Energy Transferred to Electrons: What Happens When It's Not Enough?

[_PJ_]

What happens to the energy transferred to, say, an electron, if it is not enough to affect a quantum leap?
Is it merely transferred to a change of momentum?

 

[Drakkith]

Are you referring to electrons in atomic orbitals?

 

[lightarrow]

What happens to the energy transferred to, say, an electron, if it is not enough to affect a quantum leap?
Is it merely transferred to a change of momentum?

If it changed the electron's momentum, it will certainly change it's energy too.

 

[_PJ_]

Are you referring to electrons in atomic orbitals?

Unless you can apply excited states to free electrons, then yes, since quantum leaps are only attributed to the energy levels defined by such "orbitals" in my understanding.

If it changed the electron's momentum, it will certainly change it's energy too.

I don't see how any interaction with a photon CANNOT affect the energy of an electron. Please explaion what you mean by "If".