Selfish atom selects quantum resonances at fractional atomic frequencies

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.