1. Optically polarized atoms
Simon M. Rochester
UC Berkeley
Dmitry Budker
UC Berkeley and LBNL
Textbook to be published by Oxford University Press
Marcis Auzinsh
University of Latvia

2. Goals of the course Learn to analyze situations like this:
Survey of interesting topics in AMO (student presentations)

3. Approximate scope of the course
Motivation and preliminaries
Atomic states
Atoms in external electric and magnetic fields
Polarized light
Atomic transitions
Coherence in atoms
Density matrix
“Maxwell-Bloch” equations
Examples

4. Preliminary I The hierarchy of scales in the electron world
To get into the groove and to introduce some notations, let us write the
classical radius of the electron
…and the fine-structure constant

5. Let’s see what happens if we divide re by powers of 
Characteristic wavelength of atomic radiation
Compton wavelength
Bohr radius

6. Good books (are hard to find)
Atomic and Laser Spectroscopy by A. Corney
Atomic Spectra and Radiative Transitions by I. I. Sobelman
Quantum Theory of Angular Momentum by D. A. Varshalovich, A. N. Moskalev, and V. K. Khersonskii
Angular Momentum in Quantum Mechanics by A. R. Edmonds
Angular Momentum by R. N. Zare
Polarization of Light by S. Huard
Optical Polarization of Molecules by M. Auzinsh and R. Ferber
Interference of Atomic States by E. B. Alexandrov, M. P. Chaika, and G. I. Khvostenko
The Quantum Theory of Light by R. Loudon
The Physics of Laser-Atom Interactions by D. Suter
Optical Pumping. Principles and Applications by W. Happer, Th. Walker, and K. Bonin – delayed by 9/11
Atomic Physics by C. J. Foot
Light and Matter by Y. B. Band
Light-Mater Interaction by W. T. Hill, III and C. H. Li
Atomic Physics. An Exploration through Problems and Solutions by D. Budker, D. F. Kimball, and D. P. DeMille

7. Errata