Astronomical Spectroscopy: An Introduction to the Atomic and Molecular Physics of Astronomical SpectraNearly all information about the Universe comes from the study of light as it reaches us. However, understanding the information contained in this light requires both telescopes capable of resolving it into its component colours and a detailed knowledge of the quantum mechanical behaviour of atoms and molecules. This book, which is based on a third-year undergraduate course taught by the author at University College London, presents the basic atomic and molecular physics necessary to understand and interpret astronomical spectra. It explains how and what kind of information can be extracted from these spectra. Contemporary astronomical spectra are used extensively to study the underlying atomic physics and illustrate the results. |
Contents
1 Why Record Spectra of Astronomical Objects? | 1 |
2 The Nature of Spectra | 7 |
3 Atomic Hydrogen | 17 |
4 Complex Atoms | 51 |
5 Helium Spectra | 69 |
6 Alkali Atoms | 81 |
7 Spectra of Nebulae | 99 |
8 Spectra in Magnetic Fields | 115 |
10 Molecular Structure | 135 |
11 Rotational Spectra | 157 |
12 VibrationRotation Spectra | 175 |
13 Electronic Spectra of Diatomic Molecules | 187 |
Solutions to Model Problems | 199 |
| 215 | |
| 217 | |
9 XRay Spectra | 123 |
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Common terms and phrases
absorption allowed transitions approximation Astron Astrophys asymmetric top Balmer series band carbon closed shell cm-¹ cm¯¹ complex atoms consider continuum coupling decay denoted density diatomic molecules discussed in Sec effects Einstein A coefficient emission energy levels example excited Figure forbidden frequency give rise given Grotrian diagram ground state configuration H atom harmonic helium HII regions hydrogen hydrogen atom infrared interstellar medium ionisation isotopic labelled Laporte rule Lyman magnetic field means molecular nebula notation nuclear nucleus observed optical orbital angular momentum parity photons polyatomic potential pure rotational quadrupole quantum defect recombination lines reduced mass resonance rigid rotor rotational constant rotational spectrum rotational transitions Rydberg constant Schrödinger equation selection rules shift shows sodium species spectroscopic spin angular spin multiplicity spin-orbit splitting star structure symmetry Telescope temperature tion ultraviolet values vibration-rotation vibrational wavefunction wavelengths X-ray zero point energy