Can s oribtal electrons only drop to other s orbitals?

[friendbobbiny]

Just a thought:

The momentum quantum number given for s states is l = 0. If an S state electron dropped in energy, and emitted a photon with l = 1, what would take place?

Am I correct that the electron could only drop to a lower l = 0 (an S state) orbital?

 

[PietKuip]

Dipole transitions from s are only allowed to p orbitals.

 

[friendbobbiny]

Why can't a drop to s take place? I infer that a drop to p(l = 1) can take place because \Delta l = 1.

 

[PietKuip]

The dipole operator is odd, so it only gives overlap between states with odd and even symmetry.