Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Answerer · 11-06-2002, 08:53 PM

Thank guys for your help, anyway, starboy, I know what you mean. I, myself, knows how to use the Schrodinger equation to find the wavefunctions of some atoms or particles under certain conditions. However, I only knows how to find those with rest mass. For those without(rest mass), I can't just use the Schrodinger equation anymore as it has a 'M' variable in it.
So for massless particle, what equation should I use? Relativistic Schrodinger equation ?

beausoleil · 11-06-2002, 11:06 PM

Wrong way round, mate!

Schrodinger's equation is a way of applying a wave equation to a particle with mass. The wave equation of photons is... the wave equation of light. See for instance...

<a href="http://www.phys.virginia.edu/CLASSES/252/wave_equations.html" target="_blank">http://www.phys.virginia.edu/CLASSES/252/wave_equations.html</a>

This will also tell you about the Klein-Gordon equation, of which wave equations for massless particles is a special case.

Starboy · 11-07-2002, 05:04 AM

Yes, the wave equation of a photon is provided by the mathematical machinery of Electromagnetism. For the other three massless particles: neutrino, gluon and graviton; there is growing evidence that the neutrino has mass so it would fall under the treatment described earlier. Lattice QCD is used to predict the interaction of gluons with quarks. The method for predicting the behavior of gravitons is a Nobel Prize waiting to happen.

Starboy

Answerer · 11-07-2002, 06:27 PM

Oh I see, thanks for your help guys, I never thought the wavefunction of the photon will be that simple.

Oxymoron · 11-11-2002, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Answerer:
<strong>Hi guys, I know that the principle of uncertainity works for particles with rest mass but what about those massless particle like photons, gravitons and gluons, does the principle apply as well? If yes, what are the wavefunctions for photons and gluons?
Hope that you guys have some answers to my questions.</strong>

A photon by definition accounts for uncertainty by being a particle whose position is "smeared" over the size of the associated wave envelope.

[ November 11, 2002: Message edited by: Oxymoron ]</p>

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11-06-2002, 08:53 PM	#11
Answerer Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Singapore Posts: 3,956	Thank guys for your help, anyway, starboy, I know what you mean. I, myself, knows how to use the Schrodinger equation to find the wavefunctions of some atoms or particles under certain conditions. However, I only knows how to find those with rest mass. For those without(rest mass), I can't just use the Schrodinger equation anymore as it has a 'M' variable in it. So for massless particle, what equation should I use? Relativistic Schrodinger equation ?

11-06-2002, 11:06 PM	#12
beausoleil Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: US and UK Posts: 846	Wrong way round, mate! Schrodinger's equation is a way of applying a wave equation to a particle with mass. The wave equation of photons is... the wave equation of light. See for instance... <a href="http://www.phys.virginia.edu/CLASSES/252/wave_equations.html" target="_blank">http://www.phys.virginia.edu/CLASSES/252/wave_equations.html</a> This will also tell you about the Klein-Gordon equation, of which wave equations for massless particles is a special case.

11-07-2002, 05:04 AM	#13
Starboy Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tallahassee, FL Reality Adventurer Posts: 5,276	Yes, the wave equation of a photon is provided by the mathematical machinery of Electromagnetism. For the other three massless particles: neutrino, gluon and graviton; there is growing evidence that the neutrino has mass so it would fall under the treatment described earlier. Lattice QCD is used to predict the interaction of gluons with quarks. The method for predicting the behavior of gravitons is a Nobel Prize waiting to happen. Starboy

11-07-2002, 06:27 PM	#14
Answerer Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Singapore Posts: 3,956	Oh I see, thanks for your help guys, I never thought the wavefunction of the photon will be that simple.

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