Atomic electron transition
In physics and chemistry, an atomic electron(ic) transition (could be simply called an atomic transition, a quantum jump, or quantum leap) 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 (observed for example in fluorescence signal of another transition as burst noise); the electron "jumps" from one energy level to another very quickly (transition time often in a few ns or less). Quantum leaps cause the emission (or absorption) of electromagnetic radiation, including that of light, which occurs 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.
Although changes of quantum state occur on the submicroscopic level, in popular discourse, the term "quantum leap" refers to a large increase (Oxford English Dictionary).
[edit] See also
- Burst noise
- Fluorescence
- Phosphorescence
- Stimulated emission
- Molecular electronic transition for molecules
[edit] 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
[edit] External links
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Look up quantum leap in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
- Are there quantum jumps?
- "There are no quantum jumps, nor are there particles!" by H. D. Zeh, Physics Letters A172, 189 (1993).
