Atomic electron transition
Atomic electron transition is a change of an electron from one quantum state to another within an atom[1] or artificial atom.[2] It appears to be discontinuous as the electron "jumps" from one energy level to another in a few nanoseconds or less. It is also known as atomic transition, quantum jump, or quantum leap.
Quantum leaps cause the emission or absorption of electromagnetic radiation in the form of quantized units called photons. Their statistics is Poissonian and the damping of statistic values of time between jumps is exponential in average.[3] The damping time constant (ranges from nanoseconds to a few seconds) relates to the natural, pressure and field broadening of spectral lines. The farther the electron jumps the different wave lengths of the photons are emitted, meaning they emit different colors based on how far they jump.
Although changes of quantum state occur on the submicroscopic level, in popular discourse, the term "quantum leap" refers to a large increase.
See also
- Burst noise
- Fluorescence
- Phosphorescence
- Stimulated emission
- Molecular electronic transition for molecules
References
- ^ Schombert, James. Quantum physics. University of Oregon Department of Physics.
- ^ Observation of quantum jumps in a superconducting artificial atom - http://arxiv.org/abs/1009.2969
- ^ Observing the quantum jumps of light - http://www.mpq.mpg.de/Theorygroup/CIRAC/wiki/images/8/86/Samuel.pdf
External links
- Are there quantum jumps?
- "There are no quantum jumps, nor are there particles!" by H. D. Zeh, Physics Letters A172, 189 (1993).