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A quantum jump is the abrupt transition of a quantum system (atom, molecule, atomic nucleus) from one quantum state to another, from one energy level to another. When the system absorbs energy, there is a transition to a higher energy level (excitation); when the system loses energy, there is a transition to a lower energy level.

The concept was introduced by Niels Bohr, in his 1913 Bohr model.

A quantum jump is a phenomenon that is peculiar to quantum systems and distinguishes them from classical systems, where any transitions are performed gradually. In quantum mechanics, such jumps are associated with the non-unitary evolution of a quantum-mechanical system during measurement.

A quantum jump can be accompanied by the emission or absorption of photons; energy transfer during a quantum jump can also occur by non-radiative resonant energy transfer or in collisions with other particles.

In modern physics, the concept of a quantum jump is rarely used; as a rule scientists speak of transitions between quantum states or energy levels.

Atomic electron transition

Atomic electron transitions cause the emission or absorption of photons. Their statistics are Poissonian, and the time between jumps is exponentially distributed.^[1] The damping time constant (which ranges from nanoseconds to a few seconds) relates to the natural, pressure, and field broadening of spectral lines. The larger the energy separation of the states between which the electron jumps, the shorter the wavelength of the photon emitted.

In an ion trap, quantum jumps can be directly observed by addressing a trapped ion with radiation at two different frequencies to drive electron transitions.^[2] This requires one strong and one weak transition to be excited (denoted $ω$ ₁₂ and $ω$ ₁₃ respectively in the figure to the right). The electron energy level, $| 2 ⟩$ , has a short lifetime, $Γ$ ₂ which allows for constant emission of photons at a frequency $ω$ ₁₂ which can be collected by a camera and/or photomultiplier tube. State $| 3 ⟩$ has a relatively long lifetime $Γ$ ₃ which causes an interruption of the photon emission as the electron gets shelved in state through application of light with frequency $ω$ _13. The ion going dark is a direct observation of quantum jumps.

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 {{Short description|1913 model of abrupt transitions of quantum systems}}
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-A '''quantum jump''' is the abrupt [[Physics:Atomic electron transition|transition]] of a quantum system ([[Physics:Atom|atom]], [[Physics:Molecule|molecule]], [[Physics:Atomic nucleus|atomic nucleus]]) from one [[Physics:Quantum state|quantum state]] to another, from one [[Physics:Energy level|energy level]] to another. When the system absorbs energy, there is a transition to a higher energy level ([[Physics:Excited state|excitation]]); when the system loses energy, there is a transition to a lower energy level.
+A '''quantum jump''' is the abrupt transition of a quantum system (atom, molecule, atomic nucleus) from one [[Physics:Quantum state|quantum state]] to another, from one energy level to another. When the system absorbs energy, there is a transition to a higher energy level (excitation); when the system loses energy, there is a transition to a lower energy level.
-The concept was introduced by [[Biography:Niels Bohr|Niels Bohr]], in his 1913 [[Physics:Bohr model|Bohr model]].
+The concept was introduced by [[Biography:Niels Bohr|Niels Bohr]], in his 1913 Bohr model.
 A quantum jump is a phenomenon that is peculiar to quantum systems and distinguishes them from classical systems, where any transitions are performed gradually. In quantum mechanics, such jumps are associated with the non-unitary evolution of a quantum-mechanical system during measurement.
-A quantum jump can be accompanied by the emission or absorption of [[Physics:Photon|photon]]s; energy transfer during a quantum jump can also occur by non-radiative resonant energy transfer or in collisions with other particles.
+A quantum jump can be accompanied by the emission or absorption of photons; energy transfer during a quantum jump can also occur by non-radiative resonant energy transfer or in collisions with other particles.
 In modern physics, the concept of a quantum jump is rarely used; as a rule scientists speak of transitions between quantum states or energy levels.
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 {{main|Physics:Atomic electron transition}}
 [[File:Level diagram.svg|thumb|Grotrian diagram of a quantum 3-level system with characteristic transition frequencies, <math>\omega</math><sub>12</sub> and <math>\omega</math><sub>13</sub>, and excited state lifetimes <math>\Gamma</math><sub>2</sub>  and <math>\Gamma</math><sub>3</sub>]]
-Atomic electron transitions cause the emission or absorption of [[Physics:Photon|photon]]s. Their statistics are [[Poisson distribution|Poissonian]], and the time between jumps is [[Exponential distribution|exponentially distributed]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mpq.mpg.de/Theorygroup/CIRAC/wiki/images/8/86/Samuel.pdf |last=Deléglise |first=S. |title=Observing the quantum jumps of light |access-date=September 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101107043403/http://www.mpq.mpg.de/Theorygroup/CIRAC/wiki/images/8/86/Samuel.pdf |archive-date=November 7, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The damping time constant (which ranges from [[Nanosecond|nanosecond]]s to a few seconds) relates to the natural, pressure, and field [[Physics:Spectral line#Line broadening and shift|broadening of spectral lines]]. The larger the energy separation of the states between which the electron jumps, the shorter the [[Wavelength|wavelength]] of the photon emitted.
+Atomic electron transitions cause the emission or absorption of photons. Their statistics are Poissonian, and the time between jumps is exponentially distributed.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mpq.mpg.de/Theorygroup/CIRAC/wiki/images/8/86/Samuel.pdf |last=Deléglise |first=S. |title=Observing the quantum jumps of light |access-date=September 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101107043403/http://www.mpq.mpg.de/Theorygroup/CIRAC/wiki/images/8/86/Samuel.pdf |archive-date=November 7, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The damping time constant (which ranges from nanoseconds to a few seconds) relates to the natural, pressure, and field [[Physics:Spectral line#Line broadening and shift|broadening of spectral lines]]. The larger the energy separation of the states between which the electron jumps, the shorter the wavelength of the photon emitted.
 [[File:Quantum jumps.gif|thumb|EMCCD camera and photomultiplier tube signals while driving quantum jumps on the 674 nm transition of <sup>88</sup>Sr<sup>+</sup>]]
-In an [[Physics:Ion trap|ion trap]], quantum jumps can be directly observed by addressing a trapped ion with radiation at two different frequencies to drive electron transitions.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Foot |first=C. J. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/181750270 |title=Atomic physics |date=2005 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-152314-4 |location=Oxford |oclc=181750270}}</ref> This requires one strong and one weak transition to be excited (denoted <math>\omega</math><sub>12</sub> and <math>\omega</math><sub>13</sub> respectively in the figure to the right). The electron energy level, <math>|2\rangle</math>, has a short lifetime, <math>\Gamma</math><sub>2</sub> which allows for constant emission of photons at a frequency <math>\omega</math><sub>12</sub> which can be collected by a camera and/or [[Physics:Photomultiplier tube|photomultiplier tube]]. State  <math>|3\rangle</math> has a relatively long lifetime <math>\Gamma</math><sub>3</sub> which causes an interruption of the photon emission as the electron gets shelved in state through application of light with frequency  <math>\omega</math><sub>13.</sub>  The ion going dark is a direct observation of quantum jumps.
+In an ion trap, quantum jumps can be directly observed by addressing a trapped ion with radiation at two different frequencies to drive electron transitions.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Foot |first=C. J. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/181750270 |title=Atomic physics |date=2005 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-152314-4 |location=Oxford |oclc=181750270}}</ref> This requires one strong and one weak transition to be excited (denoted <math>\omega</math><sub>12</sub> and <math>\omega</math><sub>13</sub> respectively in the figure to the right). The electron energy level, <math>|2\rangle</math>, has a short lifetime, <math>\Gamma</math><sub>2</sub> which allows for constant emission of photons at a frequency <math>\omega</math><sub>12</sub> which can be collected by a camera and/or photomultiplier tube. State  <math>|3\rangle</math> has a relatively long lifetime <math>\Gamma</math><sub>3</sub> which causes an interruption of the photon emission as the electron gets shelved in state through application of light with frequency  <math>\omega</math><sub>13.</sub>  The ion going dark is a direct observation of quantum jumps.
 == Molecular electronic transition ==

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Revision as of 08:14, 20 May 2026

Atomic electron transition

Molecular electronic transition

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