Number of photons/volume surrounding radio transmitter

Mika3
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Homework Statement



Seeking a method of calculating the number of photons instantaneously present within a given volume surrounding a radio transmitter at given power and frequency.


Homework Equations



E=hv, and other equations involving power and wavelength.


The Attempt at a Solution



I have no problem calculating the photon energy, and number of photons/second at a given frequency and transmitter power. But how to calculate the number of photons within a given spherical volume, with the transmitter in the center (assuming spherically-symmetrical pattern)?

For example: number of photons within the near-field at x watts and y frequency (I know things can get complicated in the near-field). This is for my own curiosity and is not a textbook question (at least not one that I am aware of). I do not know where to start.
 
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If, as you say, you have no problem with finding the number of photons of a given wavelength produced in, say, a second, then just determine how many of those photons will still be within the given radius of the source. Assume that the photons are produced at a constant rate during that second and that they move away from the source with speed, of course, c.
 
Thank you HallsofIvy. I was getting confused about the near-field, but real emitted photons are the only thing we have to work with you are right.
 
To solve this, I first used the units to work out that a= m* a/m, i.e. t=z/λ. This would allow you to determine the time duration within an interval section by section and then add this to the previous ones to obtain the age of the respective layer. However, this would require a constant thickness per year for each interval. However, since this is most likely not the case, my next consideration was that the age must be the integral of a 1/λ(z) function, which I cannot model.
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