Quantum Effects
Two aforementioned states of a nitrogen compound, namely ammonia, exhibit a quantum tunnelling because the barrier in narrow enough – this has nothing to do with thermal excitation. Superposition of two states leads to energy level splitting used in ammonia masers.
Read more about this topic: Nitrogen Inversion
Famous quotes containing the words quantum and/or effects:
“A personality is an indefinite quantum of traits which is subject to constant flux, change, and growth from the birth of the individual in the world to his death. A character, on the other hand, is a fixed and definite quantum of traits which, though it may be interpreted with slight differences from age to age and actor to actor, is nevertheless in its essentials forever fixed.”
—Hubert C. Heffner (19011985)
“The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly, is to fill the world with fools.”
—Herbert Spencer (18201903)