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Lec26 Quantum Theory
Lec26 Quantum Theory
FYI
1/3 of exams graded,
and average is about
71%.
Reading:
Ch13.1-13.5
No HW this week !
OR
Light Waves
Until about 1900, the classical wave theory of light described
most observed phenomenon.
Light waves:
Characterized by:
Amplitude (A)
Frequency (n)
Wavelength (l)
Energy of wave a A2
Increase energy by
increasing amplitude
electrons
emitted ?
No
No
No
No
electrons
emitted ?
No
Yes, with
low KE
Yes, with
high KE
Before Collision
After Collision
Photons
Quantum theory describes light as
a particle called a photon
According to quantum theory, a
photon has an energy given by
E = hn = hc/l
E = hn = hc/l
h = 6.6x10-34 [J*sec]
(Plancks constant)
Longest wavelengths
(Least energetic photons)
Momentum
In physics, theres another quantity which we hold just as
sacred as energy, and this is momentum.
For an object with mass, momentum is given by:
p mv
p mv
The units
are: [kg] [m/s] == [kg m/s]
p E /c
p h/l
DeBroglies Relation
DeBroglie
relation
p=h/l
E = hc / l
l=h/p
Louis de Broglie
M
A
T
T
E
R
Scattered X-ray
wavelength
l2
l2 > l1
Electron
initially at
rest (almost)
Scattered X-ray
E2 = hc / l2
l2 > l1
e
e
Ee
Compton found that if you treat the photons as if they were particles
of zero mass, with energy E=hc/l and momentum p=h/l
The collision behaves just as if it were 2 billiard balls colliding !
Photon behaves like a particle with energy & momentum as given above!
Summary of Photons
Photons can be treated as packets of
light which behave as a particle.
To describe interactions of light with matter, one generally has to
appeal to the particle (quantum) description of light.
A single photon has an energy given by
E = hc/l,
where
h = Plancks constant = 6.6x10-34 [J s]
c = speed of light
= 3x108 [m/s]
l = wavelength of the light (in [m])
and,
So is light a
wave or a
particle ?