- #1
lee_sarah76
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Homework Statement
Laser can now be designed to emit pulses of light smaller than 30 microns wide
in their direction of motion.
(a) Estimate the uncertainty in the momentum of a
photon in such a pulse.
(b) The momentum of a photon is p=h/λ. Estimate the
uncertainty in the wavelength of a photon in the pulse, assuming a nominal
wavelength of 800 nm.
Homework Equations
ΔxΔp ≥ h/4π, p = h/λ
h being Planck's constant of 6.626 * 10-34 J*s
The Attempt at a Solution
My confusion with this problem stems from the fact that I'm not sure if Δx = 30*10-6m
If that is the case, then I did Δp ≥ h/4π*Δx.
Part a: Δp ≥ 1.757 * 10-30 kg*m/s
For part b, I then took the Δp value of 1.757 * 10-30 kg*m/s and plugged it into p = h/λ. I then got λ = 0.000377 m.
Is this the right method?