Selfish atom selects quantum resonances at fractional atomic frequencies

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that atoms can resonate at fractional frequencies of their internal quantum transitions when driven by external pulse sequences, revealing a form of self-expression at sub-frequencies with potential implications in quantum chemistry and biology.

Contribution

It introduces the novel concept that atoms respond resonantly to external pulse sequences at fractional frequencies of their own quantum transition frequencies.

Findings

Atoms respond resonantly at fractional frequencies of their eigen-frequencies.

Resonance occurs when the external pulse repetition rate equals the eigen-frequency divided by an integer.

This phenomenon suggests new ways to influence quantum and chemical processes.

Abstract

We show that the atom as a "quantum entity", driven by an external field in the form of pulse sequence at repetition rate equal to the internal quantum frequency divided by an integer n, responds resonantly. It seeks and finds its characteristic frequencies in any possible combination of its frequencies. This is an indication of self expression by the atom at many sub-frequencies of its own transition frequencies. It is a non-intuitive phenomenon since the external repetition rate has no quantum character, yet the atom responds to it if the rate is equal to 1/n its eigen-frequency. We believe that our results will have implications in other quantum related processes, such as resonant enhancement of chemical reactions and biological processes.