Re: Excited states of the hydrogen atom

In article <43E7CD58.1CA4E0A8@xxxxxxxxxxx>,
Mike Fontenot <mlfasf@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I understand that the electron of a hydogen atom can be
excited to an energy state higher than the ground state
if it absorbs the energy of an appropriate photon. But
can the electron be put into a higher state by other means?
In particular, suppose I have a large number of hydrogen molecules
(as a gas) confined to a box impermeable to radiation. Suppose
all of the hydogen atoms were originally in the ground state,
and that the box has been emersed in a constant-temperature
bath for such a long time that it has reached equilibrium.
Are all of the electrons still in the ground state, or have
some been excited to a higher level, purely by thermal
collisions between the molecules?

Yes the atoms will be excited by collisions. This is known as
"collisional excitation" (unfortunately for those who would have
preferred something more interesting, like "horrendous space
kablooie").

-Ted
--
[E-mail me at name@xxxxxxxxxx, as opposed to name@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

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