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I am trying to understand some of the specifics of RF radiation. I am concerned with the normal antenna-emitted EM waves, no relativistic charges, no Bremsstrahlung involved.

The tuning of a tank circuit (the arising oscillation frequency) determines the frequency of the EM wave emitted.

But how is an electric oscillation's frequency linked to the emitted photon's frequency? The first one has noting to do with energy, at least not directly. The other one is directly linked to energy, it determines the energy of the photon.

Is there a calculation demonstrating that the energy emitted as a result of electron acceleration/deceleration (oscillation) results in a photon with the same frequency?

Shouldn't the strength of the electric field accelerating the charge also come into play when determining the energy emitted? Then does it impact the frequency of the photon emitted?

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    $\begingroup$ If you are vibrating charges at some frequency $f$, causing a fluctuating electromagnetic field, how do you envision the EM wave not having that same frequency $f$? $\endgroup$
    – Jon Custer
    Commented Apr 3, 2018 at 18:02
  • $\begingroup$ for radio frequencies, it is customary and convenient to deal with radiation in terms of waves and not photons. you'll avoid unnecessary confusion that way IMHO. $\endgroup$
    – niels nielsen
    Commented Apr 3, 2018 at 23:00
  • $\begingroup$ @nielsnielsen The OP is asking how to reconcile two ways of thinking about radiation. Answering "don't bother" isn't really an answer. $\endgroup$
    – DanielSank
    Commented Apr 3, 2018 at 23:21
  • $\begingroup$ @davidsank, that's why I posted it as a comment expressing an opinion and not as an answer. If I can come up with an answer that directly addresses the content of his question, I will post it as such. That would require me to furnish a concise explanation of where the photon and wave pictures yield equally useful descriptions which I'm not sure I can manage before starting to cook dinner. $\endgroup$
    – niels nielsen
    Commented Apr 3, 2018 at 23:34
  • $\begingroup$ @DanielSank, You are right, that is the essence of my question. I am disturbed by the (I presume "seemingly") alternative ways EM radiation can be induced. For low energies (low freqencies) it is sufficient to place a charge in an oscillating field. For high energies it is usually the inelastic collision of the charge and loss of speed/momentum. The second one seems more straightforward to me since the energy of the photon emitted (that is, its freqency) is related to the energy loss of the charge. $\endgroup$
    – Lorand Nagy
    Commented Apr 4, 2018 at 8:26

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