5 Questions
What is spontaneous emission?
Spontaneous emission is the process in which a quantum mechanical system transits from an excited energy state to a lower energy state and emits a quantized amount of energy in the form of a photon.
What is responsible for most of the light we see around us?
Spontaneous emission is ultimately responsible for most of the light we see around us.
What is luminescence and when is spontaneous emission called luminescence?
Luminescence is when atoms (or molecules) are excited by some means other than heating. Spontaneous emission is called luminescence when atoms are excited by means other than heating.
What is fluorescence and when is spontaneous emission called fluorescence?
Fluorescence is when the excitation is effected by the absorption of radiation. Spontaneous emission is called fluorescence when the excitation is effected by the absorption of radiation.
What is an example of luminescence?
An example of luminescence is fireflies, which are luminescent.
Study Notes
Spontaneous Emission and Luminescence
- Spontaneous emission is a quantum mechanical process where a system transitions from an excited state to a lower energy state, emitting a photon.
- It is responsible for much of the light we see and has various names for the same process.
- Luminescence is a form of spontaneous emission when atoms or molecules are excited by means other than heating.
- Fireflies are an example of luminescent creatures.
- Different forms of luminescence exist depending on how excited atoms are produced, such as electroluminescence and chemiluminescence.
- Fluorescence is the term for spontaneous emission when excitation is caused by the absorption of radiation.
- Some molecules have a metastable level and continue to fluoresce long after the exciting radiation is turned off.
- This prolonged fluorescence is known as phosphorescence.
Test your knowledge of spontaneous emission with this quiz! Explore the process of quantum systems transitioning to lower energy states and emitting photons. Learn about the fundamental role of spontaneous emission in the generation of light.
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