2
$\begingroup$

Light (as all electromagnetic radiation) has specific frequencies. So taking part of the visible spectrum (say 300THz) then what exactly is happening 300 trillion times every second?

Is it as simple as there is an actual wave, with a wavelength and therefore a frequency, or is the wave a side effect or a mathematical representation of something more fundamental?

Improve this question
$\endgroup$

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
4
$\begingroup$

Light was identified with electromagnetic waves, when Maxwell combined what the physics community knew as magnetic and electric fields, the data fitted with various laws,

em

Electromagnetic waves can be imagined as a self-propagating transverse oscillating wave of electric and magnetic fields. This 3D animation shows a plane linearly polarized wave propagating from left to right. The electric and magnetic fields in such a wave are in-phase with each other, reaching minima and maxima together.

You ask:

Is it as simple as there is an actual wave, with a wavelength and therefore a frequency, or is the wave a side effect or a mathematical representation of something more fundamental?

At the level of classical physics , if you want to call mathematical formulations "imagination" as in the image above, the answer is that the mathematical representation as waves of varying electric and magnetic fields fits the data.

There is the more fundamental aspect of light which could not be explained by Maxwell's equations, the quantization of light. The classical light is built up by very many photons of energy $h*ν$ where $ν$ is the classical frequency of light. The photons are quantum mechanical particles of the standard model of particle physics. Quantum field theory is necessary to understand how this happens, it is not a simple addition but a quantum mechanical superposition of photons. This experiment single photons at a time shows how the interference of classical light emerges from the addition of individual photons.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
6
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ Keep in mind that the vectors in the nice animated diagram represent the strength and direction of fields at points along a line. In this case parallel to the y axis only. $\endgroup$
    – R.W. Bird
    Commented Jul 3, 2021 at 14:28
  • $\begingroup$ @R.W.Bird Is that right? The polarisation of light Wikipedia article seems to disagree. $\endgroup$
    – wizzwizz4
    Commented Jul 3, 2021 at 20:37
  • $\begingroup$ @wizzwizz4 as far as I can see everything in R.W.Bird's comment is correct. Which part of the Wikipedia article do you belive contradicts this? $\endgroup$
    – Chris Long
    Commented Jul 3, 2021 at 22:30
  • $\begingroup$ @ChrisLong “An electromagnetic wave such as light consists of a coupled oscillating electric field and magnetic field which are always perpendicular to each other.” $\endgroup$
    – wizzwizz4
    Commented Jul 3, 2021 at 22:33
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ @wizzwizz4 - R. W. Bird is saying that the line along which the wave propagates is parallel to the y axis, but also, and more importantly, that these fields have an orientation and a magnitude (in terms of their effects), but do not extend "out" laterally into space in the literal sense (i.e. the 1D case doesn't require extra dimensions). They are perpendicular to each other within an "internal" mathematical space associated with each point. In the 3D case, a plane wave like this could fill every point of 3D space (see the images here) $\endgroup$
    – Filip Milovanović
    Commented Jul 3, 2021 at 22:43
2
$\begingroup$

You are correct, there is an actual wave and the frequency is the number of wavefront passing a fixed point per unit time. The waves are waves in the electric and magnetic fields.

When we talk about photons as particles of light this is the quatum mechanical description where all particles in actuallity have both wave and particle like properties.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.