This course presents in detail the physics of atoms and molecules from a modern view point. It is designed for senior undergraduate students following up on some study of quantum theory. Topics include: many electron atoms and the Hartree-Fock approximation, interaction of many electron atoms with electromagnetic fields, various atomic phenomena; LS-term, spin-orbit coupling, the Zeeman effect, the Stark effect, the Lamb shift, radiation damping, light absorption, emission and scattering, photoelectric effect, electron-atom collision, atomic spectra, molecular structure and bonding, including LCAO, molecular vibration mode, molecular spectra.
Topical Prerequisites: elementary quantum mechanics including wave-particle duality, the Schrödinger wave equation, the harmonic oscillator, the hydrogen atom, angular momentum state, time independent and dependent perturbation theory, etc.