Waveform produced by an atomic transition

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the nature of the waveform produced by an atomic transition, specifically in the context of a hydrogen atom emitting a photon during an electron's quantum jump. Participants explore the characteristics of this waveform, including its form and angular dependence.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that the emitted photon can be associated with a spherical wave, questioning its form and whether it varies with angle.
  • Another participant agrees that it is a spherical wave but notes that it can vary with angle due to the angular momentum carried by the photon.
  • A later reply challenges the notion of angular momentum, asserting that photons always carry one unit of angular momentum and questions if a distinction is being made regarding different helicities.
  • Another participant introduces the idea that there are transitions beyond dipole transitions, mentioning quadrupole and higher transitions that involve additional orbital angular momentum.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of the waveform and the implications of angular momentum, indicating that multiple competing perspectives remain without a clear consensus.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions regarding the nature of photon angular momentum and the types of transitions involved are not fully explored, leaving certain aspects unresolved.

hempyelmo
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Greetings Physics Forums! This is my first post.

A physical phenomena that I know for a long time is that when an atom (let's say hydrogen) has an electron that make a quantum jump from a higher energy state to a lower it emits a photon. Suppose the hydrogen atom is isolated from the external world. Can we associate a wave with that photon and if so, what is its form? Spherical? I really need some course in quantum electrodynamics...

Thanks
 
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It is a spherical wave, but can vary with angle, depending on the angular momentum carried by the photon.
 
clem said:
It is a spherical wave, but can vary with angle, depending on the angular momentum carried by the photon.

Not sure what you mean here ... photons always carry one unit of angular momentum, as far as I know. That is one of the principal reasons for the transition dipole selection rule for allowed transitions. Are you making a distinction between photons with different helicities (i.e. spin of +1 vs. spin of -1)?
 
There are other transitions besides Delta L=1 dipole transitions.
There are quadrupole and higher transitions for which the photon has orbital angular momentum in addition to its spin 1 angular momentum.
 

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