When wavelength is smaller than 1pm

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In summary, gamma rays are the highest end of the electromagnetic spectrum and have a wavelength of around 1 picometer (300EHz). They are damaging to biological tissue and can turn into electron-positron pairs at high energies. There are no wavelengths smaller than gamma rays.
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y33t
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Hi all,

Higher end of electromagnetic spectrum is γ rays around 1pm (300EHz). What are the characteristics of frequencies having smaller wavelength than γ rays ?

What are the characteristics of signals that has wavelength at Planck scale?
 
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y33t said:
Hi all,
What are the characteristics of frequencies having smaller wavelength than γ rays ?

Gamma rays by definition include all wavelengths below 10 picometers. There are no wavelengths "smaller" than gamma rays because no matter how small you get, they are still called gamma rays.

y33t said:
What are the characteristics...

Gamma rays have enough energy to be ionizing (rip electrons off atoms), so they are damaging to biological tissue. Additionally, at high enough energy, a gamma particle turns into an electron-positron pair, turning its energy into the mass of these particles.
 

1. What is the significance of a wavelength smaller than 1pm?

A wavelength smaller than 1pm is considered to be in the realm of subatomic particles, such as protons and neutrons. At this scale, the behavior of matter is governed by quantum mechanics, and it is difficult to measure or observe these wavelengths directly.

2. How is the wavelength of subatomic particles determined?

The wavelength of subatomic particles is determined by their momentum and mass, according to the de Broglie equation. This equation states that the wavelength (λ) of a particle is equal to Planck's constant (h) divided by its momentum (p).

3. Can we see objects with wavelengths smaller than 1pm?

No, we cannot see objects with wavelengths smaller than 1pm because they are smaller than the wavelength of visible light, which is around 400-700nm. This means that they cannot interact with the cells in our eyes and therefore cannot be perceived visually.

4. How does the behavior of matter change at wavelengths smaller than 1pm?

At wavelengths smaller than 1pm, matter behaves differently than it does at larger scales. This is due to the principles of quantum mechanics, which dictate that particles can exist in multiple states simultaneously and can exhibit wave-like behavior. This is in contrast to the classical physics laws that govern larger objects.

5. What are some examples of particles with wavelengths smaller than 1pm?

Examples of particles with wavelengths smaller than 1pm include electrons, which have a wavelength of around 10^-12m, and even smaller particles like quarks, which have wavelengths on the order of 10^-18m. These particles are fundamental building blocks of matter and are crucial for understanding the behavior of the universe at a microscopic level.

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