Planck's Quantum Theory
The origins of quantum theory can be traced back to Planck's paper on black body radiation in 1900. In this paper, Planck demonstrated that the energy distribution of photons emitted from a hot object could not be continuous but must instead be quantized, meaning that there exists discrete bundles of energy called quanta (singular: quantum).
The Origins of Quantum Theory
The origins of quantum theory can be traced to Max Planck, who was the first to propose a mathematical model for radiation that explained black-body radiation. This model, known as Planck's Hypothesis and the Principle of Quanta (or simply "Planck's"), described how electromagnetic waves could be emitted and absorbed by matter.
In 1900 Einstein published his famous Special Theory of Relativity which proposed that all motion is relative to an observer; this made it impossible to determine the position or speed of an object without knowing their velocity relative to another object(s) at some point in time. In 1905 he expanded upon this concept by developing his famous formula relating mass m and energy E = mc2 which states that matter transfers energy while moving through space-time (i.e., kinetic energy). These two discoveries led physicists around 1900 into exploring new areas related specifically towards space-time physics such as general relativity theory (1915), weak nuclear force theory (1928) etcetera...
Planck's Black Body Radiation Law
The Planck black body radiation law is a formula describing the distribution of electromagnetic energy in a black body. It was first derived by Max Planck, who proposed that energy is quantized and independent of frequency. The relationship between this equation and other physical quantities can be found in [2].
The derivation of this formula is based on an assumption made by Planck: that all matter has been converted into an ideal gas under conditions at which no electron-electron interaction occurs (and thus no Coulomb force). This condition applies for temperatures close to absolute zero (0 K), but not at higher temperatures where atoms are still interacting with each other through Coulomb forces.
Planck's Hypothesis and the Principle of Quanta
While Planck's hypothesis has been around for decades, it is only recently that its implications have begun to be explored in the context of a broader quantum theory. This can be seen by considering the following:
The photoelectric effect is an example of quantum interference between light and matter. If two photons are emitted from a point source, they will interfere with each other and produce an output signal (in this case, electricity) that is proportional to their relative intensities when they strike a semiconductor target. This phenomenon was first observed by Max Planck in 1900; as he explained it at his inaugural lecture as Prussian Academy of Sciences president: “It seems impossible for us not to recognize here [the] basic principle of all physical phenomena and thus [to] bring together under one law all those laws which hitherto had seemed independent each from other” (Max Planck 1902).
The Light Quantum Hypothesis and Einstein's Theory of the Photoelectric Effect
The photoelectric effect is the emission of electrons from a metal when it is illuminated by light. It was first discovered in 1887 by Heinrich Hertz, who was able to prove that light could produce electron pairs by observing that when light strikes a metal plate, there are many electrons emitted from its surface.
In 1905 Albert Einstein published his special theory of relativity which stated that all bodies travel at the same speed regardless of their mass or size. This meant that if you were able to measure how fast you traveled after being hit with an electron beam (or any other particle), then this speed would be the same as any other object moving relative to you at rest; even though they may have different masses and sizes!
The hypothesis of quantization explains the efficiency of photoelectric emission but also has important implications to our understanding of light, suggesting that light is not a continuous wave but is made up of discrete bundles of energy called quanta. These quanta are now known as photons.
The hypothesis of quantization explains the efficiency of photoelectric emission but also has important implications to our understanding of light, suggesting that light is not a continuous wave but is made up of discrete bundles of energy called quanta. These quanta are now known as photons.
Quantization means reducing a quantity to discrete values or increments. In physics, it refers to how nature restricts the motion of particles (for example, electrons) in order to produce more stable states than would result from their unrestricted motions alone.
Conclusion
Planck's hypothesis of quantization is now one of the most widely accepted explanations for the photoelectric effect, yet it was one of the very first ideas he proposed. Planck believed that light could be broken down into an infinite number of different states and that these quanta were responsible for causing some phenomena in nature. In 1919, Einstein showed that when photons pass through glass they don't lose energy as they would if they interacted with electrons; instead, their wavelength changes and creates what we now know as "blackbody radiation". This means that photons have a certain amount of energy so long as Planck's Hypothesis holds true: no more than a certain amount can exist at any point in time (which is why this theory has led us here).