If the EM spectrum is about 3Hz - 300EHz, and light is only 300THz-800THz, a very, very small sliver. Then do photons (quanta) also exist in the other frequencies?
2007-12-27 08:50:57 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Yes, photons (aka quanta) exist for all frequencies of EM radiation. This is the basis of Quantum Mechanics, where particles (photons) can also be viewed as waves (EM radiation). This is called the particle-wave duality. This duality is highlighted by Thomas Young's double-slit experiment.
2007-12-27 08:56:14 · answer #1 · answered by PhysicsDude 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, the visible light spectrum is only the light we can see.
Photons and quanta are the source of electromagnetism. Electrons take and release energy in photons.
A huge example of non-visible photons are particle annihilation reactions. Say we have an electron and a positron (anti-electron):
When an electron and a positron combine, they annihilate each other and what is produced is a pair of gamma ray photons. And we know that gamma rays are invisible and are not part of the visible light spectrum.
2007-12-27 16:56:15 · answer #2 · answered by Eolian 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Planck developed his quantum theory and derived a universal constant, which came to be known as Planck's constant. The resulting law states that the energy of each quantum is equal to the frequency of the radiation multiplied by the universal constant: E=f*h, where h is 6.63 * 10E-34 Js. The discovery of quanta revolutionised physics, because it contradicted conventional ideas about the nature of radiation and energy.
2007-12-27 17:08:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. But they are a lot easier to measure from the near infrared to 10^15eV than they are at 3Hz... or below... there is no lower limit. DC voltage and current are also photons, just a bit different. :-)
2007-12-27 16:56:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Frequency is a debatable notion for photons... They exist with a lot of possible energy levels which in turn correspond to lots of possible frequencies for the corresponding radiation
2007-12-27 17:02:57 · answer #5 · answered by MrCouscous 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is no difference between light and electromagnetic radiation, save that we can see light, and we cant em-riadatiom. the funny thing about a photon though, is that its not quite a particle, but its not quite not a particle either.
2007-12-27 17:00:40 · answer #6 · answered by mrzwink 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but they are easier to count at low frequencies.
2007-12-27 17:31:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
d00d you just got PWNED by SCIENCE! AHAHHAHAHA!
2007-12-27 16:53:20 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 6⤋