Question

Consider an experiment in which we bombard an unknown, quantum system with a broad beam of monochromatic light. By varying the frequency of the light, we detect which frequencies are absorbed by the system and which pass through. What characteristics do those frequencies exhibit if our system is a simple harmonic oscillator?

Answer 1

As our system is simple harmonic oscillator. It will have the energy , E = , where h is Plank constant, is frequency of oscillator and n is the quantum state of oscillator with n= 0 for ground state. When oscillator is irradiated with monochromatic light with changing frequency, then oscillator will absorb certain frequencies and the rest will pass untouched. This shows the energy of the oscillator for different level is different with quantized. The frequencies those are absorbed will excite the oscillator into higher energy level, that is , each level has discrete energy. And second thing here from the calculations of frequency as well as energy formula show the energies of the oscillator are equally spaced , that is, difference of .

From these we see ,the absorption of frequency which has the energy same as the excited state of the oscillator. And those frequencies are equally spaced with difference .