Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
Four quantum numbers can describe an electron energy level in a hydrogen-like atom completely: Principal quantum number (n) Azimuthal quantum number (ℓ) Magnetic quantum number (m ℓ) Spin quantum number (m s) These quantum numbers are also used in the classical description of nuclear particle states (e.g. protons and neutrons).
In quantum mechanics, the principal quantum number (symbolized n) is one of four quantum numbers assigned to each electron in an atom to describe that electron's state. Its values are natural numbers (from one) making it a discrete variable.
In atomic physics, a magnetic quantum number is a quantum number used to distinguish quantum states of an electron or other particle according to its angular momentum along a given axis in space. The orbital magnetic quantum number (m l or m [a]) distinguishes the orbitals available within a given subshell of an atom.
A common example of quantum numbers is the possible state of an electron in a central potential: (,,,), which corresponds to the eigenstate of observables (in terms of ), (magnitude of angular momentum), (angular momentum in -direction), and .
The phrase spin quantum number refers to quantized spin angular momentum. The symbol s is used for the spin quantum number, and m s is described as the spin magnetic quantum number [3] or as the z-component of spin s z. [4] Both the total spin and the z-component of spin are quantized, leading to two quantum numbers spin and spin magnet quantum ...
The quantum numbers corresponding to these operators are , , (always 1/2 for an electron) and respectively. The energy levels in the hydrogen atom depend only on the principal quantum number n . For a given n , all the states corresponding to ℓ = 0 , … , n − 1 {\displaystyle \ell =0,\ldots ,n-1} have the same energy and are degenerate.
The azimuthal quantum number is the second of a set of quantum numbers that describe the unique quantum state of an electron (the others being the principal quantum number n, the magnetic quantum number m ℓ, and the spin quantum number m s).
Quantum mechanics is a fundamental theory that describes the behavior of nature at and below the scale of atoms. [2]: 1.1 It is the foundation of all quantum physics, which includes quantum chemistry, quantum field theory, quantum technology, and quantum information science. Quantum mechanics can describe many systems that classical physics cannot.