Why is it called the ultraviolet catastrophe?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the naming of the "ultraviolet catastrophe" in the context of blackbody radiation and the historical significance of the term. Participants explore why the term specifically references ultraviolet light rather than other regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, such as visible light or microwaves.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Historical

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the term "ultraviolet catastrophe" is derived from the fact that the predicted curve according to Planck's Law peaks in the ultraviolet range, contrasting with the predictions of the Rayleigh-Jeans Law which suggested an infinite output.
  • Others note that historical context played a role, mentioning that terminology such as X-rays and Gamma rays were not known at the time, and that researchers like Ehrenfest focused on the limits of the visible spectrum.
  • A participant emphasizes the importance of conducting research to understand the terminology better.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion includes multiple perspectives on the naming of the ultraviolet catastrophe, with no clear consensus reached regarding the primary reasons for the term's usage.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference historical figures and their contributions, indicating a dependence on the context of scientific understanding at the time, but do not resolve the implications of these historical choices.

genefalk
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Why is it called the ultraviolet catastrophe rather than the visible catastrophe or the microwave catastrophe?
 
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genefalk said:
Why is it called the ultraviolet catastrophe rather than the visible catastrophe or the microwave catastrophe?
A simple internet search tells me that the measured curve as predicted by Plank's Law peaks in the ultraviolet rather than going on to infinity as predicted by the classical Rayleigh-Jeans Law and I'd guess that's why it's called the "Ultraviolet Catastrophy". You would likely find it helpful to learn how to do simple research.
 
Thank you for your kind words.
 
This is easy. Ehrenfest had only one option, really. X rays and Gamma rays were unknown terminology to him and he really cared about the limits of the visible spectrum. Pringsheim did measurements there.
 

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