How Do Spin and Photon Interactions Affect Electron Excited States?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the interaction between spin and photon absorption in the context of electron excited states. It establishes that while photons possess a spin of 1, electrons have a spin of 1/2. The key conclusion is that total angular momentum is conserved during these interactions, rather than spin alone. This means that when an electron absorbs a photon, the system's total angular momentum remains constant, preventing the electron from achieving a spin of 3/2.

PREREQUISITES
  • Quantum mechanics fundamentals
  • Understanding of angular momentum conservation
  • Knowledge of electron spin and photon properties
  • Familiarity with atomic energy levels and transitions
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the principles of angular momentum in quantum mechanics
  • Study the role of spin in particle physics
  • Explore photon-electron interaction models
  • Learn about excited states in quantum systems
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, quantum mechanics students, and researchers interested in atomic interactions and the behavior of particles under photon absorption.

Gavroy
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hi

i have a question about excited state:

let me say you have an atom and then you use light to get the electron to a higher energy level.

does this mean, that there is always a spin change, cause as far as i know the spin of a photon is 1.

but what happens if you have an electron with spin 1/2 and this electron absorbs a photon with spin 1. i know, that you cannot get an electron with spin 3/2, but on the other hand the spin is a conserved quantity, so how does this work out?
 
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Spin is not a conserved quantity. Total angular momentum of the system is conserved.
 

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