B.Sc. Sem.

– V Paper- Quantum Mechanics, Atomic & Molecular

(Physics) II Spectroscopy and Nuclear Physics

Institute for Excellence in Higher

Education (IEHE), Bhopal

Black Body Radiation

Dr. Amit Jain,
Associate Professor of Physics
IEHE, Bhopal, (M.P.), INDIA
jainamit38@gmail.com
+91-9407255901
 Pre-Knowledge

Kinetic Theory of Matter

Thermodynamics

Maxwell-Boltzmann Statistics
 Learning Objectives
You can describe the Black Body and its Radiation

Understand and Explain the Black Body Radiation

Spectrum (BBRS)

Knowledge of Stefan-Boltzmann law

Knowledge of Wein’s law & Rayleigh-Jean’s law

(Classical)
• Fails to explain the whole BBRS
Plank’s Law -Quantum Theory Approach
 What is meant by Black Body (BB)?

A black body is an idealised physical body that

absorbs completely (100% absorption) all
incident electromagnetic radiation,
regardless of frequency and then, depending on
temperature emits its own thermal radiation.
• It absorbs 100% of incident radiation
• No reflection (Appears Black – Absence of Color)
• It became hotter in absorbing radiation compared to
surroundings
• At higher temperature from surroundings, it emits all possible
frequencies/wavelengths radiation (Ideally whole EM
spectrum)
 Nearly Perfect Black Body
Carbon Black
Absorbs 99% radiation

Cavity
Absorbs 99% radiation

Sun
Radiates whole EM
Spectrum

https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.r7Zb_g719lpP9LBLvwg7nQHaHa&pid=Api&P=0&w=300&h=300
https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-71e046cf8e 6a5e211f5bca1cc 8153a69
https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.xiea3HM2RlTlEw4xMyYwOQHaEK&pid=Api&P=0&w=297&h=168
 Black Body Radiation (BBR)

Consider a solid which has hollow cavity

inside and a small hole.

Inside surface is painted with lamp black

to make it nearly perfectly absorber and
bad reflector.

The amount of radiation that enters

through the hole is mostly absorbed by
the internal walls and partial amount is
reflected which on successive reflections
absorbs completely by the walls.

A black body is both an ideal absorber and an ideal radiator.

 Colour vs Temperature

Hues of the Planckian locus on a linear scale (values in kelvin)

For colors based on black-body theory, blue occurs at

higher temperatures, whereas red occurs at lower
temperatures.
This is the opposite of the cultural associations
attributed to colors, in which "red" is "hot", and "blue" is "cold"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Color_temperature_black_body_800-12200K.svg
Colour vs Temperature

Color temperature comparison of common electric lamps

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_temperature#Correlated_color_temperature
 Temperature vs Colour
For discussion purpose let us take a black metal pot is similar enough to a black
body radiator. The warmest part of a metal pot heated to any temperature is
its bottom, and a temperature gradient exists from bottom to top of the
radiator.

Temperature Temperature is Finally, at 5000

Temperature:
:1750K, the pot above 3000 K, K and above, a
900 K, it begins
turns into a the color of the bluish-white
to glow a dull
yellowish, pot transforms color becomes
red.
brighter red to a yellow- apparent.
color. white, and
 Black Body Radiation Spectrum

In 1889 Lummer and Pringsheim measured the

intensity of emitted energy with wavelength radiated
from a black body at different temperatures.

The amount of radiation emitted with different

wavelengths is shown in the form of energy
distribution curves for each temperature.
Black Body Radiation Spectrum

http://www.webexhibits.org/causesofcolor/images/content/29z.jpg
 Black Body Radiation Spectrum

https://iwant2study.org/lookangejss/04waves_13electromagneticspectrum/ejss_model_BlackbodyRadiationSpectrumw
ee/BlackbodyRadiationSpectrumwee_Simulation.xhtml
 Observations of BBR Spectrum
(Energy Distribution Curve)
(1) At a given temperature, the
energy is not uniformly distributed
in the radiation spectrum of the
body.
(2) For a given temperature T
•At λ = 0, Eλ = 0
•Attains peak Eλ is maximum at
certain wavelength λmax.
•At λ = ꚙ, Eλ = 0
(3) λmax ∝ 1/T λmax × T = b (Constant),
Where b = 2.89 × 10-3 m K (Wein’s Constant)
From this equation it implies that, as T increases, λ shifts
toward the shorter wavelength, i.e. its energy increases.
 Energy Distribution Curve
(4) The area under each curve represents the total energy (E)
radiated over all wavelengths at a particular temperature. It is found
that area is directly proportional to the fourth power of kelvin
temperature T.

E ∝ T4 OR E = σ.T4
Where σ is called Stephen’s constant.
σ = 5.67 ×10-8 Wm-2K-4

(5) As the temperature of black body increases

the radiated energy for a wavelength (Eλ)
increases rapidly and it is found that:
Eλ ∝ T5
 Laws to Explain the BBR Spectrum
Four laws are given to explain the BBR spectrum.

(1) Stefan’s Law or Stefan-Boltzmann Law:

According to this law, the total energy E, radiated
from the unit area per second from black body is
proportional to the fourth power of the absolute
temperature T.

E ∝ T4 or E = σ.T4

Stephen’s constant (σ) = 5.67 ×10-8 Wm-2K-4

 Laws to Explain the BBR Spectrum
(2) Wein’s Laws:
(a) At a temperature T, the value of maximum
wavelength emitted from black body is inversely
proportional to its absolute temperature.

λmax ∝ 1/T or λmax T = b Wilhelm Wien – NP-1911

(Wein’s Constant) b = 2.89 × 10-3 m K

(b) At any temperature of black body, the radiated energy of

wavelength λ (Eλ) is directly proportional to the fifth power
of absolute temperature T.

Eλ ∝ T5
 Laws to Explain the BBR Spectrum

William Wien used thermodynamics to show that the

spectral energy density between λ and dλ range is given by

𝑨
𝑬𝝀 𝒅𝝀 = 𝟓 𝒇 𝝀𝑻 𝒅𝝀
𝝀
To find the form of function f(λT) he compared the BB curve
with the Maxwellian energy distribution curve and he deduce
that
𝒇 𝝀𝑻 = 𝒆−𝒂Τ𝝀𝑻
 Laws to Explain the BBR Spectrum
𝑨 −𝒂Τ𝝀𝑻
𝑬𝝀 𝒅𝝀 = 𝟓 𝒆 𝒅𝝀
𝝀
Where A and a are constants. The above equation is called
Wein’s Displacement Law.

This law could explain only for the short wavelength

range (0-𝝀𝒎) part of the black body spectrum as the
𝒆−𝒂Τ𝝀𝑻 is more effective in this range i.e. value of 𝑬𝝀
increase with 𝝀 . For higher values of 𝝀 the 𝝀−𝟓 is
more effective and it differ with the experimental
curve.
 Laws to Explain the BBR Spectrum
(3) Rayleigh-Jean’s Law:
Rayleigh and Jean assume stationary waves are formed by
super-imposition of incident and reflected waves inside the
cavity. All possible modes of vibrations are possible according to
classical mechanics.
Hence, in the wavelength range 𝝀 and 𝝀 + d𝝀 the energy
density u𝝀d𝝀 is:
𝑢𝜆 𝑑𝜆 = 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑖𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑊𝐿 𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝜆 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜆 + 𝑑𝜆
× average energy of one vibrational mode (kT)

Where, k is Boltzmann constant (=1.38 × 10-23 JK-1). Using this

according to RJ law;
8𝜋
𝑢𝜆 𝑑𝜆 = 4 𝑑𝜆 × 𝑘𝑇
𝜆
 Laws to Explain the BBR Spectrum

Rayleigh-Jean’s Law:
𝟖𝝅𝒌𝑻
𝒖𝝀 𝒅𝝀 = 𝟒
𝒅𝝀
𝝀

The RJ law could explain the higher values of wavelengths

i.e. in IR region

But fails to explain the UV region wavelengths, as it show

infinite emission of energy at low values of wavelengths.

(𝒂𝒔 𝝀 → 𝟎, 𝑬 → ∞), called Ultraviolet Catastrophe.

Failure of Classical Physics
Wein’s
Displacement Law
𝑨 −𝒂Τ𝝀𝑻
𝑬𝝀 𝒅𝝀 = 𝟓 𝒆 𝒅𝝀
𝝀
Rayleigh-Jean’s
Law
𝟖𝝅𝒌𝑻
𝒖𝝀 𝒅𝝀 = 𝟒
𝒅𝝀
𝝀
Classical Assumption:
Absorption and Emission
of Energy is continuous. It
can take values from 0 to
∞
 New Idea (Quantum Hypothesis)
Equipartition law of Energy Distribution: According to this law if energy is
supplied to any system, it will be distributed to all the
atoms/molecules/oscillator uniformly. This lead to two major problems:

(1) If any molecule gets the energy it may lead to change its
vibration or rotational vibration which in turn change its
speed of vibration and thereby new modes of vibration will
be produced.
(2) If 1 watt energy is supplied to the cavity large number of
oscillators even if getting pico-watt energy to them, it would
be infinite energy, total energy will be infinite.

Max Plank did not think that equipartition law was wrong. He was not
thinking of only temperature, but from entropy point of view.
 New Idea (Quantum Hypothesis)
Max Plank wrote:
“It was an act of desperation. For six years I had struggled
with the blackbody theory. I knew the problem …. and I
knew he answer. I had to find a theoretical explanation at
any cost.”

In year 1900 proposed the new idea of quantization of

energy. He proposed that for an oscillator in cavity to Max Plank
absorb or release energy, it should be only in chunks (or Source:
https://www.thoughtco.com/
quanta, & that chunk size should be proportional to the max-planck-formulates-
quantum-theory-1779191
frequency of the oscillator).

If the frequency oscillator is 𝝊, its quantum of energy is 𝒉𝝊, where 𝒉 is

a small constant (whose value Plank did not at first know) with units of
Energy×Time. So, energy absorb or released by an oscillator of
frequency 𝝊 will be 𝒉𝝊.
 Plank’s Quantum Hypothesis
Example: if 6𝒉𝝊 energy is available from heating coil for BB cavity it
will be distributed to oscillators in following manner.
Total energy available for distribution = 𝟔𝒉𝝊
1 2 3 4 5 6 By this way it restricts the
number of oscillator to
1𝒉𝝊 1𝒉𝝊 1𝒉𝝊 1𝒉𝝊 1𝒉𝝊 1𝒉𝝊
receive energy. However,
1𝒉𝝊 1𝒉𝝊 1𝒉𝝊 1𝒉𝝊 2𝒉𝝊 - the most probable (most
1𝒉𝝊 1𝒉𝝊 2𝒉𝝊 2𝒉𝝊 - - disordered) state is
1𝒉𝝊 2𝒉𝝊 3𝒉𝝊 - - - followed. This prevents the
system from going into the
1𝒉𝝊 1𝒉𝝊 𝟒𝒉𝝊 - - -
from UV catastrophe.
2𝒉𝝊 𝟒𝒉𝝊 - - - -
𝟔𝒉𝝊 - - - -
 Plank’s Quantum Hypothesis
Energy absorb or released by an oscillator of frequency 𝜐 will be
in multiple of h𝝊, i.e. h𝝊, 2h𝝊, 3h𝝊, 4h𝝊, …….
Based on this hypothesis, Plank used the Maxwell-Boltzmann statistics
to find the average energy of the oscillator, which he comes out as:
𝒉𝝊 𝒉𝒄Τ𝝀
𝑬 = 𝒉𝝊Τ𝒌𝑻 = 𝒉𝒄Τ𝝀𝒌𝑻
𝒆 −𝟏 𝒆 −𝟏
Using above relation, Plank give the formula for energy density as:
𝟖𝝅𝒉𝒄 𝒅𝝀 𝟖𝝅𝒉𝝊𝟑 𝒅𝝊
𝒖𝝀 𝒅𝝀 = 𝟓 𝒉𝒄Τ𝝀𝒌𝑻 or 𝒖𝝊 𝒅𝝊 = 𝟑 𝒉𝝊Τ𝒌𝑻
𝝀 (𝒆 − 𝟏) 𝒄 (𝒆 − 𝟏)

Above formula explains the whole BBR spectrum successfully.

 Recap
Black Body and its Radiation

Black Body Radiation Spectrum (BBRS)

Stefan’s law

Wein’s law & Rayleigh-Jean’s law (Classical)

Failure of Classical Theory to explain the BBRS

Plank’s Law -Quantum Theory Approach

 Extended Learning
(Demonstration of Black Body radiation Observations - JavaScript)
• https://iwant2study.org/lookangejss/04waves_13electromagnetics
pectrum/ejss_model_BlackbodyRadiationSpectrumwee/Blackbody
RadiationSpectrumwee_Simulation.xhtml
More About the Black Body Radiation
• The Genesis of Quanta (1890-1910) by Manoj K. Harbola (pdf)
• Black Body Radiation by Shashikant Gupta (Pdf)
• https://physicsabout.com/black-body-radiation/
References
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-body_radiation
• http://www.astronomynotes.com/light/s4.htm
• https://astro.unl.edu/naap/blackbody/blackbody.html
• http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/bbrc.html#c2
 Assignment
What do you understand by a Black Body?

What is the importance of Black Body Radiation

Spectrum (BBRS)?

Why Classical Theory fails to explain the BBRS?

What was the Max Plank’s idea to explain the BBRS?

Explore that what is the full name of Plank and in

which year he got the Nobel Prize.
 Extended Learning

The Nobel Prize in Physics 1918 (awarded in

1919) was awarded to Max Karl Ernst Ludwig
Planck "in recognition of the services he
rendered to the advancement of Physics by his
discovery of energy quanta.“