Atomic, molecular, and optical physics (AMO) is the study of
matter-matter and
light-matter interactions; at the scale of one or a few
atoms and energy scales around several
electron volts. The three areas are closely interrelated. AMO theory includes
classical,
semi-classical and
quantum treatments. Typically, the theory and applications of
emission,
absorption,
scattering of
electromagnetic radiation (light) from
excited atoms and
molecules, analysis of spectroscopy, generation of
lasers and
masers, and the optical properties of matter in general, fall into these categories.