- #1
jaumzaum
- 434
- 33
I'm studying spontaneous emission and I'm in trouble to understand the following: In a hydrogen atom we have distinct energy levels with different energy values associated to them.
E1 = -13,6 eV
E2 = -3,4 eV
E3 = -1,51 eV
To go from the first to the second energy level we need a photon of energy 10,2 eV, and to go from the first to the third we need a photon of energy 12,09 eV. What would happen if we inside a monochromatic beam of photons of energy 11 eV in a hydrogen atomic gas. Will the atoms be excited to the second energy level and release the remaining 0.8 eV? Will the atoms not be excited at all? Or will they use 10,2 eV to excite the electron to the second energy level and 0,8 eV to the kinetic/vibration energy of the atom?
Thanks
John
E1 = -13,6 eV
E2 = -3,4 eV
E3 = -1,51 eV
To go from the first to the second energy level we need a photon of energy 10,2 eV, and to go from the first to the third we need a photon of energy 12,09 eV. What would happen if we inside a monochromatic beam of photons of energy 11 eV in a hydrogen atomic gas. Will the atoms be excited to the second energy level and release the remaining 0.8 eV? Will the atoms not be excited at all? Or will they use 10,2 eV to excite the electron to the second energy level and 0,8 eV to the kinetic/vibration energy of the atom?
Thanks
John