ID:
510830
Duration (hours):
52
CFU:
6
SSD:
FISICA SPERIMENTALE
Year:
2025
Overview
Date/time interval
Secondo Semestre (02/03/2026 - 12/06/2026)
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The course of the course aims at consolidating the knowledge of quantum mechanics and to provide a solid basis for the comprehension of atomic and molecular physics. Formal topics will be mostly developed during the study of well defined problems of atomic and molecular chemistry with the aim to provide a more operative knowledge of quantum mechanics suitable to effectively tackle their analysis and solution. It is expected that, by the end of the course, students not only comprehend, for example, the origin of the discrete nature of excitation spectra or of the chemical bond, but also become capable to construct the wave function of a simple molecule or of a system of many electrons and know how to approach the solution of the ground state through the variational approach.
Theoretical lectures will be completed by some laboratory experiments that, focusing on specific topics as optics, electromagnetism and radiation-matter interaction, are aimed to teach the student the use of measuring instruments and the correct interpretation of experimental results by comparison with theoretical predictions.
Theoretical lectures will be completed by some laboratory experiments that, focusing on specific topics as optics, electromagnetism and radiation-matter interaction, are aimed to teach the student the use of measuring instruments and the correct interpretation of experimental results by comparison with theoretical predictions.
Course Prerequisites
To have passed the exam "Fisica Sperimentale con Laboratorio".
To have attended the course "Chimica Fisica I"
Teaching Methods
The course mainly consists of classroom lectures.
Class lectures are completed by some lab experiments whose topics are refreshed in dedicated lectures immediately before the labs.
Class lectures are completed by some lab experiments whose topics are refreshed in dedicated lectures immediately before the labs.
Assessment Methods
The exam consists of a discussion (oral or written) on all the topics of the course (including lab experiences).
To access the exam students have to send a report on the lab experiences to the teacher and receive a positive evaluation on them.
To access the exam students have to send a report on the lab experiences to the teacher and receive a positive evaluation on them.
Texts
For the theoretical module, the suggested textbook is: Peter Atkins and Julio de Paula, “Physical Chemistry”, Zanichelli Ed.
italian edition: 5th (or more recent); english edition: 9th (or more recent). The ebook is available for unipv users on the Zanichelli LockLizard platform
Approfondimenti:
- A. Rigamonti and P. Carretta, "Structure of Matter", Second Edition, Ed. Springer
- F. L. Pilar, "Elementary Quantum Chemistry", Second Edition, Ed. Dover
For the laboratory module, the suggested textbooks are:
- Halliday, Resnick, Walker, "Fondamenti di Fisica", Ed. CEA, available on the Zanichelli LockLizard platform
- Mazzoldi, Nigro, Voci, "Fisica, Vol. 2", Ed. Edises - Serway
- Jewett, "Fisica per Scienze ed Ingegneria - Vol. 2", Ed. Edises, available on the Perlego platform
Approfondimenti:
- A. Rigamonti and P. Carretta, "Structure of Matter", Second Edition, Ed. Springer
- F. L. Pilar, "Elementary Quantum Chemistry", Second Edition, Ed. Dover
For the laboratory module, the suggested textbooks are:
- Halliday, Resnick, Walker, "Fondamenti di Fisica", Ed. CEA, available on the Zanichelli LockLizard platform
- Mazzoldi, Nigro, Voci, "Fisica, Vol. 2", Ed. Edises - Serway
- Jewett, "Fisica per Scienze ed Ingegneria - Vol. 2", Ed. Edises, available on the Perlego platform
Contents
The course lectures of the theoretical module will be structured according the following macro-areas:
- physics of waves (briefly): wave equations, overlap principle and standing waves, modulation, beats and interference, Fourier decomposition; wave diffraction; wave pockets, phase and group velocity; energy and momentum of a wave; wave refraction
- electromagnetic waves: Maxwell equations (in vacuum) and wave solution; polarization of electromagnetic waves; radiation intensity and Poynting vector; Lorentz model and radiation-matter interaction; refractive index; reflection, transmission and absorption of e.m. waves
- quantization of the e.m. field (briefly): the photoelectric effect and introduction to photons; energy of photons and their spin; black-body radiation
- foundation of quantum mechanics (mainly a review from previous courses): wave-particle duality, foundation principles, wave functions and their interpretation, operators and observables, Schrodinger equation, angular momentum, factorization of wave functions, hydrogen atom;
- electronic structure of more complex atoms: hydrogenoid atoms, Pauli’s exclusion principle, Auf-Bau filling order, total energies, ionization potentials and electron affinities;
- vectorial model of the atom: theory of the angular momentum and composition of momenta; Hartree-Fock theory and exchange interaction; spin-orbit interaction; Hund's rules and open-shell atoms; electronic transitions, conservation laws and selection rules.
- Molecules and their electronic structure: Hilbert spaces and wave function basis sets, variational principle, linear combination of atomic orbitals, H2 and H2+ molecules, bonding and antibonding states; concept of chemical bond, electronegativity and ionicity; more complex molecules (briefly), concept of hybridization; electronic states of the benzene molecule and Huckel theory; resonance and valence-bond theory (briefly)
- symmetries in molecules: symmetry operations and classification of the main symmetry groups; symmetries of the Hamiltonian and their consequences, on mathematical and physical levels; dipole moments, magnetization, chirality and optical activity;
- NMR and EPR spectroscopies (briefly); spin in magnetic fields and time-dependent perturbations; Larmor frequency and transitions between spin states; chemical shift and its dominant terms; pulsed NMR techniques, relaxation times, spin echoes; biomedical applications (briefly)
The topics of the laboratory experiments are:
- diffraction and interference of light, by using a laser and single and double slits;
- study of optical activity of sugar solutions and of few related phenomenas (mutarotation e inversion).
- physics of waves (briefly): wave equations, overlap principle and standing waves, modulation, beats and interference, Fourier decomposition; wave diffraction; wave pockets, phase and group velocity; energy and momentum of a wave; wave refraction
- electromagnetic waves: Maxwell equations (in vacuum) and wave solution; polarization of electromagnetic waves; radiation intensity and Poynting vector; Lorentz model and radiation-matter interaction; refractive index; reflection, transmission and absorption of e.m. waves
- quantization of the e.m. field (briefly): the photoelectric effect and introduction to photons; energy of photons and their spin; black-body radiation
- foundation of quantum mechanics (mainly a review from previous courses): wave-particle duality, foundation principles, wave functions and their interpretation, operators and observables, Schrodinger equation, angular momentum, factorization of wave functions, hydrogen atom;
- electronic structure of more complex atoms: hydrogenoid atoms, Pauli’s exclusion principle, Auf-Bau filling order, total energies, ionization potentials and electron affinities;
- vectorial model of the atom: theory of the angular momentum and composition of momenta; Hartree-Fock theory and exchange interaction; spin-orbit interaction; Hund's rules and open-shell atoms; electronic transitions, conservation laws and selection rules.
- Molecules and their electronic structure: Hilbert spaces and wave function basis sets, variational principle, linear combination of atomic orbitals, H2 and H2+ molecules, bonding and antibonding states; concept of chemical bond, electronegativity and ionicity; more complex molecules (briefly), concept of hybridization; electronic states of the benzene molecule and Huckel theory; resonance and valence-bond theory (briefly)
- symmetries in molecules: symmetry operations and classification of the main symmetry groups; symmetries of the Hamiltonian and their consequences, on mathematical and physical levels; dipole moments, magnetization, chirality and optical activity;
- NMR and EPR spectroscopies (briefly); spin in magnetic fields and time-dependent perturbations; Larmor frequency and transitions between spin states; chemical shift and its dominant terms; pulsed NMR techniques, relaxation times, spin echoes; biomedical applications (briefly)
The topics of the laboratory experiments are:
- diffraction and interference of light, by using a laser and single and double slits;
- study of optical activity of sugar solutions and of few related phenomenas (mutarotation e inversion).
Course Language
Italian
More information
Attendance of the theoretical lectures and of the laboratory experiences is mandatory in order to take the exam.
The course is developed in full consistency with the "inclusive didactic guidelines" specified on the webpage https://portale.unipv.it/it/didattica/servizi-lo-studente/modalita-didattiche-inclusive
The course is developed in full consistency with the "inclusive didactic guidelines" specified on the webpage https://portale.unipv.it/it/didattica/servizi-lo-studente/modalita-didattiche-inclusive
Degrees
Degrees
Chemistry
Bachelor’s Degree
3 years
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