Glass fibers and light offer new control over atomic fluorescence
Monday, February 4, 2019 - 09:00
in Physics & Chemistry
Electrons inside an atom whip around the nucleus like satellites around the Earth, occupying orbits determined by quantum physics. Light can boost an electron to a different, more energetic orbit, but that high doesn't last forever. At some point the excited electron will relax back to its original orbit, causing the atom to spontaneously emit light that scientists call fluorescence.