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Chapter 14: Time-Dependent Perturbation Theory

Chapter 14: Time-Dependent Perturbation Theory

pp. 445-468

Authors

, Oregon State University
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Summary

We learn time-dependent perturbation theory, where we focus on finding the probability that an applied perturbation causes a transition between energy levels of the unperturbed Hamiltonian. We calculate the probability amplitude for a transition from an initial state to a final state subject to a time-dependent perturbation. We learn that an excited state in an atom has a finite lifetime due to spontaneous emission. We learn that electric dipole transitions obey selection rules.

Keywords

  • perturbation
  • hydrogen
  • angular momentum
  • spectroscopy
  • transition probability
  • electric dipole
  • spontaneous emission
  • laser
  • selection rules

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