Why do energy levels converge at a continuum and what is a continuum?
1 Answer
A continuum is sort of the opposite of a quantized value. The allowed energies for electrons bound in an atom show discrete quantum levels. A continuum is a case where a continuous band of any energy level exists.
Explanation:
As part of the Copenhagen Interpretation of quantum mechanics, Niels Bohr suggested the correspondence principle that states that all systems that are described by quantum mechanics must reproduce classical mechanics in the limit of very large quantum numbers.
What this means is that for very large orbits and very high energies, quantum calculations must agree with classical calculations.
So, while energy levels for electrons in atoms are discrete and well-separated. But, as the energy levels increase, the separation between them become smaller and smaller, and at "very high" levels, give way to a continuous range of all allowed energies, which is in agreement with the classical (non-quantum) treatment.
