Atomic Physics (Oxford Master Series in Physics)

A very useful reference text for advanced undergraduate or higher atomic physics. It moves rather quickly and assumes prior knowledge of quantum mechanics, but provides a lot of good information on modern experimental techniques.

Well written. Requires knowledge of basic physics.

it's good

Not useful for learning material rigorously. The justification for many steps in deriving equations is either hidden, implied, or absent.

This has the same problem as Introduction to Plasma by Chen where the text is printed too close to the spine. The reason print exists is so that you can read words on flat sheets of paper, instead of having to crane your neck to see what's on the other side.

This book has two types of material; both well done. The first could have been written decades ago, and is the "traditional" atomic physics. Where you start with the hydrogen atom, and investigate its spectroscopy with the Schrodinger equation. Then the book takes the next logical step by going to helium and thence to heavier atoms. LS and JJ coupling and other refinements. Such material is now quite well known and you need this for a solid background.But the book also has much more recent material. On quantum computing using qubits. These attempt to use the quantum states of small groups of atoms, to perform computations fundamentally different from current digital efforts. Enough detail is given for you to appreciate the severe experimental travails of the field, and how much more remains to be done, if qubits are ever to become useful.