Magnetic Quantum Jump
Many physical processes involve discrete jumps or jumps in energy levels, which are usually caused by the impulsive absorption or emission of electromagnetic radiation or some other event. An example often studied by physicists is the Slater-Frenkel effect, where the absorption of charged particles, such as photons, by an atom can cause its electrons to jump from one energy level to another.
The term quantum jump is used in physics to refer to a type of operation performed on a quantum system that results in a sudden change in its energy level. In particular, it refers to a transfer of energy through the single-particle or two-particle excitation of the system from one state to another. In other words, a quantum jump is a jump from one quantum state to another without intermediate states being involved.
A quantum jump can be caused by a number of processes, a key one being the absorption or emission of a quantum of energy, usually a photon. In this case, the energy quantum varies according to the energy between the states, and the absorption or emission of the energy quantum causes the transition of the quantum system from one state to another. In the context of optical spectroscopy, for example, the energy quantum is a photon with a wavelength that matches the difference between the two states.
Other processes that can cause a quantum jump include collisions between particles, applied electric fields and magnetic fields, or thermal fluctuations that can cause the system to flip over. In addition, certain systems, such as molecules and atoms, may also be able to undergo a transition between two electronic energy levels when they receive or emit an energy quantum of a different frequency.
A relatively new phenomenon that is related to quantum jump is the concept of a ‘magnetic quantum jump’. This phenomenon was first described in the context of an interacting many-body system composed of electrons in which a single electron absorbs energy from an external magnetic field and, as a result, causes other electrons in the system to jump to different energy levels.
In a magnetic quantum jump, the magnitude of the change in the energy level of each electron is determined by the strength of the external magnetic field, the individual spin of each electron, and the spin-spin interaction between electrons. This process can occur in a few picosecond (10-12 second) and is completely reversible, meaning that the electron that jumped from one state to another can make the reverse jump back to its original state.
The main difference between a magnetic quantum jump and a conventional quantum jump is that the transition involves the spin of the electron, rather than its energy level. This means that the spin-spin interactions between electrons play an important role in the transition process. In addition, the magnetic quantum jump is relatively slow compared to conventional quantum jumps, which occur much faster.
In summary, a quantum jump is a transition of a quantum system between two states caused by the absorption or emission of energy, while a magnetic quantum jump is a transition between two electronic energy levels caused by the absorption of energy from an external magnetic field. The difference between the two is that the magnetic quantum jump involves the spin of electrons, while the conventional quantum jump involves its energy level.
