How are the excitation energies of helium determined experimentally?

In summary, the excitation energy of the He atom refers to the energy required for an electron to move from a lower energy level to a higher energy level. This energy is released as a photon when the electron returns to its original energy level. The excitation energy can vary depending on the energy level being excited, and it is different from the ionization energy which involves removing an electron completely from the atom. The excitation levels of helium can be seen on a graph, and the corresponding photon wavelengths can be calculated. However, the data shown only includes excitations from energy levels above 1s, as the excitation from 1s would require a higher energy and produce a photon in the ultraviolet range. A more complete set of
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pivoxa15
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What is the excitation energy of the He atom?

I imagine this is also the energy of the photon released by the electron as it deexcites from the p orbital to the s orbital.

I guess this would be different to ionisation energy as that refers to taking the electron away completely from the atom.

Is it explained here with 9 different excitation levels?
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/quantum/atspect.html

It looks like going from 1s to 2p recquires 21eV. But from this graph
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/quantum/atspect.html
it looks like the excitation energies are around 2.5eV corresponging to around 500nm wavelength photons. Is that because they only showed excitations not from 1s but from 2s and above? In fact the excitation from 1s would recquire 21eV or more corresponding to a photon of wavelength in the ultaviolet range so can't be seen. The site lists ones that can be seen so can't be the 21eV photons.
 
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FAQ: How are the excitation energies of helium determined experimentally?

What is the excitation energy of helium?

The excitation energy of helium is the energy required to move an electron from its ground state to a higher energy state. This can occur through the absorption of a photon or through collisions with other particles.

How is the excitation energy of helium measured?

The excitation energy of helium can be measured using spectroscopy techniques, which involve shining light of different wavelengths on the helium gas and observing the resulting emission or absorption lines. The energy difference between the ground state and the excited state can then be calculated.

What factors affect the excitation energy of helium?

The excitation energy of helium is affected by the atomic structure of the atom, specifically the energy levels of the electrons. It is also influenced by external factors such as the temperature and pressure of the gas, as well as the presence of other particles that can interact with the helium atoms.

Why is the excitation energy of helium important?

The excitation energy of helium is important because it plays a crucial role in various physical and chemical processes. For example, it is essential in understanding the behavior of helium gas in stars and in the production of light in neon signs. It also has practical applications in fields such as laser technology and plasma physics.

How does the excitation energy of helium compare to other elements?

The excitation energy of helium is relatively high compared to other elements, as it has a small atomic size and strong nuclear charge. This means that it requires more energy to excite its electrons compared to larger atoms with weaker nuclear charges. However, the excitation energy of helium is still lower than that of other noble gases, such as neon and argon.

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