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Welcome to the home of atomic physics

This site exists to enhance the distribution of course information and content for the atomic physics component of KYA323: Atomic and Nuclear Physics. All official communication will be though MyLO1.

A next-generation trap for strontium ions, recently pulished in the journal nature . Trapped ion systems are promising candidates for quantum computation and quantum sensing, and this system, developed by the MIT Lincoln Laboratory demonstrates an important step in the process of making quantum devices suitable for the real-world, namely, making them "simpler" and more robust. As part of this course, we will investigate how atomic physics allows us to understand, model, and construct simple, yet extraordinarily powerful quantum systems. After constructing a foundation in the theory of applied quantum mechanics, we will turn our attention to real-world quantum applications and technology.

Course expectations: my expectations of you

Quantum mechanics is tough! And this isn't (necessarily) hyperbole: physics is often put in the "hard" basket for a number of reasons, not least due to it being seen as irrelevant or mathematically challenging. Whilst the mathematics can indeed by spicy, once can develop coping mechanisms for this, and at its heart physics is usually intuitive: the apple falls from the tree, like charges repel, and so on. At first glance, quantum mechanics can present very differently, and is rarely accused of being intuitive. There are delights are to be had, but like most truly rewarding endeavours, said delights do not come for free. In undertaking this course, it is expected that:

  • You will attend all face-to-face sessions, and actively contribute to discussions and problem solving
  • Prescribed problems and reading will be undertaken before any face-to-face sessions
  • If you are experiencing difficulties, that you will get in contact as soon as is reasonably possible

Course objectives

The purpose of the atomic component of the atomic and nuclear physics course is to provide a deeper exploration of quantum theory, moving beyond toy examples and developing a toolkit for analysing systems which one would actually encounter in a lab. At the conclusion of your journey, you should:

  • Be familiar with the fundamentals of atomic physics, notably atomic structure and atomic transitions
  • Understand what makes a quantum system behave in a quantum way, and how one can construct experiments to harness the power of quantum mechanics
  • Have studied diverse quantum applications, from how the GPS network functions, to how to discern different squishy bits in an MRI image, and how to build a quantum computer
  • Have had some fun!

Course expectations: my promises to you

Rightly, you should have expectations of me. It is my intention that:

  • I will work to communicate my understanding and insight in the course material
  • I will actively seek input to steer and shape the content discussed, and develop relevant resources
  • I will be available for consultation and discussion
  • I will do my best to cultivate a safe and open forum for discussion

If you think that I am not fulfilling my commitments, or if you have other comments, I would hope that you are comfortable conveying your concerns and/or comments to me, either directly or anonymously. It is my genuine desire to help you navigate learning new concepts and ideas, and I want to do this to the best of my ability, and feedback is the best way to ensure this endeavour proceeds as smoothly as possible.

  1. For the curious traveller, MyLO is The University of Tasmania's learning management system, based on Brightspace as developed D2L. ↩