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  2. Zero-point energy - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-point_energy

    Zero-point energy (ZPE) is the lowest possible energy that a quantum mechanical system may have. Unlike in classical mechanics, quantum systems constantly fluctuate in their lowest energy state as described by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. [1] Therefore, even at absolute zero, atoms and molecules retain some vibrational motion.

  3. Ground state - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_state

    Energy levels for an electron in an atom: ground state and excited states. After absorbing energy, an electron may jump from the ground state to a higher-energy excited state. The ground state of a quantum-mechanical system is its stationary state of lowest energy; the energy of the ground state is known as the zero-point energy of the system.

  4. Quantum vacuum state - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_vacuum_state

    The video of an experiment showing vacuum fluctuations (in the red ring) amplified by spontaneous parametric down-conversion.. If the quantum field theory can be accurately described through perturbation theory, then the properties of the vacuum are analogous to the properties of the ground state of a quantum mechanical harmonic oscillator, or more accurately, the ground state of a measurement ...

  5. Third law of thermodynamics - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_law_of_thermodynamics

    The entropy of a closed system, determined relative to this zero point, is then the absolute entropy of that system. Mathematically, the absolute entropy of any system at zero temperature is the natural log of the number of ground states times the Boltzmann constant k B = 1.38 × 10 −23 J K −1.

  6. Equilibrium constant - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equilibrium_constant

    The zero-point energy is inversely proportional to the square root of the mass of the vibrating hydrogen atom, and will therefore be smaller for a D–X bond that for an H–X bond. An example is a hydrogen atom abstraction reaction R' + H–R ⇌ R'–H + R with equilibrium constant K H , where R' and R are organic radicals such that R' forms ...

  7. Absolute zero - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolute_zero

    Absolute zero is the lowest limit of the thermodynamic temperature scale; a state at which the enthalpy and entropy of a cooled ideal gas reach their minimum value. The fundamental particles of nature have minimum vibrational motion, retaining only quantum mechanical, zero-point energy-induced particle motion.

  8. Energy level - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_level

    The energy spectrum of a system with such discrete energy levels is said to be quantized. In chemistry and atomic physics, an electron shell, or principal energy level, may be thought of as the orbit of one or more electrons around an atom's nucleus. The closest shell to the nucleus is called the "1 shell" (also called "K shell"), followed by ...

  9. Potential energy surface - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potential_energy_surface

    Energy profiles describe potential energy as a function of geometrical variables (PES in any dimension are independent of time and temperature). H+H2 Potential energy surface. We have different relevant elements in the 2-D PES: The 2-D plot shows the minima points where we find reactants, the products and the saddle point or transition state.