Does light have a frequency limit?

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The discussion addresses the theoretical limits on the frequency of light, with participants debating whether frequencies as high as 10^3000 Hz or as low as 10^-3000 Hz are possible. It is generally agreed that there are practical limits based on the universe's size and energy constraints, with some arguing that no definitive theoretical limits exist. The Planck scale is mentioned as a potential boundary for minimum frequencies, while the maximum frequencies may be constrained by the universe's total energy. The conversation also touches on the implications of relativity and quantum mechanics, suggesting that extreme frequencies could lead to complex interactions with gravity and spacetime. Ultimately, the consensus leans towards the idea that while speculation exists, no concrete limits have been established in current physics.
  • #31
ShawnD said:
So basically there is no limit, thanks.

In GR and SR, there are no limits. In Quantum theories, there are limits imposed by the HUP.
 
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  • #32
NateTG said:
In GR and SR, there are no limits. In Quantum theories, there are limits imposed by the HUP.

No there isn't, which is the point I've been trying to put across, you can speculate that there may be a limit imposed by yet unknown Planck scale physics, but there's nothingin the HUP that limits the frequency of light.
 
  • #33
The HUP is a sliding scale; you can get as accurate as you like in measuring one observable, so long as you're willing to give up accuracy on a complementary observable.
 
  • #34
jcsd said:
The paper does answer some of my questions..
It's true memoe above a certain enrgy and the photon will instaneously change into other particles on the slighest interation with any other matter, these partciles if produced by a stupendously high enrgy photon would be short-lived decaying into a multitude of other particles.
Well,the paper will not tell you the answer to the original question,but gives some consideration relating treatment in transition from weak fields to the high fields.
It wasn't my purpose to point that electron-positron collision at high energy will likely fail to produce cosmic rays.The mechanism of producing them beyond certain range is unknown.Highest cosmic ray energy observed up to date is about 10^20 eV.IMHO,The mechanism apart from relativistic shock must be different.
GR in it's basic form hasn't got the problems giving rise to arbitrary large or low gravitational shifts to the EM radiation trails.On other hand,cosmology
which is intimately conected with GR says there is finite gravitational energy of the universe.
There are heavy problems like vacuum energy,cosmological constant and others that bring out the problematic question of what would observer "measure" in ultra high fields.

cheers
 
  • #35
Sorry to gravedig, but I had to clear things up a bit, especially considering this is the first result on google for the maximum frequency of light.
The hints at no upper limit far exceed a limit.
An accelerating expansion of our universe
The problem of dark matter
Nasty infinity, the infinite energy density of vacuum, which is extremely foolishly hidden
The physics community, to put it bluntly, is scared to hell of infinities, but the realization is dawning and infinity is beginning to be studied.
There are places in our universe where the rules don't apply like they usually do.
Infinitely high energy photons could exist for infinitely small timescales.
Only time will tell.
 

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