Conical Intersections in Physics

The book "Conical Intersections in Physics" offers a concise introduction to the fundamental theory of conical intersections and their applications in atomic, molecular, and solid-state physics. Conical intersections are crucial for understanding the energy of quantum systems and occur in physical systems that exhibit both slow and fast degrees of freedom. This is particularly relevant when studying the evolution of quantum systems governed by classical parameters. The book highlights the role of conical intersections in analyzing the topological properties of solids and discusses their implications for the Born-Oppenheimer approximation as well as the emergence of nontrivial artificial gauge structures, similar to the Aharonov-Bohm effect. Various applications in molecular systems, solid-state physics, and cold atoms are addressed, making the book a valuable resource for students and professionals in the natural sciences.