Quantum points

In order to get a general idea about the properties of material objects and laws, according to which the macrocosm habitual lives, it is not necessary to complete a higher educational institution, because every day one encounters their manifestations. Although lately the principle of similarity has been increasingly mentioned, whose supporters claim that micro and macro world are very similar, nevertheless, there is a difference, nevertheless. This is especially noticeable with very small sizes of bodies and objects. Quantum dots, sometimes referred to as nanocurrents, just represent one of these cases.

Less than the smaller

Let us recall the classical structure of an atom, for example, hydrogen. It includes a nucleus, which due to the presence of a positively charged proton in it has a plus electric charge, i.e. +1 (since hydrogen is the first element in the periodic table). Accordingly, at a certain distance from the nucleus there is an electron (-1), forming an electron shell. Obviously, if we increase the value of the nuclear charge, then this entails the addition of new electrons (recall: in general, the atom is electrically neutral).

The distance between each electron and the nucleus is determined by the energy levels of the negatively charged particles. Each orbit is constant, the total configuration of the particles determines the material. Electrons can jump from one orbit to another, absorbing or releasing energy through photons of a particular frequency. At the most distant orbits are electrons with the maximum energy level. Interestingly, the photon itself manifests a dual nature, being defined simultaneously as a massless particle and electromagnetic radiation.

The terms

The very word "photon" of Greek origin, it means "a particle of light". Consequently, it can be argued that when an electron changes its orbit, it absorbs (allocates) a quantum of light. In this case it is appropriate to explain the meaning of another word - the "quantum". In fact, there is nothing complicated. The word came from the Latin "quantum", which literally translates as the smallest value of any physical quantity (here - radiation). Let us explain by an example what a quantum is: if a milligram was the smallest indivisible measure for measuring the weight, then it could be called that. It's so simple, it would seem, a complicated term.

Quantum points: explanation

Often in textbooks one can find the following definition for a nanotube: it is an extremely small particle of any material whose dimensions are comparable to the magnitude of the emitted electron wavelength (the full spectrum covers a limit of 1 to 10 nanometers). Within it, the value of the potential energy of a single carrier of a negative charge is less than outside, so the electron is limited in displacements.

However, the term "quantum dots" can be explained differently. An electron that absorbs a photon "rises" to a higher energy level, and in its place a "shortage" is formed-the so-called hole. Accordingly, if the electron has -1 charge, then the hole +1. Seeking to return to the former stable state, an electron emits a photon. The connection of charge carriers "-" and "+" in this case is called an exciton and in physics it is understood as a particle. Its size depends on the level of absorbed energy (higher orbit). Quantum dots are just these particles. The frequency of the energy emitted by the electron directly depends on the particle size of the given material and the exciton. It should be noted that the basis of color perception of light by the human eye is the different energy of photons. Each color has a certain frequency of electromagnetic radiation.