Optically Polarized Atoms
Understanding light-atom interactions
Marcis Auzinsh, Dmitry Budker, and Simon Rochester
Reviews and Awards
"This is an excellent undergraduate textbook which provides a modern treatment of atom-light interactions from an experimentalist's perspective. I recommend this book to any student who aims for a deep understanding of the concepts in atomic physics and how to apply them to current research topics." --Dieter Jaksch, University of Oxford
"Many modern atomic physics experiments use subtle effects of atom-light interactions, be they the destructive interference associated with coherent superpositons, or the dynamics of optical pumping, or alignment to orientation conversion. Having such topics discussed in a coherent theoretical framework provides an excellent resource." --Ifan Hughes, Durham University
"I highly recommend Optically Polarized Atoms and will probably use it next time I teach my graduate course. ... The book is specifically intended for use in a one-semester course in which the symmetry and angular-momentum aspects of atomic structure and laser-atom interactions are central. ... The level of detail and the clarity of explanations are admirable." --Daniel F. V. James, Physics Today
"The recently published book Optically Polarized Atoms by Marcis Auzinsh, Dmitry Budker and Simon M. Rochester will be a unique and valuable addition to the library of anyone - students or established researchers... It provides a rich mine of information about atomic physics that is hard to find elsewhere. I intend to keep a copy on my shelf of favorite physics books." --William Happer, Princeton University