Quanta: Particles,

waves and wave-

particles

Lecture 05
23 Jan 2013
 Corpuscular Theory of Light (1704)

Isaac Newton proposed that light consists of

a stream of small particles, because it
travels in straight lines at great speeds
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
2
 Wave Theory of Light (1802)

Young and Fresnel showed that light is a

wave, because it
undergoes diffraction and interference
(Youngs double-slit experiment)

3
Whats the difference, anyway?
PARTICLE WAVE

Position x Wavelength
Mass m Amplitude A
Momentum p = mv Frequency f
number of cycles per second
(Hertz)
Whats the difference, anyway?

A particle is localized in space, and has discrete

physical properties such as mass
A wave is inherently spread out over many wave-
lengths in space, and could have amplitudes in a
continuous range
Waves superpose and pass through each other,
while particles collide and bounce off each other.
Evidence that Light is a Wave
 Blackbody Radiation
A blackbody is an object which totally
absorbs all radiation that falls on it

Any hot body (blackbodies included)

radiates light over the whole spectrum
of frequencies

The spectrum depends on both

frequency and temperature

Examples: light bulbs, the Universe

Blackbody radiation depends on
temperature

Plot of intensity of the blackbody

Plot of intensity of the radiation versus frequency for
blackbody radiation various temperatures
versus wavelength for
various temperatures
 Classical wave theory of light predicts a graph that
deviates from experimental data, especially at short
wavelengths the ultraviolet catastrophe.
 Max Planck
(1858 1947)
Father of Quantum Theory

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
 Plancks Quantum Postulate (1900)
PLANCKs constant
h = 6.63 x 10-34 Joule
sec
(Joule = kg m2 / sec2)

A new constant of
nature, which turns
out to be of
fundamental
Result: A radiation law in extremely importance in the
good agreement with experiment new quantum
theory
Photoelectric effect
Energy of wave is
amplitude dependent. The
greater the intensity
(square of amplitude), the
more energetic the ejected
electrons are.
Any color shone will eject
electrons.
At lower intensity,
electrons will eventually
gain enough energy
absorbed from the wave to
escape the metal surface.
 Results
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.
Einsteins Explanation
(1905)

Light consists of particles, Albert Einstein won a Nobel

now known as photons. Prize for his work on the
photoelectric effect and not

A photon hitting the emitter his theory of relativity!

plate will eject an electron

if it has enough energy
Each photon has energy:
E = hf
(same as Plancks formula)
 Everyday Evidence for
Photons
Red light is used in photographic darkrooms
because it is not energetic enough to break the
halogen-silver bond in black and white films.
 Everyday Evidence for
Photons
Ultraviolet light causes
sunburn but visible light does
not because UV photons are
more energetic affects skin
structure most than any other
www.hoinews.com
wavelength range.

wikipedia.org wikipedia.org
 Everyday Evidence for
Photons
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
 Everyday Evidence for
Photons
Our eyes detect color because photons of
different energies trigger different chemical
reactions in retina cells
 Everyday Evidence for
Photons
Spectrum of White Light

Emission Spectrum of
Hydrogen

Emission Spectrum of
Helium

Emission Spectrum of
Lithium

Emission Spectrum of
Mercury
Light Amplification by Stimulated
Emission of Radiation (LASER)
1 2 3

4 5
In summary...

Planck: Blackbody radiation demonstrates that matter emits light in

discrete packets.
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).
But wait.. theres more!
If a light wave can behave like a particle, can
a particle of matter behave like a wave?
Double-Slit Experiment
illustrates the wave nature of light
Double-Slit Experiment
with a machine gun!
Double-Slit Experiment
with electron gun

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

After many electrons,

the resulting patter
resembles the inter-
Electron interference pattern after (a) 8
ference pattern of light electrons, (b) 270 electrons, (c) 2000
electrons, and (d) 6000 e
 Double-Slit Experiment
with electron gun and detector

Trying to detect which slit the electrons pass

through causes them to behave like particles
 Summary

Waves and particles exhibit very different

behaviour.
Yet, light behaves like particles
spectrum of blackbody radiation, photoelectric
effect, other everyday examples
And electrons behave like waves
interference pattern of electrons
In quantum theory, the distinction between
waves and particles is blurred.