Corpuscular Theory of Light (1704)

Quanta: Particles, Waves, ! Isaac Newton proposed that light consists of

and Wave-Particles a stream of small particles, because it
l travels in straight lines at great speeds
l is reflected from mirrors in a predictable way

Newton observed that the reflection of

light from a mirror resembles the rebound
of a steel ball from a steel plate
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Wave Theory of Light (1802) Particles

! Young and Fresnel showed that light is a ! Position x

wave, because it
l undergoes diffraction and interference ! Mass m
(Young’s double-slit experiment)

! Momentum p = mv

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Waves Waves versus Particles

! Wavelength ! ! A particle is localized in space, and has

discrete physical properties such as mass
! Amplitude A ! A wave is inherently spread out over many
wave-lengths in space, and could have
amplitudes in a continuous range
! Frequency f
l number of cycles per second ! Waves superpose and pass through each
(Hertz) other, while particles collide and bounce off
each other.
f=c/!

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Blackbody radiation depends on

Blackbody Radiation
temperature
! A blackbody is an object which totally
absorbs all radiation that falls on it
! Any hot body radiates light over a wide
spectrum of frequencies. (examples: light
bulbs, stars.)
! Blackbody radiation is the specific pattern Plot of intensity of the blackbody
emitted by a heated blackbody. radiation versus frequency for
various temperatures
Plot of intensity of the
blackbody radiation versus
wavelength for various
temperatures
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Ultraviolet Catastrophe Planck’s Quantum Postulate (1900)

! A blackbody can only emit radiation in discrete

packets or quanta, i.e., in multiples of the minimum
energy: E = hf, where h is a constant and f is the
frequency of the radiation

Classical wave theory of light predicts a graph that

deviates from experimental data, especially at short Max Planck (1858-1947) is generally
wavelengths – the ultraviolet catastrophe. regarded as the father of quantum theory
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Planck’s Quantum Postulate (1900) Planck’s Constant

! Experimentally determined to be

h = 6.63 x 10-34 Joule sec

(Joule = kg m2 / sec2)

! A new constant of nature, which turns out to

be of fundamental importance in the new
‘quantum theory’
Result: A radiation law in extremely good
agreement with experiment
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 Photoelectric effect:
What is it?
Light falling on a metallic surface can eject
electrons from the surface.
Photoelectric effect experiment
http://cwx.prenhall.com/petrucci/medialib/media_portfolio/09.html
Wave theory prediction
! Energy of wave is amplitude dependent.
The greater the intensity (square of
amplitude), the more energetic the ejected
electrons are. The energy (due to motion) of
the ejected electrons is independent of the
color.
! Any color shone will eject electrons.
! At lower intensity, electrons will eventually
gain enough energy absorbed from the
wave to escape the metal surface.
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Photoelectric response to blue
light
When blue light is shone on the emitter plate,
a current flows in the circuit
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Photoelectric response to red
Experimental Observations
light
! Only light with a frequency greater than a
certain threshold will produce a current.
! Current begins almost instantaneously, even
for light of very low intensity.
! Current is proportional to the intensity of the
incident light.

But for red light, no current flows in the circuit

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Wave theory of light conflicts Einstein’s Explanation

with detailed PE observations (1905)

! The energy of waves depends only on ! Light consists of particles, Albert Einstein won a Nobel Prize for
his work on the photoelectric effect
and not his theory of relativity!

intensity and not frequency. Therefore, the now known as photons.

color of light used should not affect the ! A photon hitting the emitter
results of the photoelectric effect. plate will eject an electron
! This implies that a current should be if it has enough energy
produced when say, high-intensity red light ! Each photon has energy:
is used – but experiments show it is not. E = hf
(same as Planck’s formula)

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 Everyday Evidence for Photons Everyday Evidence for Photons
! Red light is used in photographic darkrooms ! Ultraviolet light causes
because it is not energetic enough to break sunburn but visible light
the halogen-silver bond in black and white does not because UV
films. photons are more energetic
affects skin structure most
than any other wavelength www.hoinews.com

range.

wikipedia.org wikipedia.org
21 22

Everyday Evidence for Photons The Xerox technology

! Banknotes (bills) are infused with
fluorescent tags that glows only in the high
energy photons of UV light.
www.fosterfreeman.com

www.office365.co.uk

fida.da.gov.ph wps.prenhall.com
23 24
“Seeing” IR light Everyday Evidence for Photons
! Our eyes detect color because photons of
different energies trigger different chemical
reactions in retina cells

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In summary... But wait.. there’s more!

! Planck: Blackbody radiation demonstrates ! If a “light wave” can behave like a particle,
that matter emits light in discrete packets. can a particle of matter behave like a wave?
! Einstein: Photoelectric effect demonstrates
that matter absorbs light in discrete packets.
! Thus: Light may propagate as a wave, but it
behaves as a particle when it interacts with
matter (absorption and emission).

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Double-Slit Experiment Double-Slit Experiment
illustrates the wave nature of light with a machine gun!

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Double-Slit Experiment Electron double-slit experiment

with electron gun

? 31 32
 Interference Pattern of Electrons
! Determines the
probability of an
electron arriving at a
given position

! After many electrons,

the resulting patter
resembles the inter-
ference pattern of
light
Electron interference pattern after
(a) 8 electrons, (b) 270 electrons,
(c) 2000 electrons, and (d) 6000 e

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Double-Slit Experiment Light emission

with electron gun

Electrons behave like waves!

de Broglie wavelength = h / mv

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Light emission and absorption Bohr model of atoms

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Emission:
Bohr model of atoms
spontaneous vs. stimulated

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 Standing waves
The LASER (a.k.a. “laser”)
and orbit stability

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The wave function Probability density

and its probabilistic interpretation and particle location

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The atoms today Exclusion principle and electrons

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Uncertainty principle:
The periodic table The ultimate limit of science

* Planck’s length ~ 10-35 m

* Planck’s time ~ 10-44 s

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Summary Quantum world
Particle properties
! Waves and particles exhibit very different •Momentum
behaviour. •Energy
! Yet, light behaves like particles •Particles/area/time
l spectrum of blackbody radiation,
photoelectric effect, other everyday
examples Wave properties
! And electrons behave like waves •Wavelength
•Frequency
l interference pattern of electrons •Amplitude
! In quantum theory, the distinction between
waves and particles is blurred. We live in a quantum world!!
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QUIZ write name/SN/date today on 1/8 sized paper

Write ‘W’ if the phenomenon can be explained with
light as a wave ONLY;
Write ‘P’ if the phenomenon can be explained with
light as a particle ONLY.
Write ‘PW’ if the phenomenon can be explained
with light as EITHER a particle or a wave.
0. soap rainbow
1. image formed by diffracted light
2. glare reflected from side mirror
3. CCD cameras can see beyond our
eyes.
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