Molecules in Electromagnetic Fields

A tutorial for calculating the response of molecules to electric and magnetic fields with examples from research in ultracold physics, controlled chemistry, and molecular collisions in fields

Molecules in Electromagnetic Fields is intended to serve as a tutorial for students beginning research, theoretical or experimental, in an area related to molecular physics. The author--a noted expert in the field--offers a systematic discussion of the effects of static and dynamic electric and magnetic fields on the rotational, fine, and hyperfine structure of molecules. The book illustrates how the concepts developed in ultracold physics research have led to what may be the beginning of controlled chemistry in the fully quantum regime. Offering a glimpse of the current state of the art research, this book suggests future research avenues for ultracold chemistry.

The text describes theories needed to understand recent exciting developments in the research on trapping molecules, guiding molecular beams, laser control of molecular rotations, and external field control of microscopic intermolecular interactions. In addition, the author presents the description of scattering theory for molecules in electromagnetic fields and offers practical advice for students working on various aspects of molecular interactions.

This important text:

* Offers information on theeffects of electromagnetic fields on the structure of molecular energy levels

* Includes thorough descriptions of the most useful theories for ultracold molecule researchers

* Presents a wealth of illustrative examples from recent experimental and theoretical work

* Contains helpful exercises that help to reinforce concepts presented throughout text

Written for senior undergraduate and graduate students, professors, researchers, physicists, physical chemists, and chemical physicists, Molecules in Electromagnetic Fields is an interdisciplinary text describing theories and examples from the core of contemporary molecular physics.