Quantum defect

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The term quantum defect can refer to two things:

• The quantum defect of a laser is the energy lost (not turned into photons at the lasing wavelength) when electrons in the gain medium transition from an excited to a non-excited state.
• The quantum defect of a Rydberg atom is a correction applied to the equations governing Rydberg atom behavior to reflect the fact that the inner electrons do not entirely screen their associated charge in the nucleus.

[edit] References

• Quantum defect entry in the RP Photonics online encyclopedia of laser physics and technology.
• Rydberg Atoms and the Quantum Defect at the Davidson College physics department.