What is the difference in amplitude between red and blue photons?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion clarifies that photons do not possess amplitude in the traditional sense; rather, amplitude is a characteristic of electromagnetic waves. Red photons, with a wavelength of 800 nm, and blue photons, with a wavelength of 400 nm, differ in wavelength but not in amplitude. The amplitude of an electromagnetic wave is defined by the equation Nhν, where N represents the number of photons. Thus, amplitude is not related to the color of the photon, which is determined solely by its frequency or wavelength.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electromagnetic wave theory
  • Familiarity with photon properties and behavior
  • Knowledge of wavelength and frequency relationships
  • Basic grasp of quantum mechanics concepts
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the concept of probability amplitude in quantum mechanics
  • Explore the relationship between wavelength and frequency in electromagnetic radiation
  • Study the properties of electromagnetic waves and their amplitudes
  • Learn about the implications of photon behavior in quantum optics
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, students of quantum mechanics, and anyone interested in the properties of light and electromagnetic radiation.

mcgucken
Messages
29
Reaction score
0
What is the difference in amplitude between red and blue photons? Which has a great amplitude? Where is the definition of a photon's amplitude defined?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Hello mcgucken,

a photon does not have an amplitude, an amplitude for a photon is not defined (unless you mean the probability amplitude). The red and blue photon differ by their wavelength. For example a red photon \lambda = 800nm and blue photon \lambda = 400nm.

When you talk about amplitudes you usually refer to electromagnetic waves amplitudes. But one single photon does not have an amplitude.
 
A single photon does have an amplitude.
The amplitude of the vector potential in an electromagnetic wave is
given by Nh\nu, where N is the number of photons in the wave.
Amplitude does not relate to color, which depends only on frequency (or wavelength).
 

Similar threads

Undergrad Feynman's summing arrows for photon amplitudes applied to LIGO?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K
Graduate Potential between Photons via Delbruck Scattering
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K
Undergrad Scattering Theory: Difference between use of scattering amplitude and Born approximation?
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
190
Undergrad How indistinguishable are photons?
  • · Replies 32 ·
2
Replies
32
Views
3K
Undergrad Feynman's QED; 36,000 revolutions per inch for red light.
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Undergrad Photon interference and path differences
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
2K
High School Photon Energy & Wave Amplitude
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Undergrad Photon interference and beamforming
  • · Replies 64 ·
3
Replies
64
Views
5K
High School What is the amplitude of light?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Undergrad 3 photon transfer probability
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K