Is it Possible for Nuclei to Emit Visible Photons?

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    Nucleus Photons
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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on whether atomic nuclei can emit visible light, exploring the energy levels of nuclei and the types of photons they emit. Participants consider the conditions under which nuclei might emit visible photons, contrasting this with the more common emission of gamma rays and the role of electron transitions in producing visible light.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions if nuclei can emit visible light, noting their understanding that nuclei typically emit gamma rays and expressing a desire for input on this topic.
  • Another participant clarifies that photons emitted by nuclei correspond to energy level differences, emphasizing that visible photons arise from electron state transitions.
  • A further contribution reiterates the initial question and suggests reviewing the energies of visible photons, highlighting that visible light emissions primarily come from outermost electrons and discussing the energy scales involved.
  • One participant argues that the previous answers may be oversimplified, suggesting that while nuclear energy scales are generally much higher than visible light photon energies, there could be nearly degenerate states in odd-odd nuclei that might allow for lower energy emissions. They mention the concept of internal conversion and the conditions under which an eV photon might be emitted.
  • Another participant expresses interest in the discussion, indicating engagement with the topic.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the possibility of nuclei emitting visible photons. There are competing views regarding the energy levels of nuclei and the mechanisms of photon emission, with some participants suggesting that it may be possible under certain conditions while others emphasize the limitations based on current understanding.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the complexity of nuclear energy levels and the factors influencing photon emission, such as internal conversion and the stability of certain nuclei. There are references to specific nuclear properties and decay processes that may affect the likelihood of visible photon emission.

cragar
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Can a nucleus in an atom emit visible light . I am aware that the nucleus has discrete energy levels,
And it seems that they only emit gamma rays, but could we make them emit visible photons.
I have just begun to study very basic nuclear physics in my classes. And i am taking EM theory right now to give you an idea of my background. And input will be much appreciated.
 
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The photons emitted by nuclei correspond to differences in energy levels between states. We have to take them as they are. Visible photons result from electron state transitions.
 
cragar said:
Can a nucleus in an atom emit visible light . I am aware that the nucleus has discrete energy levels,
And it seems that they only emit gamma rays, but could we make them emit visible photons.
I have just begun to study very basic nuclear physics in my classes. And i am taking EM theory right now to give you an idea of my background. And input will be much appreciated.
Please review the energies of photons in the visible range. As mathman indicated, visible light comes from electron transitions, but more importantly, from the outermost electrons.

I recommend looking at the electron binding energies for inner electrons, and also the groups of emissions of Hydrogen lines.

Consider that the nuclear energy levels are on the order of keV/MeV.
 
thanks for the responses
 
I think the previous answers have been a little oversimplified. Just because the nuclear energy scale is generally 10^6 times greater than the energy of a visible light photon, that doesn't mean you can't have states very close together in energy. Odd-odd nuclei generally have a lot of nearly degenerate states near the ground state. You can easily get electromagnetic transitions in the keV range, and I don't see any reason why there wouldn't be some random cases where the energy was an eV. The real reason you won't see such low energy photons coming out is internal conversion: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_conversion If you wanted to see an eV photon emitted from a nucleus, you'd probably want to look at an odd-odd nucleus with a low atomic number (IC increases with Z), and you'd have to look for an extremely small branching ratio for non-IC decay. There would also be competition from beta decay, since the partial half-life for electromagnetic decay would be extremely long, and odd-odd nuclei are all beta-unstable (except for 2H).
 
interesting I'm glad you responded.
 

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