How do electrons change states on their own?

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SUMMARY

Electrons can change states spontaneously, a process known as spontaneous emission, which requires no external influence. This phenomenon is explained through the concept of fluctuations in the vacuum, which are mathematical artifacts rather than physical entities. The number of states available to electrons is infinite, as described within the framework of Hilbert space. Understanding the ease of spontaneous state changes versus induced changes is crucial in quantum mechanics.

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ephen wilb
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What are the number of states available to the electrons, and what is the difference between the ease of getting electrons to change states considered against the ease with which they change states by themselves? Can you give an example where they change states by themselves?
 
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ephen wilb said:
What are the number of states available to the electrons,

As elements of a Hilbert space its infinite

ephen wilb said:
and what is the difference between the ease of getting electrons to change states considered against the ease with which they change states by themselves?

Well they can spontaneously changes state - so that's obiously the easiest since it requires nothing.

ephen wilb said:
Can you give an example where they change states by themselves?

Yes - spontaneous emission
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spontaneous_emission

The cause is fluctuations of the vacuum. Note such fluctuations are not real - they are simply mathematical artefacts of the perturbation methods used.

Thanks
Bill
 

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