Regarding Quantum Mechanics.... and Quantum Leap?

Question

ok. Ifa photon of the exact same energy is shot at an electron, then it ceases to exist in that energy level and begins existing in another level. this occurs by tunneling. and at any time, that photon can be shot out of the atom. then the electron will cease to exist in that NRG lvl and Begin existing in its Previous lvl. BUT if you never know when the Photon of light is going to be shot out of the atom, WHY DO FLOURESCENT LIGHTS TURN ON INSTANTLY?!?

Answer 1

It's an effect called Boltzman Distribution. Even though you can't guarantee that one photon will effectively push one electron into the LUMO and that same electron fall back into the HOMO, you can be sure that in a large enough sample, you will have a distribution that is described statistically. In other words, a fluorescent bulb turns on so quickly because there is a sufficient number of molecules that have been excited such that emission is observed.

And tunnelling doesn't really describe this situation. Tunnelling occurs when a photon/electron doesn't have sufficient energy to overcome the potential energy barrier. In this case, your photon has provided the electron with that energy to overcome the barrier.

Additionally, if you're using photons to excite your electrons, your system is highly inefficient. If you want any sort of efficient output at all, you would need to use electrons from a secondary source to cause emission. The concept here is that you are "filling" in the electronic band structure with electrons that can move more freely between excitation levels,

Also, there is the matter of lifetime. An electron that has been put into a LUMO has a distinct lifetime, generally on the order of 10^(-9) to 10^(-15) seconds. So, you know that the photon will be emitted when the electron relaxes to its earlier state because it can't stay in the LUMO forever.

Another thing to note is that the photon being "shot" at the atom has to have a specific energy to cause electron excitation. Different materials absorb at different wavelengths, but there is always a specific range at which absorption and emission can occur.


Also, could you maybe clarify your question... I'm not sure how many questions you're asking. Also if you're very interested in this, feel free to e-mail me; my graduate research was based solely on quantum applications of conjugated polymers.

Answer 2

ok, to place it purely - quantum mechanics, in actuality describes how stuff and potential behaves on stupidly tiny scales, large duper small scales, describing subatomic debris and single atoms in specific experimental circumstances.Classical mechanics is explains something from a molecule and larger relatively properly. besides the undeniable fact that, once you get large tiny, classical mechanics won't be able to describe how specific interactions artwork that properly - for this reason the form of QM got here in to better describe it. it began with blackbody radiation and the photoelectric result - Wikipedia has an spectacular internet site on it. as an occasion, quantum mechanics explains how photons from the solar holiday as a wave till they hit the earth and cave in to discrete particle states. And no, materialism has not something to do with physics. the human beings who tout QM with religious crud are those whacky New Agers, who understand actual not something approximately physics. do not hear to those human beings.

Answer 3

Its not really instantly, but at the speed of light... 186,000 miles per second, it just appears to be so. Those atoms are colloiding so quickly, you can't see the indivudual electrons imploding.