Summary
Atomic transitions are considered from two excited levels, the separation of which is larger than the line width. It is shown that the decay of the atoms may be described by two exponentials corresponding to the two transitions from the higher excited levels to the lower one. The shape of the decay curve is given. It is found that the intensity of the radiation when measured with an ideal detector includes also the so-called light beat. The possibility of measuring the dependence of the light beat on position and time is discussed.
Riassunto
Si studiano le transizioni atomiche da due livelli eccitati, la cui separazione è maggiore dell’ampiezza della linea. Si mostra che il decadimento degli atomi può essere descritto da due esponenziali corrispondenti alle due transizioni dai livelli eccitati superiori al livello inferiore. Si dà la forma della curva di decadimento. Si trova che l’intensità della radiazione, misurata con un rivelatore ideale, comprende anche il cosidetto battimento luminoso. Si discute la possibilità di misurare la dipendenza del battimento dalla posizione e dal tempo.
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My sincerest thanks are due to Mr.M. I. Podgoretsky for drawing my attention to this problem during his stay in Hungary.
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Bakos, J. Decay curve of excited atomic levels and the beat of light. Nuovo Cimento B (1965-1970) 40, 28–38 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02710762
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02710762