Colloquium: Ettore Majorana and the birth of autoionization

Abstract

In some of the first applications of modern quantum mechanics to the spectroscopy of many-electron atoms, Ettore Majorana in 1931 solved several outstanding problems by developing the theory of autoionization. Later literature makes only sporadic references to this accomplishment. After reviewing his work in its contemporary context, we describe subsequent developments in understanding the spectra treated by Majorana and extensions of his theory to other areas of physics. Several puzzles are found concerning the treatment of Majorana's work in the subsequent literature and the way in which the modern theory of autoionization was developed.

Fano-Doppler Laser Cooling of Hybrid Nanostructures

“…where q is the Fano factor, which characterizes the interference of amplitudes for transitions involving the discrete and continuum states 18,19,29 (q regulates the line profile that for |q| f ¥ it becomes Lorentzian), Γ is the full width half-maximum (FWHM), ω 0 is the Fano resonance frequency, and C a and C b are the amplitudes of the resonant and background cross sections, respectively. We now consider a particle with mass m moving in one dimension at velocity v under the influence of two counter-propagating laser beams (1D optical molasses 5 ) with wavevector k, and detuned from the Fano resonance by an amount δ = ω À ω 0 (see Figure 1a for a sketch).…”

Ettore Majorana: his work and his life

“…As to these first articles, we confine ourselves to quote Arimondo et al's paper, which associated to them the birth, e.g., of autoionization. [11] One cannot forget also the 6th one, "Atomi orientati in campo magnetico variabile" (Atoms oriented in a variable magnetic field). It is the article, famous amongst atomic physicists, in which the effect now known as the Majorana-Brossel Effect was introduced.…”

Majorana, the Neutron, and the Neutrino: Some elementary historical remarks

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TEC/TNRG (Usa), we recall in this article some elementary historical information about the role played by Ettore Majorana [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] with regard to the Neutron, and to the Neutrino. We often do explicitly insert direct quotations from the original written statements -in particular by Edoardo Amaldi [22][23][24]-, which in some cases, and for some topics, constitute the main available evidence.

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