Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of figures
- List of tables
- List of definitions, principles, etc.
- List of boxes
- List of symbols
- List of abbreviations
- Introduction
- Part I Basic features of quantum mechanics
- Part II More advanced topics
- Part III Matter and light
- 10 Perturbations and approximation methods
- 11 Hydrogen and helium atoms
- 12 Hydrogen molecularion
- 13 Quantum optics
- Part IV Quantum information: state and correlations
- Bibliography
- Author index
- Subject index
12 - Hydrogen molecularion
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of figures
- List of tables
- List of definitions, principles, etc.
- List of boxes
- List of symbols
- List of abbreviations
- Introduction
- Part I Basic features of quantum mechanics
- Part II More advanced topics
- Part III Matter and light
- 10 Perturbations and approximation methods
- 11 Hydrogen and helium atoms
- 12 Hydrogen molecularion
- 13 Quantum optics
- Part IV Quantum information: state and correlations
- Bibliography
- Author index
- Subject index
Summary
In this chapter we move from the atomic to the molecular problem, i.e. we try to understand how quantum mechanics, besides explaining the structure and stability of a single atom, is able to account for the existence and the dynamics of molecules, the smallest building blocks of matter that determine and maintain the chemical properties of macroscopic substances. Molecular quantum physics is the field that deals with these types of problems and constitutes one of the most beautiful and successful applications of the basic principles of quantum mechanics. It is also of enormous relevance, because it lays the foundations of a consistent theory of condensed matter.
Our aim here is only to present the basic framework of molecular physics and to give a flavor of its power. A systematic treatment of the subject would go far beyond the scope of this book. In order to reach this goal, we take as our reference molecule the hydrogen molecular ion, which has the advantage of being simple enough to allow exact calculations. While it embodies all the main ingredients of any molecule, it avoids the difficulties due to multielectronic effects (see Sec. 11.6).
In Sec. 12.1 we present the molecule. In Sec. 12.2 we discuss the powerful Born– Oppenheimer approximation that allows us to deal with molecules with an arbitrary number of nuclei and electrons, a problem that would be otherwise unsolvable.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Quantum Mechanics , pp. 439 - 454Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009