Absorption and emission of radiation

Adrian Down
October 03, 2005

1 Review: Plank distribution

1.1 Formulae
The density of EM modes is

V ω2
D(ω) =
π 2 c3
The average occupancy of each EM mode is given by the Plank distribu-
tion,
1
hni = ~ω
e τ −1
Putting these two expressions together, the energy distribution is

V ~ω 3
U (ω) =  ~ω 
2 3
π c e −1τ

Integrating over all frequencies, the energy is given by the Stephan-

Boltzmann Law,

π2V τ 4
UT = 3 3
∝ T4
15~ c

1
1.2 Application: entropy of a black body

0 at constant V
τ dσ = dU +  pdV
*

1
dσ = dUT
τ
1 4π 2 V τ 3
=
τ 15~3 c3
4 π2V 3
= τ
45 ~3 c3

2 Black body radiation

2.1 General theory
The number of photons incident on a unit area per second is
1
n(ω)c
4
Note. This result applies equally well to the kinetic theory of gasses.
Radiation from a closed cavity with a small hole in it is a good approx-
imation to that from a black body. From the result above, the number of
photons leaving the hole is independent of the size or material of the cavity.
The power emitted per unit area in the frequency range ω to ω + dω is

1 n(ω)~ω
cdω
4 | {z
V }
energy
unit V

To find the total emitted power, integrate over all ω,

Z ∞
= Pe (ω)dω
0
c ∞ U (ω)
Z
= dω
4 0 V

The integral over U (ω) is the same from the calculation of total energy above,
so the total emitted power is

2
 π2τ 4
σsb T 4 =
60~3 c3

π 2 kb4
where σsb =
60~3 c3
W
≈ 5.67 · 10−8
m2 k4

2.2 Properties of the cavity

Suppose we have a cavity in which we think there is black body radiation
at temperature T1 , and suppose we put another object in the cavity at tem-
perature T2 . Assume that T2 < T1 . If the object is a perfect black body, it
will begin to absorb the photons that are incident upon it, causing its tem-
perature to rise. As the temperature rises, it will begin to emit radiation,
until the number of photons incident on the object is equal to the number of
photons emitted by the body.
Suppose that the body is not a perfect black body so that some of the
photons incident upon it are reflected. The same equilibrating process will
still occur. If the body were a perfect mirror, it could be argued that the
temperature of the body would never equal that of the cavity, since the body
would be completely cut off from the radiation in the cavity. However, no
physical body is such a perfect mirror.
This argument is meant to illustrate that the properties of the radiation
in the cavity do not depend on the properties of the cavity itself, such as its
size or the material from which it is made.

2.3 Types of bodies

A black body absorbs all EM radiation falling on it at all frequencies. No
physical object is a perfect black body at all frequencies. Some objects are
good approximations of black bodies in certain frequency ranges, such as
carbon at optical frequencies.
Definition (absorption coefficient). Let a(ω) be the absorption coefficient
of the body at the frequency ω.
power absorbed by a body at temp T
a(ω) =
power absorbed by a black body at temp T

3
Definition (black body). A black body is one that absorbs all EM radiation
which is incident upon it. A black body is characterized by

α(ω) = 1, ∀ω

Definition (grey body). A body for which a(ω) < 1, but is constant over
all frequencies, is called a grey body
Definition (colored body). If a(ω) depends on ω, the body is called a colored
body.
Definition (perfect mirror). If a(ω) = 0 for all ω, the body is called a perfect
mirror

2.4 Kirchhoff ’s law

Qualitatively, Kirchhoff’s law says that good absorbers are good emitters,
but note that this statement is true only for a particular frequency.
Definition (emissivity). The emissivity e(ω) is the fraction of radiation
emitted at frequency ω compared to the amount of radiation that would
be emitted by a black body at the same temperature.
power emitted by a body at temp T
e(ω) =
power emitted by a black body at temp T
Theorem (Krichoff’s Law).

a(ω) = e(ω)

Note. This statement is true at each particular ω.

2.5 Examples
2.5.1 Shiny tea pots
A polished tea pot will keep tea hot much longer. A shiny pot is nearly a
perfect mirror, and since it has a very low absorptivity, it has a very low
emissivity.
The heat losses due to conduction losses will be proportional to Ttp −Troom .
4 4
Radiation losses will be proportional to Ttp −Troom . Thus the radiation losses
completely dominate when Ttp is much greater than Troom .

4
2.5.2 Cold, cloudless nights
It often feels colder on clear nights. Without clouds, EM radiation emitted
from the surface of the earth disperses relatively unimpeded. Water vapor
present in clouds absorbs strongly in the infrared, and the peak of the plank
distribution is in the infrared, so clouds are very effective at absorbing heat
energy radiated from earth. Because clouds are good absorbers at infrared
frequencies, they are good emitters at these same frequencies. Approximately
half of the EM radiation absorbed by the cloud will be emitted back down
towards earth, thus keeping the surface of the earth warmer.

2.5.3 Greenhouse effect

On sunny days, greenhouses are much hotter than the air outside. EM radi-
ation from the sun is in the visible and the ultraviolet range. Glass is trans-
parent in this range, so radiation from the sun passes unimpeded into the
greenhouse where it is absorbed by the plants. The plants are approximately
at room temperature, so they re-radiate at infrared frequencies. Glass is a
strong absorber in the infrared, and thus a good emitter, so approximately
half of the IR radiation emitted by the plants is re-radiated back into the
greenhouse.