid-state physics Updated 2025-07-16
Electronic band theory Updated 2025-07-16
How are the bands measured experimentally?
Why are there gaps? Why aren't bands infinite? What determines the width of gaps?
Bibliography:
- Applications of Quantum Mechanics by David Tong (2017) Chapter 2 "Band Structure"
Electrical resistivity and conductivity Updated 2025-07-16
Superconducting tunnel junction Updated 2025-07-16
Specific type of Josephson junction. Probably can be made tiny and in huge numbers through photolithography.
Superfluidity Updated 2025-07-16
Alfred Leitner - Liquid Helium II the Superfluid by Alfred Leitner (1963)
Source. Original source: www.alfredleitner.com. State of matter Updated 2025-07-16
List of states of matter Created 2025-01-29 Updated 2025-07-16
Materials science Updated 2025-07-16
Laser Updated 2025-07-16
What makes lasers so special: Lasers vs other light sources.
How Lasers Work by Scientized (2017)
Source. An extremely good overview of how lasers work. Clearly explains the electron/photon exchange processes involved, notably spontaneous emission.
Talks about the importance of the metastable state to achieve population inversion.
Also briefly explains the imperfections that lead to the slightly imperfect non punctual spectrum seen in a real laser.
- youtu.be/_JOchLyNO_w?t=188 says LED is "also monochromatic", but that is not strictly true, it has way way larger frequency band than a laser. Only narrower compared to other sources such as incandescent light bulbs.
- youtu.be/_JOchLyNO_w?t=517 stimulated emission. This is the key to laser formation as it produces coherent photons.
- youtu.be/_JOchLyNO_w?t=581 spontaneous emission happens too fast (100 ns), which is not enough time for stimulated emission to happen. Metastable electrons to the rescue.
- youtu.be/_JOchLyNO_w?t=832 the parallel mirrors select perpendicular photons preferentially
Quasiparticle Updated 2025-07-16
The opposite of elementary particle.
History of condensed matter physics Updated 2025-07-16
Condensed matter Physics bibliography Updated 2025-07-16
- When condensed matter physics became king by Joseph D. Martin (2019): physicstoday.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/PT.3.4110
- www.youtube.com/watch?v=RImqF8z91fU&list=PLtTPtV8SRcxi91n9Mni2xcQX4KhjX91xp Solid State Physics" course by Sergey Frolov taught at the University of Pittsburgh in the Fall 2015 semester