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Electromagnetic spectrum
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of all possible frequencies of

electromagnetic radiation.[1] The "electromagnetic spectrum" of an object is
the characteristic distribution of electromagnetic radiation emitted or
absorbed by that particular object.
The electromagnetic spectrum extends from below frequencies used for
modern radio to gamma radiation at the short-wavelength end, covering
wavelengths from thousands of kilometers down to a fraction of the size of
an atom. The long wavelength limit is the size of the universe itself, while
it is thought that the short wavelength limit is in the vicinity of the Planck
length, although in principle the spectrum is infinite and continuous.

Contents
1 Range of the spectrum
2 Rationale
3 Types of radiation
3.1 Radio frequency
3.2 Microwaves
3.2.1 Terahertz
radiation
3.3 Infrared
radiation
3.4 Visible radiation
(light)
3.5 Ultraviolet light
3.6 X-rays
3.7 Gamma rays

Although some radiations are marked as N

for no in the diagram, some waves do in
fact penetrate the atmosphere, although
extremely minimally compared to the
other radiations

4 See also
5 References
6 External links

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Range of the
spectrum
EM waves are typically
described by any of the
following three physical
properties: the frequency f,
wavelength , or photon energy
E. Frequencies range from

2.4x1023 Hz (1 GeV gamma

rays) down to tiny fractions of
Hertz (nanohertz for
astronomical scale waves).
Wavelength is inversely
proportional to the wave
frequency, so gamma rays have
very short wavelengths that are
fractions of the size of atoms,
whereas wavelengths can be as
long as the universe. Photon
energy is directly proportional to
the wave frequency, so gamma
rays have the highest energy
(around a billion electron volts)
and radio waves have very low
energy (around femto electron
volts). These relations are
illustrated by the following
equations:
or
Where:

or

Legend[2][3][4]
= Gamma MIR= Mid
HF= High freq.
rays
infrared
HX= Hard FIR= Far MF= Medium
X-Rays
infrared
freq.
SX= Soft X Radio
LF= Low freq.
-Rays
waves
EHF=
EUV=
VLF= Very low
Extreme Extremely
freq.
ultraviolet high freq.
SHF=
NUV=
VF/ULF= Voice
Super high
Near
freq.
freq.
ultraviolet
Visible UHF= Ultra SLF= Super low
light
high freq.
freq.
NIR= Near VHF= Very ELF= Extremely
Infrared high freq.
low freq.
Freq=Frequency

c = 299,792,458 m/s (speed

of light in vacuum) and
h = 6.626 068 96(33) 1034 Js (Planck's constant).

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Whenever electromagnetic waves exist in a medium with matter, their
wavelength is decreased. Wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation, no
matter what medium they are traveling through, are usually quoted in terms
of the vacuum wavelength, although this is not always explicitly stated.
Generally, EM radiation is classified by wavelength into radio wave,
microwave, infrared, the visible region we perceive as light, ultraviolet, Xrays and gamma rays. The behavior of EM radiation depends on its
wavelength. When EM radiation interacts with single atoms and molecules,
its behavior also depends on the amount of energy per quantum (photon) it
carries.
Spectroscopy can detect a much wider region of the EM spectrum than the
visible range of 400 nm to 700 nm. A common laboratory spectroscope can
detect wavelengths from 2 nm to 2500 nm. Detailed information about the
physical properties of objects, gases, or even stars can be obtained from this
type of device. Spectroscopes are widely used in astrophysics. For example,
many hydrogen atoms emit a radio wave photon which has a wavelength of
21.12 cm. Also, frequencies of 30 Hz and below can be produced by and
are important in the study of certain stellar nebulae[5] and frequencies as
high as 2.9 1027 Hz have been detected from astrophysical sources.[6]

Rationale
Electromagnetic radiation interacts with matter in different ways in
different parts of the spectrum. The types of interaction can be so different
that it seems to be justified to refer to different types of radiation. At the
same time, there is a continuum containing all these "different kinds" of
electromagnetic radiation. Thus we refer to a spectrum, but divide it up
based on the different interactions with matter.
Region of the
spectrum

Main interactions with matter

Radio

Collective oscillation of charge carriers in bulk

material (plasma oscillation). An example would be
the oscillation of the electrons in an antenna.

Microwave
through far
infrared

Plasma oscillation, molecular rotation

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Near infrared

Molecular vibration, plasma oscillation (in metals

only)

Visible

Molecular electron excitation (including pigment

molecules found in the human retina), plasma
oscillations (in metals only)

Ultraviolet

Excitation of molecular and atomic valence electrons,

including ejection of the electrons (photoelectric
effect)

X-rays

Excitation and ejection of core atomic electrons

Gamma rays

Energetic ejection of core electrons in heavy

elements, excitation of atomic nuclei, including
dissociation of nuclei

High energy
gamma rays

Creation of particle-antiparticle pairs. At very high

energies a single photon can create a shower of high
energy particles and antiparticles upon interaction
with matter.

Types of radiation
While the classification scheme is generally accurate, in reality there is
often some overlap between neighboring types of electromagnetic energy.
For example, SLF radio waves at 60 Hz may be received and studied by
astronomers, or may be ducted along wires as electric power.
The distinction between X and gamma rays is based on sources: gamma
rays are the photons generated from nuclear decay or other nuclear and
subnuclear/particle process, whereas X-rays are generated by electronic
transitions involving highly energetic inner atomic electrons. Generally,
nuclear transitions are much more energetic than electronic transitions, so
usually, gamma-rays are more energetic than X-rays, but exceptions exist.
By analogy to electronic transitions, muonic atom transitions are also said
to produce X-rays, even though their energy may exceed
6 megaelectronvolts (0.96 pJ),[7] whereas there are Many (77 Known to be
less than 10 keV (1.6 fJ)) low-energy nuclear transitions (e.g. the 7.6 eV
(1.22 aJ) nuclear transition of Th-229), and despite being one million-fold
less energetic than some muonic X-rays, the emitted photons are still called
gamma rays due to their nuclear origin.[8]

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Also, the region of the spectrum of
the particular electromagnetic
radiation is reference-frame
dependent (on account of the
Doppler shift for light) so EM
radiation which one observer would
say is in one region of the spectrum
could appear to an observer moving
at a substantial fraction of the speed
of light with respect to the first to
be in another part of the spectrum.
For example, consider the cosmic
microwave background. It was
produced, when matter and
radiation decoupled, by the deexcitation of hydrogen atoms to the
ground state. These photons were
from Lyman series transitions,
putting them in the ultraviolet (UV)
part of the electromagnetic
spectrum. Now this radiation has
The electromagnetic spectrum
undergone enough cosmological
red shift to put it into the
microwave region of the spectrum for observers moving slowly (compared
to the speed of light) with respect to the cosmos. However, for particles
moving near the speed of light, this radiation will be blue-shifted in their
rest frame. The highest energy cosmic ray protons are moving such that, in
their rest frame, this radiation is blueshifted to high energy gamma rays
which interact with the proton to produce bound quark-antiquark pairs
(pions). This is the source of the GZK limit.

Radio frequency
Main article: Radio frequency
Radio waves generally are utilized by antennas of appropriate size
(according to the principle of resonance), with wavelengths ranging from
hundreds of meters to about one millimeter. They are used for transmission
of data, via modulation. Television, mobile phones, wireless networking
and amateur radio all use radio waves. The use of the radio spectrum is
regulated by many governments through frequency allocation.

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Radio waves can be made to carry information by varying a combination of
the amplitude, frequency and phase of the wave within a frequency band.
When EM radiation impinges upon a conductor, it couples to the conductor,
travels along it, and induces an electric current on the surface of that
conductor by exciting the electrons of the conducting material. This effect
(the skin effect) is used in antennas. EM radiation may also cause certain
molecules to absorb energy and thus to heat up, causing thermal effects and
sometimes burns. This is exploited in microwave ovens.

Microwaves
Main article: Microwaves
The super high frequency
(SHF) and extremely high
frequency (EHF) of
microwaves come next up the
frequency scale. Microwaves
are waves which are typically
short enough to employ
tubular metal waveguides of
reasonable diameter.
Microwave energy is
Plot of Earth's atmospheric transmittance (or
produced with klystron and
opacity) to various wavelengths of
magnetron tubes, and with
electromagnetic radiation.
solid state diodes such as
Gunn and IMPATT devices.
Microwaves are absorbed by molecules that have a dipole moment in
liquids. In a microwave oven, this effect is used to heat food. Low-intensity
microwave radiation is used in Wi-Fi, although this is at intensity levels
unable to cause thermal heating.
Volumetric heating, as used by microwaves, transfer energy through the
material electro-magnetically, not as a thermal heat flux. The benefit of this
is a more uniform heating and reduced heating time; microwaves can heat
material in less than 1% of the time of conventional heating methods.
When active, the average microwave oven is powerful enough to cause
interference at close range with poorly shielded electromagnetic fields such
as those found in mobile medical devices and cheap consumer electronics.

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Terahertz radiation
Main article: Terahertz radiation
Terahertz radiation is a region of the spectrum between far infrared and
microwaves. Until recently, the range was rarely studied and few sources
existed for microwave energy at the high end of the band (sub-millimetre
waves or so-called terahertz waves), but applications such as imaging and
communications are now appearing. Scientists are also looking to apply
terahertz technology in the armed forces, where high frequency waves
might be directed at enemy troops to incapacitate their electronic
equipment.

Infrared radiation
Main article: Infrared radiation
The infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum covers the range from
roughly 300 GHz (1 mm) to 400 THz (750 nm). It can be divided into three
parts:
Far-infrared, from 300 GHz (1 mm) to 30 THz (10 m). The lower
part of this range may also be called microwaves. This radiation is
typically absorbed by so-called rotational modes in gas-phase
molecules, by molecular motions in liquids, and by phonons in solids.
The water in the Earth's atmosphere absorbs so strongly in this range
that it renders the atmosphere effectively opaque. However, there are
certain wavelength ranges ("windows") within the opaque range which
allow partial transmission, and can be used for astronomy. The
wavelength range from approximately 200 m up to a few mm is often
referred to as "sub-millimetre" in astronomy, reserving far infrared for
wavelengths below 200 m.
Mid-infrared, from 30 to 120 THz (10 to 2.5 m). Hot objects (blackbody radiators) can radiate strongly in this range. It is absorbed by
molecular vibrations, where the different atoms in a molecule vibrate
around their equilibrium positions. This range is sometimes called the
fingerprint region since the mid-infrared absorption spectrum of a
compound is very specific for that compound.
Near-infrared, from 120 to 400 THz (2,500 to 750 nm). Physical
processes that are relevant for this range are similar to those for visible
light.

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Visible radiation (light)

Main article: Visible spectrum
Above infrared in frequency comes visible light. This is the range in which
the sun and stars similar to it emit most of their radiation. It is probably not
a coincidence that the human eye is sensitive to the wavelengths that the
sun emits most strongly. Visible light (and near-infrared light) is typically
absorbed and emitted by electrons in molecules and atoms that move from
one energy level to another. The light we see with our eyes is really a very
small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. A rainbow shows the optical
(visible) part of the electromagnetic spectrum; infrared (if you could see it)
would be located just beyond the red side of the rainbow with ultraviolet
appearing just beyond the violet end.
Electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength between 380 nm and 760 nm
(790400 terahertz) is detected by the human eye and perceived as visible
light. Other wavelengths, especially near infrared (longer than 760 nm) and
ultraviolet (shorter than 380 nm) are also sometimes referred to as light,
especially when the visibility to humans is not relevant.
If radiation having a frequency in the visible region of the EM spectrum
reflects off of an object, say, a bowl of fruit, and then strikes our eyes, this
results in our visual perception of the scene. Our brain's visual system
processes the multitude of reflected frequencies into different shades and
hues, and through this not-entirely-understood psychophysical
phenomenon, most people perceive a bowl of fruit.
At most wavelengths, however, the information carried by electromagnetic
radiation is not directly detected by human senses. Natural sources produce
EM radiation across the spectrum, and our technology can also manipulate
a broad range of wavelengths. Optical fiber transmits light which, although
not suitable for direct viewing, can carry data that can be translated into
sound or an image. The coding used in such data is similar to that used with
radio waves.

Ultraviolet light
Main article: Ultraviolet

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Next in frequency comes ultraviolet (UV).
This is radiation whose wavelength is
shorter than the violet end of the visible
spectrum, and longer than that of an x-ray.
Being very energetic, UV can break
chemical bonds, making molecules
unusually reactive or ionizing them (see
photoelectric effect), in general changing
The amount of penetration of
their mutual behavior. Sunburn, for
UV relative to altitude in
Earth's ozone
example, is caused by the disruptive effects
of UV radiation on skin cells, which is the
main cause of skin cancer, if the radiation irreparably damages the complex
DNA molecules in the cells (UV radiation is a proven mutagen). The Sun
emits a large amount of UV radiation, which could quickly turn Earth into a
barren desert. However, most of it is absorbed by the atmosphere's ozone
layer before reaching the surface.

X-rays
Main article: X-rays
After UV come X-rays, which are also ionizing, but due to their higher
energies they can also interact with matter by means of the Compton effect.
Hard X-rays have shorter wavelengths than soft X-rays. As they can pass
through most substances, X-rays can be used to 'see through' objects, most
notably diagnostic x-ray images in medicine (a process known as
radiography), as well as for high-energy physics and astronomy. Neutron
stars and accretion disks around black holes emit X-rays, which enable us
to study them. X-rays are given off by stars, and strongly by some types of
nebulae.

Gamma rays
Main article: Gamma rays
After hard X-rays come gamma rays, which were discovered by Paul
Villard in 1900. These are the most energetic photons, having no defined
lower limit to their wavelength. They are useful to astronomers in the study
of high energy objects or regions, and find a use with physicists thanks to
their penetrative ability and their production from radioisotopes. Gamma
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rays are also used for the irradiation of food and seed for sterilization, and
in medicine they are used in radiation cancer therapy and some kinds of
diagnostic imaging such as PET scans. The wavelength of gamma rays can
be measured with high accuracy by means of Compton scattering.
Note that there are no precisely defined boundaries between the bands of
the electromagnetic spectrum. Radiation of some types have a mixture of
the properties of those in two regions of the spectrum. For example, red
light resembles infrared radiation in that it can resonate some chemical
bonds.

See also

Atmospheric window
Bandplan
Cosmic rays
Electromagnetic spectroscopy
Ionizing radiation
Ozone layer
Radiant energy
Radiation
Spectroscopy
V band
W band
Electroencephalography

References
1. ^ "Imagine the Universe! Dictionary
(http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/dict_ei.html#em_spectrum) ".
http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/dict_ei.html#em_spectrum.
2. ^ What is Light? (http://cbst.ucdavis.edu/education/courses/winter-2006IST8A/ist8a_2006_01_09light.pdf) UC Davis lecture slides
3. ^ The Electromagnetic Spectrum, The Physics Hypertextbook
(http://hypertextbook.com/physics/electricity/em-spectrum/)
4. ^ Definition of frequency bands on vlf.it
(http://www.vlf.it/frequency/bands.html)
5. ^ J. J. Condon and S. M. Ransom. "Essential Radio Astronomy: Pulsar
Properties (http://www.cv.nrao.edu/course/astr534/Pulsars.html) ". National
Radio Astronomy Observatory.
http://www.cv.nrao.edu/course/astr534/Pulsars.html. Retrieved 2008-01-05.

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6. ^ A. A. Abdo; B. Allen; D. Berley; E. Blaufuss; S. Casanova; C. Chen; D. G.
Coyne; R. S. Delay; B. L. Dingus; R. W. Ellsworth; L. Fleysher; R. Fleysher;
I. Gebauer; M. M. Gonzalez; J. A. Goodman; E. Hays; C. M. Hoffman; B. E.
Kolterman; L. A. Kelley; C. P. Lansdell; J. T. Linnemann; J. E. Mc Enery; A.
I. Mincer; I. V. Moskalenko; P. Nemethy; D. Noyes; J. M. Ryan&#x A;;&#x
A; F. W. Samuelson&#x A;;&#x A; P. M. Saz Parkinson; M. Schneider; A.
Shoup&#x A;;&#x A; G. Sinnis&#x A;;&#x A; A. J. Smith; A. W. Strong; G.
W. Sullivan; V. Vasileiou; G. P. Walker; D. A. Williams; X. W. Xu; G. B.
Yodh (2007-03-20). "Discovery of TeV GammaRay Emission from the
Cygnus Region of the Galaxy". The Astrophysical Journal Letters 658: L33.
doi:10.1086/513696 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1086%2F513696) .
7. ^ CORRECTIONS TO MUONIC X-RAYS AND A POSSIBLE PROTON
HALO (http://www.slac.stanford.edu/cgi-wrap/getdoc/slac-pub-0335.pdf) slac
-pub-0335 (1967)
8. ^ Hyperphysics (see Gamma-Rays (http://hyperphysics.phyastr.gsu.edu/hbase/ems3.html#c5)

External links
Australian Radiofrequency Spectrum Allocations Chart
(http://www.acma.gov.au/webwr/radcomm/frequency_planning/spectru
-wc.pdf) (from Australian Communications and Media Authority)
Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations
(http://www.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/smt-gst.nsf/vwapj/spectallocation08.pdf/$FILE/spectallocation-08.pdf) (from Industry Canada)
U.S. Frequency Allocation Chart
(http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/allochrt.html) Covering the
range 3 kHz to 300 GHz (from Department of Commerce)
UK frequency allocation table
(http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/ra/topics/spectrumstrat/future/strat02/strategy02app_b.pdf) (from Ofcom, which inherited
the Radiocommunications Agency's duties, pdf format)
Flash EM Spectrum Presentation / Tool (http://www.ebuilds.com/EM%20spectrum/) - Very complete and customizable.
How to render the color spectrum / Code
(http://mintaka.sdsu.edu/GF/explain/optics/rendering.html#CIEdiag/) Only approximately right.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_spectrum"
Categories: Electromagnetic spectrum | Waves
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