Electron jump and the photon freq

In summary, The conversation is about the explanation of radiation found in a document called Purcell Simplified. The person is curious about how it relates to light and specifically the emission of a photon from an atom. They also inquire about calculating the frequency and energy of the emitted light. The response is that it is not a single photon and the frequency spectrum can be calculated with a Fourier transformation.
  • #1
zrek
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I found the explanation of the radiation here, in the document of the Purcell Simplified:
http://physics.weber.edu/schroeder/mrr/MRRtalk.html

I like it, however I'm ucertain how to fit this to the light, as photon.
light.png


Am I thinking correctly, that this figure fits also the case when a photon is emitted by an atom?
I assumed that the "jump" in the center may be a jump of the electron in an atom, so the radiation is the light.
In this case how can I calculate the frequency of the light (the energy of the photon)?
Can it be calculated from the size of the jump? Is there a formula for it?

Thank you!
 
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  • #2
zrek said:
In this case how can I calculate the frequency of the light (the energy of the photon)?
It is not a single photon, and often not even a well-defined number of photons. You can calculate the frequency spectrum of the emitted radiation, however. This should work with a Fourier transformation but it is significantly below the level of such a sketch.
 

FAQ: Electron jump and the photon freq

What is an electron jump?

An electron jump, also known as an electron transition, is the movement of an electron from one energy level to another within an atom. This can occur spontaneously or through interactions with other particles.

How does an electron jump relate to the frequency of a photon?

When an electron jumps from a higher energy level to a lower one, it releases energy in the form of a photon. The frequency of the photon is directly proportional to the energy gap between the two levels, as described by the equation E=hf, where E is the energy of the photon, h is Planck's constant, and f is the frequency.

What determines the frequency of a photon emitted during an electron jump?

The frequency of a photon emitted during an electron jump is determined by the specific energy levels of the atom involved. Each element has a unique set of energy levels, and therefore, will emit photons with different frequencies.

Can an electron jump occur in reverse, absorbing a photon instead of emitting one?

Yes, an electron can jump to a higher energy level by absorbing a photon. The energy of the photon must match the energy difference between the two levels for this to occur.

How does the concept of electron jump and photon frequency relate to the field of quantum mechanics?

The concept of electron jump and photon frequency is a fundamental principle of quantum mechanics. It explains the behavior of atoms and subatomic particles and is crucial in understanding the nature of light and matter.

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