Does frequency make sense in terms of one particle?

In summary, the concept of frequency does not exist when talking about a single particle such as a photon. Frequency requires oscillation in time, which cannot be measured with a single particle. However, an ensemble of identical particles can allow for the measurement of frequency. The energy of a single photon can manifest as frequency when measured with a group of identical particles. This can be seen through experiments such as the double slit experiment.
  • #1
vpoko
7
0
Does "frequency" make sense in terms of one particle?

Does the concept of frequency exist if we're only talking about one particle? Can a single photon carry frequency information, or is frequency related to the number/closeness of multiple particles?
 
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  • #2
Yes. A photon has a certain amount of energy, which manifests as its frequency.
 
  • #3
Frequency by definition requires 'oscillation in time' and a single photon which is either detected at certain spacetime point or not, simply cannot provide that oscillation. We can at most measure energy of a single photon.

An ensamble of identical copies of the photon can allow measurement of frequency.
 
  • #4
smallphi said:
Frequency by definition requires 'oscillation in time' and a single photon which is either detected at certain spacetime point or not, simply cannot provide that oscillation. We can at most measure energy of a single photon.

An ensamble of identical copies of the photon can allow measurement of frequency.
Then how does the energy manifest itself as frequency? If an emitter is sending out 100 photons per second, wouldn't the frequency be 100hz, regardless of the energy of the photon?
 
  • #5
the frequency of the wave is not the frequency in which the particles are sent.

if you measure the position of particles that are constantly being shot out from the emitter, and make a scatter plot out of it. (put a dot in the 3D space whenever one gets a measurement of the corresponding [tex](x, y, z)[/tex]) You'll see areas in which the dots are concentrated, and areas in which the dots are not so concentrated, the "wave" of the dots is the norm of the wave that you speak of. (i.e. [tex]|\Psi|^2[/tex])

though often, finding [tex]|\Psi|^2[/tex] doesn't given you all the information about [tex]\Psi[/tex], hence you can do something like a double slit experiment to get an interference term.
 
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  • #6
Thank you, that makes perfect sense to me!
 
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1. Does increasing the frequency of a particle affect its mass or energy?

No, the frequency of a particle does not affect its mass or energy. The mass and energy of a particle are determined by its type and properties, not its frequency.

2. Can the frequency of a particle change over time?

Yes, the frequency of a particle can change over time. This is known as "frequency modulation" and can occur due to various factors such as interactions with other particles or external forces.

3. How does the frequency of a particle relate to its wavelength?

The frequency and wavelength of a particle are inversely proportional. This means that as the frequency increases, the wavelength decreases and vice versa.

4. Is there a limit to how high or low the frequency of a particle can be?

Yes, there is a limit to how high or low the frequency of a particle can be. This is known as the "Planck frequency" and is the highest frequency that can exist in our universe. It is approximately 1.85 x 10^43 Hz.

5. How does the frequency of a particle affect its behavior?

The frequency of a particle can affect its behavior in various ways. For example, particles with higher frequencies are more energetic and can interact with other particles more easily, while particles with lower frequencies may have longer wavelengths and therefore exhibit more wave-like properties.

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