How Fast Do Different Atoms Vibrate?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the vibrational frequencies of different atoms, particularly in relation to atomic clocks and the nature of atomic transitions. Participants explore the concept of atomic vibrations, the mechanisms behind atomic clocks, and the specific frequencies associated with various atomic transitions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that cesium atoms vibrate 9.2 billion times per second, questioning how other atoms compare in terms of vibrational frequency.
  • Another participant points out that the provided Wikipedia links do not address the vibrational frequencies of other elements, indicating a misunderstanding of the original question.
  • A participant argues that atoms do not vibrate in a way relevant to atomic clocks, suggesting that the oscillation of electromagnetic fields is what is actually measured, not the atoms themselves.
  • It is mentioned that all atoms can have electrons transition between energy states, which is related to the frequency of emitted photons, but no comprehensive list of these frequencies is provided.
  • One participant highlights that the specific energy transition in cesium is stable and commonly used in atomic clocks, while also acknowledging the vast number of frequencies associated with different atomic transitions.
  • Hyperfine splitting in cesium is introduced as a concept, with a specific frequency noted, and participants are encouraged to search for similar information regarding other atoms.
  • Another participant mentions that the Wikipedia articles do list transition frequencies for rubidium and hydrogen, in addition to cesium.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of atomic vibrations and the relevance of these vibrations to atomic clocks. There is no consensus on the original question regarding the vibrational frequencies of different atoms, and multiple competing perspectives are presented.

Contextual Notes

Some limitations in the discussion include the lack of a clear definition of "vibration" in the context of atomic behavior and the dependence on specific energy transitions, which may not be universally applicable across all elements.

Mikael17
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The "ticks" of the current standard atomic clocks are marked by the regular vibrations of an ensemble of cesium atoms, which vibrate 9.2 billion times every second
How about other atoms, how fast does these vibrate ?
And where is possible to ready about this ?
 
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Atoms don't vibrate, at least not in any way relevant to an atomic clock. And lattice vibrations in solids are thermal and don't have a well defined frequency. If you read the wiki link V50 provided, it would be clear that atomic clocks don't work the way you appear to think, and your question as written is meaningless.

Electrons in atomic orbitals can absorb energy in various ways and get kicked into higher energy states. They can then decay back into lower energy states, emitting the energy as a photon. Because the energy, ##E##, of a photon is related to its frequency, ##f##, by ##E=hf## where ##h## is Planck's constant, the frequency of the emitted photon is defined by the energy difference between the states. You can then use the photons' oscillating electromagnetic fields as "pendulums" in a very precise clock. (Glossing over a lot of technical details here.) So it's the electromagnetic field oscillating, not the atom.

Caesium has one transition in particular that was convenient to work with and convenient for defining a second that was consistent with the historical definition of the second, but is otherwise fairly unremarkable. All atoms have electrons; all can be kicked into higher energy states and decay. I don't know if there's a list of them all anywhere. The Lyman, Ballmer and Paschen series of hydrogen transitions are quite famous. The sodium D line (wavelength 589nm) is also quite famous.
 
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Maybe you could start at the link below. As @Ibix said, wherever you read about "cesium atoms, which vibrate 9.2 billion times every second" is just wrong. Electrons in atoms can transition from one energy level to another, and in the process they give off light (or electromagnetic radiation). The light has a specific frequency, The specific energy transition in Cesium is very stable, and so is used as the basis for atomic clocks. The number of different frequencies of these energy transitions in different atoms is huge.

https://www.khanacademy.org/science...ctroscopy/v/electronic-transitions-and-energy
 
In particular the interaction of the electronic and nuclear spins in Cesium produces an energy splitting (this is called hyperfine splitting) ##\frac E h = 9.192631770 GHz ##. This was a good match for radar frequencies and so became a standard technique because of availability of electronics following WWII.
Other atoms have hyperfine splittings, now that you khow this term you can search them out.
 
Apart from all that, the Wikipedoa articles does list transition frequencies for rubidium and hydrogen as well as cesium, plus 4 elements with a transition in the opyical.
 

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