Q about State of Hydrogen Atoms

[senseit]

I was watching "The Universe" series talking about scram jets, and how hydrogen is one of the most common elements in the universe. After some searching I found this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H-alpha" about different states of hydrogen atoms. Which made me ask what I thought to be an obvious question..

It says http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H-alpha" : "Since it takes nearly as much energy to excite the hydrogen atom's electron from n = 1 to n = 3 as it does to ionize the hydrogen atom, the probability of the electron being excited to n = 3 without being removed from the atom is very small. Instead, after being ionized, the electron and proton recombine to form a new hydrogen atom. In the new atom, the electron may begin in any energy level, and subsequently cascades to the ground state (n = 1), emitting photons with each transition."

Does this mean that, hydrogen atoms in space without the protection of an atmosphere or magnetic field are in a constant state of flux between H1-H3 states? If you put a snow globe of super-dense hydrogen gas in space.. will it glow as atoms flux between h1->h3 & h3->h1 releasing photons? This would also not use up hydrogen, just use it as a medium to produce lower energy photons from higher energy gamma, ultra violet radiation, correct?

(this is assuming of course that the necessary high energy UV is available to ionize the hydrogen(from the sun))

 

[senseit]

After a bit more searching, I found out that hydrogen does indeed do this naturally in space and is the cause for plasma surrounding neutron stars. Very cool stuff. It would basically be the equivalent of an aurora in space.

 

[charng]

I can confirm that hydrogen is indeed one of the most abundant elements in the universe. The different states of hydrogen atoms, as described in the Wikipedia article on H-alpha, are a result of the electron transitions between energy levels within the atom. This process is known as atomic excitation and de-excitation.

To answer your question, yes, in space without the protection of an atmosphere or magnetic field, hydrogen atoms are in a constant state of flux between H1-H3 states. This is because there is no external force to stabilize the electron within the atom. However, the probability of an electron being excited from n=1 to n=3 without being removed from the atom is very small, as mentioned in the article.

In regards to your snow globe scenario, it is possible that the hydrogen gas would emit photons as the atoms transition between energy levels. However, this would depend on the availability of high energy UV radiation to ionize the hydrogen atoms in the first place. Without this source of energy, the atoms would remain in their ground state and there would be no photon emission.

It is also important to note that the constant flux between energy states of hydrogen atoms does not necessarily mean that the atoms are being used up. The atoms are simply transitioning between levels, releasing photons in the process. The overall amount of hydrogen would remain constant.

I hope this helps to clarify your question about the state of hydrogen atoms in space. The behavior of atoms at this level is complex and constantly changing, and further research and observation is needed to fully understand it.