CondonShortley

CondonShortley is a collaborative project between American physicists Edward U. Condon and Philip Shortley, known for their significant contributions to the field of atomic spectroscopy and quantum mechanics. Their joint work, particularly the development of the Condon-Shortley approximation, provided a crucial method for calculating the energies of atomic states, especially those involving electron configurations with multiple electrons. This approximation simplified complex quantum mechanical calculations by focusing on the dominant electrostatic interactions between electrons.

The Condon-Shortley approximation is a simplified model that accounts for the interactions between electrons in an atom. It assumes that the primary interaction is the electrostatic repulsion between electrons, and it treats these interactions in a way that makes the problem mathematically tractable. While it is an approximation and does not perfectly capture all quantum mechanical effects, it has proven to be remarkably effective and widely used in theoretical atomic physics.

Their seminal paper, "The Theory of Complex Spectra," published in the Reviews of Modern Physics in 1935, is a landmark publication in the field. This work systematically outlined the methods and theoretical framework for understanding the complex spectra of atoms, which arise from the intricate interactions of electrons. The Condon-Shortley approach became a cornerstone for many subsequent theoretical investigations into atomic structure and spectra, influencing generations of physicists. Their legacy continues to be felt in the study of atomic and molecular physics, astrophysics, and materials science.