emperrotta
Nov22-08, 10:28 AM
I am currently reading about matter waves and electron traps.
the textbook states, by the equation:
hf = \DeltaE = Ehigh - Elow
If an electron confined to a one-dimensional infinite potential well is to absorb a photon, the energy hf of the photon must equal the energy difference \DeltaE between the initial energy level of the electron and a higher level.
Then as an aside, the textbook states:
Although the above equation and what we have discussed about photon absorption and emission can be applied to physical (real) electron traps, they actually cannot be applied to one-dimensional (unreal) electron traps. The reason involves the need to conserve angular momentum in a photon absorption or emission process.
I do not understand this statement about angular momentum.
the textbook states, by the equation:
hf = \DeltaE = Ehigh - Elow
If an electron confined to a one-dimensional infinite potential well is to absorb a photon, the energy hf of the photon must equal the energy difference \DeltaE between the initial energy level of the electron and a higher level.
Then as an aside, the textbook states:
Although the above equation and what we have discussed about photon absorption and emission can be applied to physical (real) electron traps, they actually cannot be applied to one-dimensional (unreal) electron traps. The reason involves the need to conserve angular momentum in a photon absorption or emission process.
I do not understand this statement about angular momentum.