How to Determine Transistion and Emission of a Photon?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on determining the transition of an electron that results in the emission of a photon with a specific frequency. Participants reference the energy formula for Hydrogen-like atoms, E_n = 13.6 eV (Z^2/n^2), and the Rydberg formula, delta E = Rh(1/n-initial^2 - 1/n-final^2), to illustrate the challenges of solving for two unknowns, n-initial and n-final, with only one equation. The consensus is that without additional information, a unique solution is not guaranteed, necessitating a trial and error approach to identify the correct quantum states.

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  • Understanding of quantum mechanics and electronic transitions
  • Familiarity with the Rydberg formula and its application
  • Knowledge of energy quantization in Hydrogen-like atoms
  • Basic proficiency in algebra for solving equations with multiple variables
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  • Research the Rydberg formula and its implications in spectroscopy
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how would you determine the transistion an election took in order to emit a photon of given frequency. I've tried it with some of the formulas i can remember but i seem to end up with two variables ninitial and n- finial, which is basically what i am trying to solve for.
 
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Are you speaking about electronic transitions in Hydrogen-like atoms? E.g. with the energy formula [tex]E_n = 13.6\textrm{eV}\frac{Z^2}{n^2}[/tex]. Unless you are given more information to determine n initial or n final you will have two unknowns with one equation.
In that case you aren't guaranteed to have a unique solution, but because n is discrete it is likely there is one set of n's which give you the right answer for "reasonably" low n's. In this case you'll have to do a guess and check strategy.

While this might seem a poor question to put in homework because it is underspecified it actually reflects the challenges that early spectroscopists had in determining the Rydberg formula.

I hope that helped
 


so we would have to do trial and error to find n initial and n final?
dat might take a while, the formula i used was:
delta E = Rh( 1/n-initial^2 - 1/n-finial^2)
and E= hf to find delta E
 

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