PHYS345

Quantum Physics

Black Body Radiation

Black body?
Kirchhoffs challenge (1859)

Black Body Radiation

Energy density (energy/area/sec)

PHYS345
Quantum Physics

PHYS345
Quantum Physics

Black Body Radiation

Energy density (energy/area/sec)

Spectrum depends on temperature

m T const. 0 .2884 cm - deg.

PHYS345
Quantum Physics

Wiens displacement law (1893)

energy/time/area in ( , d )

R R d T 4 Stefans law (1879)

0

5 . 6 7 10 8 Js -1 m - 2 K - 4

(Stefan constant)

Wiens Law (1896)

Black body radiation curve v.s. Maxwells velocity distribution

of molecules

Radiation wavelength is assumed to be a function of

molecules velocity only. As a result, the kinetic energy

1 2
mv E ( )
2

PHYS345
Quantum Physics

Wiens Law (1896)

With this assumption, Wien used Maxwells distribution for

molecules speed
mv 2

1
2
2 kT
N v dv
v
e
dv
(kT )3 / 2

and obtained the energy density for black body radiation

C
E
e T , C : constant
3/ 2
( T )

energy/volume in ( , d )

PHYS345
Quantum Physics

Wiens Law (1896)

It describes the black bodys energy density at short

wavelengths but not long wavelengths.

PHYS345
Quantum Physics

Rayleigh-Jeans Law

Classical E&M theory

Standing wave in 1D: i 2a / ni , i x, y, z

Standing wave in 3D:

2a

T
-

nx2 n y2 nz2

each ( nx , n y , nz ) corresponds to an allowed or

Density of allowed frequencies in (v, v dv)

1
8 2 d
2
3
N ( )d 2 4r dr / a
8
c3
Pol.

PHYS345
Quantum Physics

r nx2 n y2 nz2

Rayleigh-Jeans Law

Equipartition theorem: each standing wave has an average

energy of
Kinetic energy (1 / 2k BT ) + Potential energy (1 / 2k BT )
the energy density is thus

Ev N ( )k BT k BT

E N ( ) k BT

8v 2
c3

or

8k BT

Note: change of variable

PHYS345
Quantum Physics

Rayleigh-Jeans Law

It describes the black bodys energy density at long

wavelengths but not short wavelengths.

PHYS345
Quantum Physics

Rayleigh-Jeans Law

Moreover, the total energy is divergent.

E E d

d
4

0
0
c
Recall Stephans law: R E T 4
4
What is wrong with Rayleigh-Jeans law?
Rayleigh-Jeans law uses
Maxwells electromagnetic theory
conditions for standing wave
equipartition principle

PHYS345
Quantum Physics

Plancks Quantum Theory

Wiens law
black body radiation molecules motion (particle-like)
works for short wavelengths
Rayleigh-Jeans law
black body radiation standing wave (wave-like)
works for long wavelengths
A complete theory particle-like + wave-like?

PHYS345
Quantum Physics

Plancks Quantum Theory

In RJ law, the average energy density in (v, v dv) is

8v 2 dv
Ev dv kT
c3
average energy
per degree of freedom
(equipartition principle)

density of modes
(degrees of freedom)
in (v, v dv)

Plancks assumption:
Radiation of a given frequency can only be emitted or
absorbed in integer quanta of energy 0, h ,2h ,...

PHYS345
Quantum Physics

Plancks Quantum Theory

Average energy

nhv
N

n 0
N

p ( n )

p(
n 0

hv
e

hv / kT

exp( / kT )

Energy density of black body radiation

Ev

hv
e

PHYS345
Quantum Physics

hv / kT

8v 2
1 c3

or

8hc

1
e

hc / kT

1 5

Plancks Quantum Theory

Plancks constant
1

dEv
hc
hv
0 max.
4.965
dv
kT kmT

Wiens law mT 0.2884 cm - deg

E Ev dv
0

hc
0.2884 4.965
k

8 (kT ) 4 4
(hc) 3 15

2 5 k 4
c
4
Stefans law R E T
5.67 10 8 Wm 2 K 4
2 3
4
15c h
1 2 k 1.38 10 23 JK -1

h 6.63 10-34 Js

PHYS345
Quantum Physics

Plancks Quantum Theory

E

1
e

hc / kT

8hc
1 5

Short wavelength limit:

0

e hc / kT

Long wavelength limit:

PHYS345
Quantum Physics

Applications of the Quantum Theory

Photoelectric effect -- Einstein (1905)

Specific heat in solids -- Einstein (1907)
Bohr model of atom -- Bohr (1913)
Transition probability -- Einstein (1917)
Compton scattering -- Compton (1923)

Planck

Einstein

Bohr

Compton

PHYS345
Quantum Physics

Photoelectric Effect
For a given metal,

v v0 photocurrent iv
threshold frequency

For a given frequency of radiation,

iv I 0

Hertz (1887)

photoelectrons emit immediately

v, I 0

there is no photocurrent if

V V0
stopping voltage

iv

V0 v , independent of I 0
a-levelphysicstutor.com

PHYS345
Quantum Physics

Light Quanta, Photon

Light quanta (photons):

E hv
Einstein (1905)

p k

light frequency
wave vector

1 2
mv h W
2
Work function

W e

PHYS345
Quantum Physics

Proof of Einsteins Theory

Stopping voltage v.s. frequency

Millikan (1916)

1 2
mv h W
2
threshold frequency

PHYS345
Quantum Physics

Compton Scattering

0
0

X ray

Compton (1923)

depends on but not the material

10

PHYS345
Quantum Physics

scattered E1 hv1
X-ray
hv1
photons p1

E0 hv0
p0

Compton Scattering
Momentum conservation

p0 p1 cos p cos

hv0 h

0
c

p1 sin p sin

incident X-ray
photons

electron
scattered
electron

Energy conservation
p

E0 m0 c 2 E1 T 2 (m0c 2 ) 2

1 0 c (1 cos )
c

h
0.02426 10 8 cm
m0 c

PHYS345
Quantum Physics

T pc

Compton equation
(Compton wavelength)

Molar Heat Capacity of Solids

Dulong-Petit law (1819)

The heat capacity of a mole of many solid elements is ~ 3R.
Equipartition theorem

k T
E
Cv
2 3 N B 3R
2
T V T

11

PHYS345
Quantum Physics

Molar Heat Capacity of Solids

Cv T 3 0 as T 0

PHYS345
Quantum Physics

Einsteins Theory of Heat Capacity

Assume atom oscillates at frequency

v.

nhv
Einstein (1907)

Plancks quantum theory average energy

per vibration degree of freedom

nhv

E e
n 0

E n / k BT

e E n / k BT

hv
e hv / k BT 1

n 0

12

PHYS345
Quantum Physics

Molar Heat Capacity of Solids

Total energy of 1 mole of solid

x, y, z

E 3N 0U 3RT
N0 R / k

hv / k BT
e hv / k BT 1

Avogadro's number

Molar heat capacity at constant volume is

x 2e x
hv
E
,

x
Cv 3N 0 k B x
(e 1) 2
k BT
T V

PHYS345
Quantum Physics

Molar Heat Capacity of Solids

At high temperature, x hv / k BT 1

Cv 3N 0 k B

x 2e x
3R
(e x 1) 2

( Dulong-Petit law )

At low temperature, x 1
2

hv hv / k BT
x 2e x
e
Cv 3N 0 k B x
3R
2
(e 1)
k
T
B

13

PHYS345
Quantum Physics

Comparison to Experiment

14