Recoil hydrogen emitting photon

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the recoil of a hydrogen atom emitting a photon with a wavelength of 410.1 nm. The first calculation involves determining the recoil momentum of the hydrogen atom, which is equal to the momentum of the emitted photon, calculated using the equation p = E/c. The second part addresses the recoil using the reduced mass (μ) of the hydrogen atom, defined as μ = (m_e * m_p) / (m_e + m_p). The participant expresses confusion regarding the expected relationship between the two recoil calculations, anticipating a ratio of 1, which contradicts the exercise's requirements.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of photon momentum and energy relations (E = pc).
  • Knowledge of the concept of recoil in physics.
  • Familiarity with the reduced mass formula (μ = (m_e * m_p) / (m_e + m_p)).
  • Basic principles of conservation of momentum.
NEXT STEPS
  • Calculate photon momentum using the equation p = E/c for different wavelengths.
  • Explore the implications of using reduced mass in quantum mechanics.
  • Investigate conservation of momentum in photon emission scenarios.
  • Review examples of recoil calculations in atomic physics.
USEFUL FOR

Students studying quantum mechanics, physics educators, and anyone interested in the principles of photon emission and atomic recoil dynamics.

Al X
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Homework Statement


A hydrogen atom at rest emits a photon with wavelength 410.1 nm.
First, calculate the recoil of the hydrogen atom when emitting the photon. (recoil = momentum)
Second, calculate the recoil of the hydrogen if we replace the electron mass with the reduced mass μ.
Third, find the relationship between the two above.


Homework Equations


[itex]E=\frac{hc}{\lambda}=pc[/itex]

[itex]p=mv[/itex]

[itex]\mu = \frac{m_{e}m_{p}}{m_{e}+m_{p}}[/itex]
where me is the electron mass and mp is the proton mass (the core is a proton of course).

The Attempt at a Solution


Alright, the photon has a momentum equal to [itex]\frac{hc}{\lambda c}[/itex] in some random direction. As the momentum is conserved, the hydrogen atom must have gotten the same momentum in the opposite direction, that's the recoil in the first part of the exercise.

HERE COMES THE PROBLEM:
When replacing the electron mass with the reduced mass, the momentum of the hydrogen should be exactly the same as the same type of photon is emitted(?). Thus, if you divide the two recoils with each other, you'll end up with 1. And that's not the answer to this exercise.

Really hope you could help me out with this one, I've been stuck on this for some time now and it's the last exercise on a paper due tomorrow.
 
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