Quantum Physics

Quantum Physics
Electron Diffraction
 Beam of electrons, which is emitted by an electron gun, is accelerated towards a solid crystal
lattice
 The electrons interact with small gaps in the lattice and deflect off the atoms in the lattice
 This causes an interference pattern to form (on a fluorescent screen behind the crystal)
 Interference pattern looks like a set of concentric rings with centre having the greatest
concentration of electrons
 If electrons only had a particle nature, the pattern would be expected to be a single point where
the electron beam has passed through the lattice – however, the electrons are shown to diffract,
which can only be experienced by waves, meaning that electrons have a wave nature
DE BROGLIE RELATION
De Broglie Hypothesis: States that all particles have a wave nature alongside a particle nature, and that
they all possess De Broglie wavelengths dependent on their momentum
h h
λ= =
p mv
h
v=
mλ
Wave and Photon model of Electromagnetic Radiation

Photon Model: EM Radiation travels in discrete packets called photons
The energy of a photon is calculated by: E=hf
Wave Model: EM Radiation exists as transverse waves, proven through reflection, refraction and
diffraction
 Since EM Radiation is known to behave as waves by way of diffraction, which only waves can do,
and are also able to transfer energy instantaneously through the photoelectric effect, as a
discrete particle can do, EM Radiation has a wave-particle duality where it may behave as both
Photoelectric Effect
 Photoelectrons are emitted from the surface of a metal after EM Radiation which has frequency
above the threshold frequency is shone on it
 Electrons absorb the photon, causing them to gain enough energy to leave the surface
Threshold Frequency: Minimum frequency required for electrons to absorb photons and be emitted as
photoelectrons – this varies with each metal
Work Function: Minimum energy required by an electron to be emitted from the metal’s surface
 Photoemission only occurs if the EM Radiation has frequency above the threshold frequency, so
that the photon possesses energy equal to or more than the work function of the electron, so
that is has enough kinetic energy to escape the metal’s surface
 Intensity does not affect whether photoemission occurs, but rather the rate at which it occurs
Emax =hf −ϕ
 Photoelectrons are emitted with a range of kinetic energies

o Electrons at the surface have the maximum kinetic energy since they do not use energy
moving up to the surface
o Electrons below the metal surface have a range of kinetic energy values since they lose
some energy when moving up towards the metal surface
PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT AS EVIDENCE FOR PARTICLE NATURE OF EM RADIATION
Photon Model of EM Radiation
 A single photon interacts with a single electron

 All of the photon’s energy is transferred to the electron which is then emitted if the energy is
high enough– this occurs instantaneously
 If this energy is above the work function of the electron, then a photoelectron is emitted, and
this energy is proportional to frequency
 Threshold frequency is the frequency at which the photon’s energy is equal to the electron’s
work function
 Intensity is proportional to the rate of emission of photoelectrons – this is because more
photons will interact with electrons per second
 All electrons will receive the same energy from a photon of the same frequency – however,
electrons under the surface of the metal will lose energy through collisions when rising to the
surface and leaving the metal, leading to lower kinetic energy
Photon Model of EM Radiation explains that energy absorbed by electron, which allows it to escape, is
related to frequency, which explains the existence of threshold frequency, and why emission is
dependent on frequency
Photon Model of EM Radiation explains why intensity does not affect whether emission occurs or not
and why it does not affect the kinetic energy of photoelectrons
Photon Model explains why emission occurs instantly
Photon Model explains why there is a range of kinetic energies for photoelectrons
Shortcomings of Wave Theory
 Suggests that any frequency should allow emission to occur – this does not explain threshold
frequency
 Suggests that it takes time for electrons to absorb energy and build up sufficient kinetic energy
that is equal to work function – this does not explain why emission is instant
 Suggests that increasing intensity increases speed of photoelectric emission – this is incorrect
since intensity does not affect kinetic energy of electron, it affects number of electrons emitted
per second
 Suggests that all photoelectrons have the same kinetic energy – this is incorrect since electrons
underneath the surface of the metal lose some of their absorbed energy due to collisions within
the metal when trying to reach the surface to escape
Atomic Line Spectra

 Electrons in atoms only exist in discrete energy levels
 If electrons gain enough energy, they become excited and move up energy levels
 Electrons will quickly fall back to their original energy level and release the energy as a photon
of light with discrete frequencies/wavelengths
Line Spectrum: Series of sharp coloured lines formed when electrons in a fluorescent tube are
accelerated which excites then de-excites gaseous atoms causing light of certain wavelengths to be
emitted and observed
 This is not a continuous spectrum since there are only discrete values of wavelength
 Photon energies emitted will correspond to these wavelengths
 Difference between two energy levels is equal to energy of photon emitted or absorbed
 For photon to be emitted its energy must be equal to difference between two energy levels
 There are only a limited number of energy differences and only a corresponding set of
frequencies of photons so some photons are not emitted
hc
∆ E=E1−E 2=
λ

Quantum Physics

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Quantum Physics

Wave and Photon model of Electromagnetic Radiation

The energy of a photon is calculated by: E=hf

 Photoelectrons are emitted with a range of kinetic energies

PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT AS EVIDENCE FOR PARTICLE NATURE OF EM RADIATION

Photon Model of EM Radiation

 A single photon interacts with a single electron

Photon Model explains why emission occurs instantly

Shortcomings of Wave Theory

Atomic Line Spectra

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