What happens to an electron's frequency during absorption of a photon?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the interaction between an electron and a photon during the absorption process, specifically focusing on the concept of frequency associated with both particles. Participants explore how these frequencies relate to each other and the implications for energy levels in quantum mechanics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how the frequencies of an electron and a photon interact during absorption, suggesting a potential waiting period for the electron's frequency to reach a higher state.
  • Another participant expresses confusion over the concept of "frequencies" interacting, asking for clarification on which frequencies are being referred to.
  • A participant reiterates that electrons and photons have specific frequencies and inquires about the implications when these frequencies coincide during absorption.
  • One participant asserts that the idea of frequencies "reaching to each other" does not occur in the absorption process, indicating that such a notion is not applicable.
  • A later reply explains that in quantum mechanics, the transition from a state involving a photon and an electron to a state with just the electron does not involve intermediate states, emphasizing the conservation of energy and momentum in the process.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants exhibit disagreement regarding the concept of frequencies interacting, with some questioning the validity of the idea while others attempt to clarify it. The discussion remains unresolved as differing interpretations of the absorption process and the role of frequencies persist.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations in understanding the interaction of frequencies, the assumptions about energy levels, and the implications of quantum mechanics on the absorption process. There is a dependence on definitions of frequency and energy states that remains unaddressed.

Iceking20
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TL;DR
How does electron frequency and photon frequency interact with each other when they collapse together?
The point that I want to know is how two frequencys react with each other and does electron's frequency wait to reach to higher frequency on that fraction of second when they(photo's frequency and electron's frequency)collapse to each other than go to higher energy level or what?
 
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I have no clue what you mean by "frequencies" interacting. An electron and a photon can interact, but how can frequencies interact? Which frequencies are you talking about?
 
Frequencies:Electrons have specific frequency in all energy level and also photons have frequency,so that what happen when these frequencies reach to each other?(in absorption)
 
Iceking20 said:
Electrons have specific frequency in all energy level and also photons have frequency,so that what happen when these frequencies reach to each other?(in absorption)

Nothing like "frequencies reach to each other" happens during the process of an electron absorbing a photon. So you are asking about something that doesn't exist.
 
The way quantum mechanics works, we start with a single quantum system whose state is "a photon, an electron, and some other stuff" at time ##t_1##. At some later time ##t_2## the state of the system is "an electron and more or less the same other stuff". We will say that "the photon was absorbed" but that's just a way of saying that the system was in one state before and is in another state now; there are no in-between states so no sensible way of talking about things that happen during the transition.

You may be wondering why there is "some other stuff" in the quantum state. That's because an isolated electron can neither absorb nor emit a photon (don't take my word for it! Try it! Calculate the energy and momentum of a system whose state is "a photon and an electron", then see if there can be any state "an electron" with the same energy and momentum; if not the absorption cannot happen because it would violate one or both of conservation of energy and momentum).
 
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