What is the range of natural photon frequencies?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the range of natural photon frequencies, exploring the lowest and highest possible frequencies of photons and their relation to physical phenomena. Participants examine theoretical limits, experimental observations, and implications from special relativity.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that the lower limit of photon frequency approaches zero but cannot be achieved due to thermodynamic constraints.
  • Others mention that the highest energy observed at the LHC is comparable to the energy of a speeding truck, though this claim is challenged regarding the actual collision energy reported.
  • A participant questions the conversion from electronvolts to ergs, suggesting a need for clarification on energy units.
  • Some participants assert that there is no upper limit to photon energy, while the lower limit is bounded by zero Hertz.
  • One participant introduces the concept of Doppler shifting in Minkowski space, suggesting that photon energy can appear infinitely high or low depending on the observer's frame of reference.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express multiple competing views regarding the limits of photon frequencies and energies, with no consensus reached on the highest energy observed or the implications of special relativity on photon energy.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved questions regarding the conversion of energy units and the interpretation of experimental data from the LHC, as well as assumptions about the applicability of thermodynamic principles to photon frequencies.

dsaun777
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Given that electromagnetic waves transport energy via photons, what is the lowest and highest possible frequency of a photon and what physical phenomena do these relate to? It is clear that the larger the wavelength the lower the energy for a photon. so what are the limits of the wavelength?
 
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The lower limit of zero cannot be achieved according to themodynamics. The highest energy that has been observed was at the LHC and the energy is something like that of a speeding truck. This apparently is comparable with early big-bang energies.
 
Mentz114 said:
The highest energy that has been observed was at the LHC and the energy is something like that of a speeding truck.

Where did you get that? I find it hard to believe, as the total collision energy is only 20 ergs. (2 microjoules)
 
Vanadium 50 said:
Where did you get that? I find it hard to believe, as the total collision energy is only 20 ergs. (2 microjoules)
A Google search gets

13 teraelectronvolts (TeV)—the highest energy ever achieved in a laboratory.
Two heavy nuclei smashing together at 0.9 c ?
I guess I can't convert from eV to ergs.
https://home.cern/science/engineering/restarting-lhc-why-13-tev
 
1 TeV is 1.6 ergs.
 
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dsaun777 said:
Given that electromagnetic waves transport energy via photons, what is the lowest and highest possible frequency of a photon and what physical phenomena do these relate to? It is clear that the larger the wavelength the lower the energy for a photon. so what are the limits of the wavelength?

There is no upper limit to my knowledge, and the lower limit is bounded from below by 0 Hertz.
 
In the Minkowski space, if you can switch to an arbitrary frame moving at almost the speed of light, then you can Doppler shift any photon as much as you like.

Thus, a very ordinary photon of light appears to some observer as having an almost zero energy, or an almost infinite energy.

There are no limits on photon energy in special relativity.
 
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