The activity of an excited atom typically does not increase over time. In fact, the activity of an excited atom tends to decrease as the atom returns to its ground state.
When an atom is excited, it means that one or more of its electrons have absorbed energy and moved to a higher energy level or orbital. This excitation can occur through various mechanisms, such as absorption of light or collisions with other particles.
However, excited states are generally unstable, and the excited electrons tend to spontaneously transition back to their lower energy levels. This process is known as relaxation or de-excitation. During relaxation, the excess energy is often released in the form of photons, resulting in the emission of light. The emitted photons may have specific energies corresponding to certain wavelengths, leading to the characteristic emission spectrum of the atom.
As the excited electrons return to lower energy levels, the activity of the atom decreases because fewer electrons remain in the excited state. Eventually, the atom reaches its ground state, where all electrons are in their lowest energy levels, and the activity ceases.
It's important to note that the specific timescales for relaxation and the decrease in activity depend on the specific atom and its energy levels. In some cases, the relaxation process can be very rapid, occurring within nanoseconds or even femtoseconds, while in other cases, it may take longer.