Understanding Photon Emission: Random Time Delay and Duration Explained

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In summary, the conversation discusses the emission and duration of photons from a lamp, and whether or not they are emitted one by one with a random time delay. It is also mentioned that photons do not die out, but rather continue until they are absorbed. The duration time of a photon from white light is said to be about 10^-9 seconds, but the speaker questions this statement. There is also confusion about the concept of bursts in relation to photon emission.
  • #1
coke
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hi, as we know, lamp emits light not continuously but in 'burst', which we may call wave packet or photon. my question is,
1. Is it emitted one photon by one photon with random time delay ?
2. it is said that the duration time of the photon from white light is about 10^-9 sec(nanosecond), does it mean that each photon lasts for 10^-9 sec ?
3. if the above two questions are both correct, then does it mean that 10^-9 sec late after the emission of the first photon, wait an unpredictable time later, another photon emitted ? then how about the first one ? where does it go ? die out ?

can anyone help ? thank you so much !
 
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  • #2
Photons don't 'die out'. They continue until they are absorbed, at which time they no longer exist as photons.

Surely you can see this must be so ? If each photon lasted only for a short time, we would be in a dark universe. When you look at starlight, some of it could have been traveling for hundreds of millions of years to get to your eye and be absorbed.
 
  • #3
coke said:
2. it is said that the duration time of the photon from white light is about 10^-9 sec(nanosecond),

Where does it say that?
 
  • #4
coke said:
hi, as we know, lamp emits light not continuously but in 'burst', which we may call wave packet or photon. my question is,

I don't get this. Care to elaborate, please ? What's this "burst" you are talking about ?

marlon
 

What is photon emission?

Photon emission is the process of a particle, such as an electron, releasing energy in the form of a photon (electromagnetic radiation). This typically occurs when an electron transitions from a higher energy state to a lower energy state.

What causes random time delay in photon emission?

The exact timing of photon emission is unpredictable due to the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics. As a result, there is a random time delay between when an electron is excited and when it emits a photon. This is known as the "spontaneous emission" process.

Why does the duration of photon emission vary?

The duration of photon emission can vary due to multiple factors, including the energy level of the emitting particle, the strength of the emission source, and the surrounding environment. Additionally, the duration may also be affected by the random time delay mentioned previously.

How is photon emission measured?

Photon emission is typically measured using a device called a photodetector, which detects the presence of photons and converts them into electrical signals. These signals can then be analyzed to determine the timing and duration of photon emission events.

What are the practical applications of understanding photon emission?

Understanding photon emission has numerous practical applications, including the development of technologies such as lasers, LEDs, and solar cells. It also plays a crucial role in fields such as quantum computing and communication, as well as in medical imaging and therapy.

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