Physics 222 D.S. Durfee

The Physics Revolution of the 20 th Century Relativity – physics of the fast Relativity – physics of the fast Quantum Mechanics – law of the small Quantum Mechanics – law of the small –Atoms: clocks, discharge lamps, lasers –Molecules: chemistry –Nuclei: fission, fusion –Solid State: semiconductors –Degenerate Matter: superconductors –Coherence & Superposition: quantum computing

Puzzles at the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Null result of the Michelson-Morley Experiment Null result of the Michelson-Morley Experiment Ultraviolet Catastrophe Ultraviolet Catastrophe Photoelectric Effect Photoelectric Effect Maxwell’s Equations Spell the Demise of Atoms! Maxwell’s Equations Spell the Demise of Atoms! Discrete atomic emission lines Discrete atomic emission lines

Blackbody Radiation Maybe better called “Thermal Radiation” Maybe better called “Thermal Radiation” Sun, hot burner plate, incandescent lights Sun, hot burner plate, incandescent lights

Cosmic Microwave Background from

COBE Map of Microwave Background from

Blackbody Radiation

Max Planck, Planck’s constant Max Karl Ernst Ludwig Planck Found an empirical formula which fit the measured blackbody curve Found an empirical formula which fit the measured blackbody curve Looked for way to derive this empirical formula Looked for way to derive this empirical formula Photo from

Planck’s Law

Max Planck, Planck’s constant Max Karl Ernst Ludwig Planck Photo from

Are you pondering what I’m pondering? Why do we only have problems with the short wavelength (high frequency) part of the blackbody spectrum? Why do we only have problems with the short wavelength (high frequency) part of the blackbody spectrum? Is the energy in a light mode quantized because light can only exist that way, or because the atoms that emit it can only emit quantized amounts of light? Is the energy in a light mode quantized because light can only exist that way, or because the atoms that emit it can only emit quantized amounts of light?

Hints of Quantum Mechanics Quantization of Matter Quantization of Matter –Very early idea, not really proven until ~1900 –Nature of mater not understood until much later (Rutherford, etc.) Quantization of Electric Charge Quantization of Electric Charge –Faraday’s law of electrolysis (1833) –Zeeman, q/m –J.J. Thompson discovers the electron –Millikan’s oil drop

Strange or Common Sense? Does it bother you that mass is quantized? Does it bother you that mass is quantized? Does it bother you that charge is quantized? Does it bother you that charge is quantized? What are some differences in the way that mass and charge are quantized? What are some differences in the way that mass and charge are quantized?

Pay Attention... You need to know this to do the homework!

Statistics... It represents the electro-magnetic energy in a box per unit volume per unit frequency... How much electro-magnetic energy is there inside my oven?

Quick Writing Assignment In one minute, write a short, clear, and concise paragraph which explains how Max Planck came to the conclusion that light was quantized. In one minute, write a short, clear, and concise paragraph which explains how Max Planck came to the conclusion that light was quantized.

What did Einstein Win his Nobel Prize for? photo from

Puzzles at the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Null result of the Michelson-Morley Experiment Null result of the Michelson-Morley Experiment Ultraviolet Catastrophe Ultraviolet Catastrophe Photoelectric Effect Photoelectric Effect Maxwell’s Equations Spell the Demise of Atoms! Maxwell’s Equations Spell the Demise of Atoms! Discrete atomic emission lines Discrete atomic emission lines

The Photoelectric Effect

Photoelectric Effect Intuition What would a plot of current vs. light intensity look like? What would a plot of current vs. light intensity look like? What would a plot of current vs. voltage look like? What would a plot of current vs. voltage look like? What would a plot of threshold voltage vs. light frequency look like? What would a plot of threshold voltage vs. light frequency look like?

Wave Theory of Light and the Photoelectric Effect Existence of a threshold voltage Current increases with intensity Threshold is a function of light frequency No intensity threshold No time delay Fairly monochromatic electron energies     

Einstein’s Explanation... Planck was right! photo from

What is the velocity of the electrons coming off the metal?

Quick Writing Assignment In one minute, write a short, clear, and concise paragraph which explains why the existence of a “threshold” voltage in the photoelectric effect suggests that light is quantized. In one minute, write a short, clear, and concise paragraph which explains why the existence of a “threshold” voltage in the photoelectric effect suggests that light is quantized.

Hmmm… Does Planck’s work on blackbody radiation prove that light is quantized? Does Planck’s work on blackbody radiation prove that light is quantized? Does the photoelectric effect prove that light is quantized? Does the photoelectric effect prove that light is quantized? But don’t we already have proof that light is a wave? But don’t we already have proof that light is a wave?

Double Slit Interference

Single Photon Interference

X Rays Discovered in 1895 by Roentgen Discovered in 1895 by Roentgen Generated when electrons hit target Generated when electrons hit target Materials transparent to them Materials transparent to them Not deflected by magnetic field Not deflected by magnetic field Roentgen saw no interference and little diffraction! Roentgen saw no interference and little diffraction! Bragg diffraction – explained in 1912 Bragg diffraction – explained in 1912 X rays are EM waves with wavelengths from 0.01 to 0.10 nm X rays are EM waves with wavelengths from 0.01 to 0.10 nm

X-Ray Tube

Bragg Diffraction θ in =θ out

Bragg Diffraction 2d sin(θ) = m λ

Bragg Diffraction

What do X-Rays Have to Do with Quantum Mechanics?

Compton Effect Compton noticed that x-rays were “softer” after they had passed through a substance. Compton noticed that x-rays were “softer” after they had passed through a substance. Compton showed that this could be explained by treating scattering as “collision” between a photon of light and a particle of matter Compton showed that this could be explained by treating scattering as “collision” between a photon of light and a particle of matter

Compton Scattering of a “Photon” e-e- Before e-e- After Are you pondering what I’m pondering? Yes, but how will we ever get that many rubber bands? No you buffoon! Why do you need x-rays to see this?

Quick Writing Assignment In one minute, write a short, clear, and concise paragraph which explains why the Compton effect suggests that light is quantized. In one minute, write a short, clear, and concise paragraph which explains why the Compton effect suggests that light is quantized.

Puzzles at the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Null result of the Michelson-Morley Experiment Null result of the Michelson-Morley Experiment Ultraviolet Catastrophe Ultraviolet Catastrophe Photoelectric Effect Photoelectric Effect Maxwell’s Equations Spell the Demise of Atoms! Maxwell’s Equations Spell the Demise of Atoms! Discrete atomic emission lines Discrete atomic emission lines

Radiating Atoms