What is the Smallest Possible Wavelength of Light?

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SUMMARY

The smallest possible wavelength of light is associated with gamma rays, which can have wavelengths of less than 10 picometers. Theoretical discussions suggest that the smallest wavelength conceivable is the Planck length, approximately 1.616e-35 meters, beyond which quantum effects alter spacetime. Conversely, the longest wavelength is linked to extremely low frequencies, around 100 megameters (Mm). The relationship between wavelength and energy indicates that the smallest wavelength corresponds to the highest energy of a photon, constrained by quantum mechanics.

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  • Understanding of electromagnetic spectrum, including gamma rays and visible light
  • Familiarity with Planck length and its significance in quantum physics
  • Knowledge of relativistic Doppler shift and its mathematical representation
  • Basic concepts of zero-point energy and its implications in quantum mechanics
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  • Research the properties and applications of gamma rays in physics
  • Explore the implications of Planck length in quantum gravity theories
  • Study the relativistic Doppler effect and its applications in astrophysics
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Physicists, students of quantum mechanics, and anyone interested in the fundamental properties of light and electromagnetic radiation.

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Bob S said:
Wavelengths vary over many orders of magnitude; AM radio is about 300 meter wavelength, FM about 3 m, 1 GHz about 30 cm, infrared about 1 to 100 microns, red light about 600 nanometers, blue light about 400 nanometers, etc.
The above quote is from another thread about a month ago, so i started another thread.

As above...red light about 600 nanometers, blue light about 400 nanometers, so what could the smallest possible wavelength of light be or is it infinely small?

or the longest possible wavelength for that matter
 
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Do you mean the smallest wavelength of visible light or any type?

Gamma rays have the shortest wavelengths of any other type of electromagnetism. They can have wavelengths of less than 10 picometre.

On the other hand, Extremely low frequency is abought \lambda=100Mm
 
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You might say that the smallest wavelength possible would be http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planck_length" (1.616e-35 metres) which is the smallest distance predicted before quantum effects reduce spacetime to a quantum foam.
 
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Stratosphere said:
Do you mean the smallest wavelength of visible light or any type?

Gamma rays have the shortest wavelengths of any other type of electromagnetism. They can have wavelengths of less than 10 picometre.

On the other hand, Extremely low frequency is abought \lambda=100Mm

stevebd1 said:
You might say that the smallest wavelength possible would be http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planck_length" (1.616e-35 metres) which is the smallest distance predicted before quantum effects reduce spacetime to a quantum foam.

Thx for your replies, but they really don't answer my question...

Could the smallest/longest wavelength be ascosciated with zero point energy?
 
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Possibly the longest wavelength of light can be associated with a zero-point energy, but the smallest wavelength of light is associated with the highest energy possible in one photon. These are probably limited by Quantum Mechanics, though I'm not sure.

The highest and lowest wavelengths are, naively, as close to infinity and zero as possible, disregarding quantum effects. These can occur as you get red/blue shifted and as you get closer and closer to the speed of light. We can see that from the relativistic doppler shift:
\lambda_0=\sqrt{\frac{1+\frac{v}{c}}{1-\frac{v}{c}}}\lambda_s
Although since you can never achieve the speed of light the wavelengths will never achieve infinity or zero.
 

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