Excite Inner Shell Electrons: Can It Be Done?

In summary, it is possible to excite inner shell electrons to higher energy states through core-level photoemissions and Auger spectroscopy. However, these transitions are rare due to the Fermi Golden Rule, which states that the probability of the transition decreases with the difference in energies.
  • #1
so-crates
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Is it possible to excite the inner shell electrons to higher energy state? If not, why not? I'm aware of selection rules for atomic transitions and haven't come across anything that would indicate that those transitionss are forbidden
 
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  • #2
so-crates said:
Is it possible to excite the inner shell electrons to higher energy state? If not, why not? I'm aware of selection rules for atomic transitions and haven't come across anything that would indicate that those transitionss are forbidden

Yes, it is. Core-level photoemissions do just that. Same with Auger spectroscopy.

Zz.
 
  • #3
The reason why they are "rare" comes directly from the Fermi Golden Rule. The probability of the transition goes like a matrix element divided by the difference in energies.
 

Related to Excite Inner Shell Electrons: Can It Be Done?

1. Can inner shell electrons be excited?

Yes, inner shell electrons can be excited through various processes such as absorption of photons, collisions with other particles, or application of an external electric field.

2. What is the purpose of exciting inner shell electrons?

The purpose of exciting inner shell electrons is to study the electronic structure and properties of atoms and molecules. This can also provide insights into chemical reactions and physical processes.

3. How is the excitation of inner shell electrons detected?

The excitation of inner shell electrons can be detected through various techniques such as X-ray spectroscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, and electron energy loss spectroscopy.

4. Can excitation of inner shell electrons lead to ionization?

Yes, excitation of inner shell electrons can lead to ionization if the energy of the excitation is high enough to remove the electron from the atom or molecule.

5. What are the potential applications of exciting inner shell electrons?

The excitation of inner shell electrons has various applications in fields such as materials science, chemistry, and biology. It can be used to study the electronic structure of materials, identify elements in a sample, and investigate chemical reactions.

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