All Questions
Tagged with electromagnetic-radiation photons
622
questions
-2
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3
answers
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Photons: Why not wave only? [duplicate]
It seems that Einstein's 1905 paper "Concerning an Heuristic Point of View Toward the Emission and Transformation of Light" notes the discrete quanta of light energy, an idea that leads to ...
- 1
1
vote
2
answers
110
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How do scientists focus high energy electromagnetic waves onto a target?
For visible light, we are able to use mirrors to focus on what we want.
However, gamma rays' wavelengths are too short and can't see solid objects.
So how do scientists focus high-energy ...
- 625
2
votes
0
answers
46
views
Does a plasma with plasma frequency $\omega_p$ generate photons of the same frequency?
I know that photon emission in plasma results in a change of energy level of the electrons from excited or ionised atoms. However, I saw that photons of 13eV were created in a helium plasma, but this ...
- 21
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votes
1
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166
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De Broglie wavelength of a photon
The de Broglie wavelength of a photon and the wavelength of its corresponding electromagnetic wave are numerically the same. Is this just a coincidence and the two waves are different or is the de ...
- 128
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vote
3
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132
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Pressure due to a single photon
I'm interested in the pressure exerted on a material when a single photon is absorbed.
I have written the following expression for pressure:
$$
P = \frac{hf}{cA\Delta t},
$$
where $A$ is the area over ...
- 13
4
votes
2
answers
341
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Frequency of the photon in general relativity
There is an observer at ($r,\theta, \phi$) outside of the Schwarzschild blackhole. A beacon is falling into the black hole along $r$ coordinates of the metric and is emitting radiation. At $r_{em}$, ...
- 299
2
votes
5
answers
475
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Is a photon a single wavelength of monochromatic light?
I am confused about all these different interpretations of what a photon is?
I am looking for a simple and practical interpretation.
Therefore, I am asking herein if a single photon corresponds to a ...
- 4,170
1
vote
1
answer
56
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How do electromagnetic wave and photons wave function correspond? [duplicate]
Regarding two-slit experiment against photons makes me conclude, that both frequency and phase of electormagnetic wave and photon wavefunction coincide in space and time.
Am I right?
If I am right and ...
- 1,732
25
votes
9
answers
6k
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Why does light travel in a straight line if the uncertainty principle is true?
I've asked this on different websites and never gotten an answer that a layperson can understand. Most people just say that light does not have a trajectory and then they do some hand waving. If light ...
- 361
1
vote
2
answers
134
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Quantum mechanical description of a photon arriving at a telescope from extremely far away
Typically, telescopes are explained in terms of bouncing light paths around. For example, this image from wikipedia shows "photon tracks" being redirected:
I realize this is a very ...
- 7,012
0
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0
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57
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How to interpret light and photon?
I've been trying to solidify my understanding on properties of light and this is what my understanding is so far:
Light is an EM wave that travels in a constant speed C.
Light has a quantized energy ...
- 275
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votes
4
answers
274
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How does blackbody radiation suggest the quantization of energy?
I have read about Wein's law and Rayleigh-Jeans law which were apparently based on classical mechanics and couldn't explain the radiation spectrum of a blackbody.
Then Planck came up with the ...
- 1,305
1
vote
1
answer
69
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If finite number of photons leave a source, would certain solid angles be dark?
If a light source emits light, and due to the inverse square law “energy flux” (number of photons passing through a given area) decreases rapidly. Then at some distance away from the source there ...
- 121
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votes
0
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49
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Excitation and acceleration of charges is the only way to produce EM radiation?
In lasers electrons are excited, in free-electron lasers electrons are periodically accelerated as well as in radio antennas. Radiation is produced when deflected in a magnetic field. Thermal ...
- 10.6k
0
votes
1
answer
80
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Virtual photons and slowing down longitudinal wave propagation
It is often described, that virtual photons are mere mathematical constructs, that can turn to real photons if there is enough time and space. And also, that virtual photons can mediate longitudinal ...
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