Boris M. Smirnov

Units of Physical Quantities

In order to make this reference guide suitable for broader use in practical applications, we have included in this chapter a short list of measurement units of physical quantities, together with a brief report on fundamental physical constants and some natural systems of units, and tables of conversion factors for different measurement units in physics.

Energetics of Atomic Ions

Numerical data are presented for the ionization potentials of singly, doubly and triply charged atomic ions and also for the electron affinities of atoms. The energy levels of the lowest (n = 2) excited states in hydrogen- and heliumlike atomic ions are also assessed.

Structure of Atomic Electron Shells

The systematics of electron quantum states in atoms is briefly reviewed along with the systematics of atomic terms and the filling-order of the electronic subshells. The normal electronic configurations and terms of atomic particles are presented, together with the Hartree-Fock and asymptotic parameters of valence electron wavefunctions and radial expectation values.

Interaction Potentials Between Atomic and Molecular Species

The numerical values of the van der Waals coefficients C 2l+2 describing the multipole interactions of atomic and molecular species are given. The calculated parameters of the exponential exchange interaction of two like atoms are presented in the limit of large internuclear separations. Numerical data on the exponential repulsive interaction of atomic and molecular particles are also compiled for short-range internuclear separations.

Isotopic Composition, Atomic Mass Table and Atomic Weights of the Elements

Numerical parameters of stable and long-lived radioactive isotopes whose half-lives are longer than that of the neutron, are examined. Results are collected for the isotopic composition and atomic weights of the elements, the spins and magnetic moments of nuclei, their half-lives and modes of decay and the nuclidic masses.

Energetics of Neutral Atoms

Numerical data are presented for the ionization potentials of neutral atoms, the fine- and hyperfine-structure splitting of low-lying energy levels, the level and transition isotope shifts in atoms and the quantum defects of atomic Rydberg states. Values of the atomic scalar polarizability and the magnetic susceptibility are also given.

Spectroscopic Characteristics of Neutral Atoms

Numerical data are presented for low-lying atomic terms, oscillator strengths of the most intense optical transitions, radiative lifetimes of low-lying resonant excited states and Rydberg levels of atoms with one valence electron and for typical parameters of atomic metastable states. The spectra of the most intense optical transitions are reproduced on atomic Grotrian diagrams.

Polyatomic Molecular Ions

Numerical data are presented for bond dissociation energies of positive and negative ionic clusters and for electron and proton affinities of polyatomic molecules.

Electrical Properties of Molecules

Numerical data are given for dipole and quadrupole moments of molecules and the average dipole polarizabilities of polyatomic molecules.