B Maximum photon energy?

1. Apr 8, 2016

mathman

Planck length is ~ $1.6\times 10^{-35}$ meters. Does this mean that this may be a lower limit on meaningful wavelength and therefore upper limit on energy?

2. Apr 8, 2016

rumborak

Isn't that one of those "call me back when we have an experiment approaching those energies" questions? I would think a lot of physicists would like to know what happens at Planck lengths/masses/energies, but all of our experiments are orders of magnitudes away from that.

3. Apr 8, 2016

Staff Emeritus
In some frame, every photon has a wavelength less than that.

4. Apr 8, 2016

rumborak

Is that conjecture, or have experiments shown that?

5. Apr 8, 2016

Staff Emeritus
Do you believe in the Doppler effect or not?

6. Apr 8, 2016

7. Apr 9, 2016

sophiecentaur

I "believe" that it works within the ranges that have been measured - and a bit more, perhaps. The simple formulae will almost certainly not apply.

8. Apr 9, 2016

Staff Emeritus
But the Doppler effect is cumulative. Boost by beta=.6 and you double the frequency. Boost by beta=.6 again and you double the frequency again. Repeat as necessary.

9. Apr 9, 2016

sophiecentaur

I imagine that the effect is Monotonic but, in extreme situations, why would Beta necessarily apply in the way you imply? Already, we use two Doppler formulae, with and without SR so why assume that something else doesn't kick in at a singularity. The only reason I posted a reply to you post was your use of "believe" in the context of the conditions that are being discussed.

10. Apr 9, 2016