Triplet state

Common card · No. 379428

In quantum mechanics, a triplet state, or spin triplet, is the quantum state of an object such as an electron, atom, or molecule, having a quantum spin S = 1. It has three allowed values of the spin's projection along a given axis mS = −1, 0, or +1, giving the name "triplet". Spin, in the context of quantum mechanics, is not a mechanical rotation but a more abstract concept that characterizes a particle's intrinsic angular momentum. It is particularly important for systems at atomic length scales, such as individual atoms, protons, or electrons. A triplet state occurs in cases where the spins of two unpaired electrons, each having spin s = 1⁄2, align to give S = 1, in contrast to the more common case of two electrons aligning oppositely to give S = 0, a spin singlet. Most molecules encountered in daily life exist in a singlet state because all of their electrons are paired, but molecular oxygen is an exception. At room temperature, O2 exists in a triplet state, which can only undergo a...

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