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QUANTUM MECHANICS Wave-Particle Duality of Light

QUANTUM MECHANICS Wave-Particle Duality of Light. Our story so far… Light as a wave Light as a particle (quantum). Our Story So Far …. 1600/1700s: Classical Mechanics (Galileo, Newton) Describes motion on human scale or larger 1800s: Electromagnetism (Maxwell)

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QUANTUM MECHANICS Wave-Particle Duality of Light

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  1. QUANTUM MECHANICS Wave-Particle Duality of Light • Our story so far… • Light as a wave • Light as a particle (quantum)

  2. Our Story So Far …. • 1600/1700s: Classical Mechanics (Galileo, Newton) Describes motion on human scale or larger • 1800s: Electromagnetism (Maxwell) Relates light to electricity & magnetism • (Early) 1900s: Relativistic Mechanics (Einstein) Describes motion near light speed, gravity Also (early) 1900s: ATOMS, NUCLEI, MOLECULES discovered. Very s ma ll Quantum Mechanics describes these

  3. Health Warning: Do not try too hard to `picture’ very small things The puzzle of Maxwell’s equations Describe light as a wave motion LIGHT Evidence for light as a wave Peak-to-peak distance = wavelength λ Rate of vibration = frequency f Wave speed v = f λ Wave height squared h² = Intensity I ASIDE ASIDE

  4. Bright and dark Interference Fringes seen on observation screen E.g. Young’s double slit experiment Light spreads (diffracts) from each slit Light source Screen with 2 slits

  5. .. … Bright Dark Bright Dark Bright … .. Same interference pattern seen in water waves One `slit’ Two `slits’

  6. Evidence for light as particles • Max Planck explains colors of hot objects • with new idea of • `quanta’ of light energy. • Energy of one quantum • E = h x f • ( h = Planck’s constant ) • ( f = light frequency ) Light energy always a multiple of basic quantum h f

  7. Einstein goes further, suggests these quanta are actual • particles (photons), explains Photoelectric Effect Electrons High (not low) frequency light ejects electrons from metals Photons Each electron absorbs one particle of light, whose energy depends on frequency as E= h f

  8. Light waves hit observation screen as point-like hits -> photon particles Wave patterns from particles? What guides each photon ? Hits build up interference pattern over time Even when only one photon at-a-time in apparatus

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