- #1
nickek
- 21
- 1
Hi!
I have two questions regarding spectral lines, in the optical wavelengths.
Every line has a width. One reason is the uncertinity in energy of the atomic states according to Heisenberg uncertinity relation. But this is just a very small part of the width, I think. Are there other causes to this, anything involving for example termo movements of the atoms?
The other questions is about emission and absorption spectral lines. If, for example, heating a gas, the gas emitting photons of a wave length corresponding to the switch of energy states in the atoms. A typical time interval is about 10-8 sec for an atom being in excited state; after that time it fall back and emitting a photon, right? But when sending light into that gas, it absorbes the corresponding wavelengths, and it appears dark lines in the spectrum. The explation use to be that the atom absorbes the energy, but shouldn't it fall back and emit a photon of that wavelength after 10-8 sec?
Thank you for your input!
Nick
I have two questions regarding spectral lines, in the optical wavelengths.
Every line has a width. One reason is the uncertinity in energy of the atomic states according to Heisenberg uncertinity relation. But this is just a very small part of the width, I think. Are there other causes to this, anything involving for example termo movements of the atoms?
The other questions is about emission and absorption spectral lines. If, for example, heating a gas, the gas emitting photons of a wave length corresponding to the switch of energy states in the atoms. A typical time interval is about 10-8 sec for an atom being in excited state; after that time it fall back and emitting a photon, right? But when sending light into that gas, it absorbes the corresponding wavelengths, and it appears dark lines in the spectrum. The explation use to be that the atom absorbes the energy, but shouldn't it fall back and emit a photon of that wavelength after 10-8 sec?
Thank you for your input!
Nick