How fast is a quantum jump?
Abstract
A proposal is put forward for an estimate of the duration of a transition between atomic states. The proposal rests on the consideration that a resonance of the atomic electron with modes of the zero-point radiation field of Compton's frequency is at the core of the phenomenon. The theoretical result, given essentially by the expression (αωC) - 1, where α is the fine structure constant and ωC the Compton angular frequency for the electron, lies well within the range of the recently experimentally estimated values of the order of attoseconds (10-18 s).
- Publication:
-
Physics Letters A
- Pub Date:
- December 2020
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.physleta.2020.126880
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2009.02426
- Bibcode:
- 2020PhLA..38426880D
- Keywords:
-
- Zitterbewegung;
- Atomic transition;
- Jumping time;
- Zero-point field;
- Stochastic electrodynamics;
- Quantum Physics
- E-Print:
- 7 pages