Exploring Single Photon Emissions in H-Atom: The Mystery of 2s to 1s Transition

In summary, the 2s to 1s transition in the hydrogen atom is a significant and well-understood process in atomic physics. It involves an electron transitioning from the second energy level to the first, emitting a photon with specific energy. This transition is studied in the laboratory using spectroscopy, and is influenced by factors such as the mass of the electron and the distance between the electron and the nucleus. Despite being studied for many years, there are still mysteries surrounding this transition, leading to ongoing research. Studying this transition has potential applications in fields such as the development of more accurate atomic clocks and in improving our understanding of quantum mechanics. It also has implications in astrophysics, providing insight into the composition and evolution of the universe.
  • #1
Demon117
165
1
Why is it that for the H-atom there is no single photon emission in the transition from 2s to 1s? I realize that two-photon emission is valid in this transition but why not single-photon emission?
 
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  • #2
You need to obey conservation laws. For single photon optical transitions you need [itex]\Delta l=\pm 1[/itex] which corresponds to conservation of angular momentum. As a photon always carries angular momentum (it is a spin 1 particle), the angular momentum of the atom inquestion must change accordingly and only those transitions which fulfill this condition can be dipole-allowed.
 
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  • #3
Ahh, that makes much more sense. Thank you!
 

1. What is the significance of the 2s to 1s transition in the hydrogen atom?

The 2s to 1s transition in the hydrogen atom is significant because it is the most fundamental and well-understood transition in atomic physics. It involves an electron transitioning from the second energy level (2s) to the first energy level (1s), emitting a photon of specific energy in the process. This transition is important in understanding the structure and behavior of atoms, as well as in applications such as spectroscopy.

2. How is this transition studied in the laboratory?

This transition can be studied in the laboratory using techniques such as spectroscopy, where the emitted photons are detected and their energies are measured. By analyzing the energies of the emitted photons, scientists can gain insight into the energy levels and electron configurations of the hydrogen atom.

3. What factors influence the energy of the emitted photon in the 2s to 1s transition?

The energy of the emitted photon in the 2s to 1s transition is influenced by several factors, including the mass of the electron, the charge of the nucleus, and the distance between the electron and the nucleus. These factors are determined by the laws of quantum mechanics, which govern the behavior of particles at the atomic level.

4. Why is this transition considered a mystery?

This transition is considered a mystery because, despite being well-understood and studied for many years, there are still some discrepancies between theoretical predictions and experimental results. This has led to ongoing research and debate in the scientific community to better understand the underlying mechanisms of the 2s to 1s transition in the hydrogen atom.

5. What are the potential applications of studying this transition?

Studying the 2s to 1s transition in the hydrogen atom has various potential applications, such as in the development of more accurate atomic clocks and in improving our understanding of quantum mechanics. It also has implications for fields such as astrophysics, as the 2s to 1s transition is observed in the spectra of distant stars and galaxies, providing insight into the composition and evolution of the universe.

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