Physics:Quantum atoms/ion

Short description: Atom or molecule with a net electric charge

← Back to Atomic and spectroscopy

An ion is an atom or molecule that has gained or lost one or more electrons, resulting in a net electric charge.

• A positively charged ion is called a cation
• A negatively charged ion is called an anion

Ions play a central role in plasma physics, where matter exists as a collection of free electrons and ions.

File:Ionization process.png

Ionization: an electron is removed from or added to an atom, forming an ion.

Formation

Ions are formed through processes such as:

• Ionization (loss of electrons)
• Electron attachment
• Collisions in high-energy environments

These processes are common in plasmas, astrophysical systems, and high-temperature gases.

Role in plasma physics

In plasmas:

• Ions and electrons move collectively
• Long-range electromagnetic forces dominate
• Charge neutrality is approximately maintained

The behavior of ions is described by kinetic theory and fluid models such as magnetohydrodynamics.

Physical interpretation

An ion represents a deviation from electrical neutrality at the atomic level.

Its dynamics are governed by electromagnetic forces and play a fundamental role in many areas of physics, including plasma physics, chemistry, and condensed matter.

Table of contents (139 articles)

Index

Core theory

1. Foundations
2. Conceptual and interpretations
3. Mathematical structure and systems
4. Atomic and spectroscopy
5. Wavefunctions and modes
6. Quantum dynamics and evolution
7. Measurement and information
8. Quantum information and computing

Matter (by scale)

9. Matter (by scale)

Applications and extensions

10. Quantum optics and experiments
11. Open quantum systems
12. Quantum field theory
13. Statistical mechanics and kinetic theory
14. Condensed matter and solid-state physics
15. Plasma and fusion physics
16. Timeline
17. Advanced and frontier topics

Methods and tools

18. Methods and tools

Full contents

1. Foundations (7)↑

1. Physics:Quantum basics
2. Physics:Quantum Postulates
3. Physics:Quantum Hilbert space
4. Physics:Quantum Observables and operators
5. Physics:Quantum mechanics
6. Physics:Quantum mechanics measurements
7. Physics:Quantum Mathematical Foundations of Quantum Theory

2. Conceptual and interpretations (10)↑

8. Physics:Quantum Interpretations of quantum mechanics
9. Physics:Quantum Wave–particle duality
10. Physics:Quantum Complementarity principle
11. Physics:Quantum Uncertainty principle
12. Physics:Quantum Measurement problem
13. Physics:Quantum Bell's theorem
14. Physics:Quantum Hidden variable theory
15. Physics:Quantum A Spooky Action at a Distance
16. Physics:Quantum A Walk Through the Universe
17. Physics:Quantum The Secret of Cohesion and How Waves Hold Matter Together

3. Mathematical structure and systems (11)↑

18. Physics:Quantum Density matrix
19. Physics:Quantum Exactly solvable quantum systems
20. Physics:Quantum Formulas Collection
21. Physics:Quantum A Matter Of Size
22. Physics:Quantum Symmetry in quantum mechanics
23. Physics:Quantum Angular momentum operator
24. Physics:Quantum Runge–Lenz vector
25. Physics:Quantum Approximation Methods
26. Physics:Quantum Matter Elements and Particles
27. Physics:Quantum Dirac equation
28. Physics:Quantum Klein–Gordon equation

4. Atomic and spectroscopy (11)↑

Quantum atomic structure and spectroscopy: orbitals, energy levels, and emission and absorption spectra.

29. Physics:Quantum Atomic structure and spectroscopy
30. Physics:Quantum Hydrogen atom
31. Physics:Quantum Multi-electron atoms
32. Physics:Quantum Fine structure
33. Physics:Quantum Hyperfine structure
34. Physics:Quantum Isotopic shift
35. Physics:Quantum Zeeman effect
36. Physics:Quantum Stark effect
37. Physics:Quantum Spectral lines and series
38. Physics:Quantum Selection rules
39. Physics:Quantum Fermi's golden rule

5. Wavefunctions and modes (8)↑

A quantum wavefunction showing probability amplitude in space; the square of its magnitude gives the probability density.

40. Physics:Quantum Wavefunction
41. Physics:Quantum Superposition principle
42. Physics:Quantum Eigenstates and eigenvalues
43. Physics:Quantum Boundary conditions and quantization
44. Physics:Quantum Standing waves and modes
45. Physics:Quantum Normal modes and field quantization
46. Physics:Number of independent spatial modes in a spherical volume
47. Physics:Quantum Density of states

6. Quantum dynamics and evolution (9)↑

48. Physics:Quantum Time evolution
49. Physics:Quantum Schrödinger equation
50. Physics:Quantum Time-dependent Schrödinger equation
51. Physics:Quantum Stationary states
52. Physics:Quantum Perturbation theory
53. Physics:Quantum Time-dependent perturbation theory
54. Physics:Quantum Adiabatic theorem
55. Physics:Quantum Scattering theory
56. Physics:Quantum S-matrix

7. Measurement and information (6)↑

57. Physics:Quantum Measurement theory
58. Physics:Quantum Measurement operators
59. Physics:Quantum Projective measurement
60. Physics:Quantum POVM
61. Physics:Quantum Weak measurement
62. Physics:Quantum Measurement collapse

8. Quantum information and computing (6)↑

63. Physics:Quantum information theory
64. Physics:Quantum Qubit
65. Physics:Quantum Entanglement
66. Physics:Quantum Gates and circuits
67. Physics:Quantum Computing Algorithms in the NISQ Era
68. Physics:Quantum Noisy Qubits

9. Quantum optics and experiments (4)↑

Experimental quantum physics: qubits, dilution refrigerators, quantum communication, and laboratory systems.

69. Physics:Quantum Nonlinear King plot anomaly in calcium isotope spectroscopy
70. Physics:Quantum optics beam splitter experiments
71. Physics:Quantum Ultra fast lasers
72. Physics:Quantum Experimental quantum physics
Template:Quantum optics operators

10. Open quantum systems (7)↑

73. Physics:Quantum Open systems
74. Physics:Quantum Master equation
75. Physics:Quantum Lindblad equation
76. Physics:Quantum Decoherence
77. Physics:Quantum Markovian dynamics
78. Physics:Quantum Non-Markovian dynamics
79. Physics:Quantum Trajectories

11. Quantum field theory (18)↑

Structural dependency map of quantum field theory.

80. Physics:Quantum field theory (QFT) basics
81. Physics:Quantum field theory (QFT) core
82. Physics:Quantum Fields and Particles
83. Physics:Quantum Second quantization
84. Physics:Quantum Harmonic Oscillator field modes
85. Physics:Quantum Creation and annihilation operators
86. Physics:Quantum vacuum fluctuations
87. Physics:Quantum Propagators in quantum field theory
88. Physics:Quantum Feynman diagrams
89. Physics:Quantum Path integral formulation
90. Physics:Quantum Renormalization in field theory
91. Physics:Quantum Renormalization group
92. Physics:Quantum Field Theory Gauge symmetry
93. Physics:Quantum Non-Abelian gauge theory
94. Physics:Quantum Electrodynamics (QED)
95. Physics:Quantum chromodynamics (QCD)
96. Physics:Quantum Electroweak theory
97. Physics:Quantum Standard Model

12. Statistical mechanics and kinetic theory (10)↑

98. Physics:Quantum Statistical mechanics
99. Physics:Quantum Partition function
100. Physics:Quantum Distribution functions
101. Physics:Quantum Liouville equation
102. Physics:Quantum Kinetic theory
103. Physics:Quantum Boltzmann equation
104. Physics:Quantum BBGKY hierarchy
105. Physics:Quantum Transport theory
106. Physics:Quantum Relaxation and thermalization
107. Physics:Quantum Thermodynamics

13. Condensed matter and solid-state physics (7)↑

108. Physics:Quantum Band structure
109. Physics:Quantum Fermi surfaces
110. Physics:Quantum Semiconductor physics
111. Physics:Quantum Phonons
112. Physics:Quantum Electron-phonon interaction
113. Physics:Quantum Superconductivity
114. Physics:Quantum Topological phases of matter

14. Plasma and fusion physics (10)↑

Conceptual illustration of plasma physics in a fusion context, showing magnetically confined ionized gas in a tokamak and the collective behavior governed by electromagnetic fields and transport processes.

115. Physics:Quantum Fusion
116. Physics:Quantum Fusion reactions and Lawson criterion
117. Physics:Quantum Plasma (fusion context)
118. Physics:Quantum Magnetic confinement fusion
119. Physics:Quantum Inertial confinement fusion
120. Physics:Quantum Plasma instabilities and turbulence
121. Physics:Quantum Tokamak
122. Physics:Quantum Tokamak core plasma
123. Physics:Quantum Tokamak edge physics and recycling asymmetries
124. Physics:Quantum Stellarator

15. Timeline (8)↑

125. Physics:Quantum mechanics/Timeline
126. Physics:Quantum mechanics/Timeline/Pre-quantum era
127. Physics:Quantum mechanics/Timeline/Old quantum theory
128. Physics:Quantum mechanics/Timeline/Modern quantum mechanics
129. Physics:Quantum mechanics/Timeline/Quantum field theory era
130. Physics:Quantum mechanics/Timeline/Quantum information era
131. Physics:Quantum mechanics/Timeline/Quantum technology era
132. Physics:Quantum mechanics/Timeline/Quiz/

16. Advanced and frontier topics (6)↑

133. Physics:Quantum Supersymmetry
134. Physics:Quantum Black hole thermodynamics
135. Physics:Quantum Holographic principle
136. Physics:Quantum gravity
137. Physics:Quantum De Sitter invariant special relativity
138. Physics:Quantum Doubly special relativity

References

Author: Harold Foppele