Quantum & Atomic Physics
60 terms · page 1 of 3
Atomic Orbital
A mathematical function describing the three-dimensional spatial wave function and probability distribution of an electron in an atom.
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsAufbau Principle
A rule governing electron configuration stating that electrons fill atomic orbitals of lower energy levels before occupying higher energy…
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsAuger Effect
A non-radiative atomic process in which the filling of an inner-shell electron vacancy causes the ejection of a second outer-shell (Auger)…
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsBalmer Series
The spectral series of hydrogen atom emission lines resulting from electron transitions dropping from higher levels (n_i ≥ 3) to the n=2…
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsBell's Theorem
A mathematical theorem proving that no physical theory incorporating local hidden variables can reproduce all predictions of quantum…
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsBohr Model
An early semi-classical atomic model proposing that electrons orbit the atomic nucleus only in discrete stationary orbits with quantized…
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsBose-Einstein Condensate (BEC)
A state of matter formed by bosons cooled close to absolute zero, where a macroscopic fraction of particles collapse into the lowest…
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsBosons
Subatomic particles possessing integer intrinsic spin that obey Bose-Einstein statistics and do not obey the Pauli Exclusion Principle.
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsBragg's Law
The mathematical condition for constructive interference of waves scattered from parallel atomic lattice planes in a crystal.
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsCasimir Effect
An attractive physical force acting between two uncharged parallel conductive plates in vacuum, arising from quantum vacuum fluctuations.
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsCommutator
A mathematical operator evaluating whether two quantum mechanical operators commute with one another.
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsCompton Effect
The decrease in energy (increase in wavelength) of an X-ray or gamma-ray photon when scattered by a stationary electron.
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsDavisson-Germer Experiment
A 1927 physics experiment that experimentally confirmed De Broglie's matter wave hypothesis by demonstrating electron diffraction from a…
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsDe Broglie Wavelength
The wavelength associated with a massive particle, expressing its intrinsic wave-like character.
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsElectron Spin
An intrinsic form of angular momentum carried by elementary particles, independent of orbital spatial motion.
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsExpectation Value
The probabilistic average or expected value of many physical measurements performed on an ensemble of identically prepared quantum states.
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsFermi Energy
The highest occupied kinetic energy state of non-interacting fermions in a quantum system at absolute zero temperature (0 K).
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsFermions
Subatomic particles possessing half-integer intrinsic spin that obey Fermi-Dirac statistics and the Pauli Exclusion Principle.
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsFine Structure
The small splitting of atomic spectral lines resulting from relativistic mass corrections and spin-orbit coupling.
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsFinite Potential Well
A quantum potential well model with barriers of finite energy height V₀.
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsFluorescence
The rapid absorption of light at a shorter wavelength followed by immediate emission of light at a longer wavelength.
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsFranck-Hertz Experiment
An influential 1914 physics experiment that directly demonstrated the existence of quantized discrete energy states in mercury atoms.
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsHeisenberg Uncertainty Principle
A fundamental quantum limit stating that canonical conjugate physical variables (such as position and momentum, or energy and time) cannot…
Quantum & Atomic PhysicsHund's Rule of Maximum Multiplicity
A rule stating that when filling degenerate atomic orbitals, electrons occupy separate orbitals singly with parallel spins before pairing…