What type of energy transition refers to the movement from a excited state to a ground state without photon release?

The type of energy transition that involves the movement from an excited state to a ground state without the release of a photon is known as Internal Conversion. In this process, the excess energy from the excited state is transferred to an outer electron, which is then ejected from the atom, leading to a non-radiative transition. This phenomenon occurs when the energy level difference is utilized to displace an electron rather than emit a photon.

Internal conversion is significant in nuclear decay and is a key mechanism that contributes to the stability of excited nuclear states. It differs from other processes like isomeric transitions and electron capture, where photons or internal energy changes involving nuclear interactions are involved. Understanding this transition is important in fields such as nuclear physics and radiopharmaceuticals in medical imaging.