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Lecture 2
Lecture 2
Lecture 2
diffraction
refraction
New observations
Thomas Young
(1773-1829)
Light is a wave!
What kind of wave?
Light is an electromagnetic wave!
“This velocity is so nearly that of light, that it seems we have strong reason to
conclude that light itself (including radiant heat, and other radiations if any) is an
electromagnetic disturbance in the form of waves propagated through the
electromagnetic field according to electromagnetic laws.”
Crazy for Maxwell
Experimental support
Heinrich Hertz
(1857 - 1894)
"I do not think that the wireless waves I have
discovered will have any practical application."
Light as waves
c
=
Light as waves
600 nm = 0.6 m
100 m
0.6 m
c
υ=
λ
3.00 ⋅10 8 m /s
=
589 ⋅10−9 m
€
= 5.09 ⋅1014 s−1 = 5.09 ⋅1014 Hz
€
Spectrum of EM radiation
Spectrum of EM radiation
Are we done?
diffraction refraction
dispersion reflection
Particle nature of light
Photoelectric effect
E hc / λ h/λ
m= 2 = 2 =
c € c c
€
Where’s the photon?
Where’s the photon?
Single photon interference
What is the photon’s duration?
“Nobody knows, and it’s best if you try not to think about it.”
Richard Feynman