Light wave

Calculates the characteristics of a light wave in air or vacuum.


Use this calculator to convert one of the following light wave characteristics into another : frequency, wavelength, photon energy, temperature, wavenumber, spectroscopic wavenumber and color (for visible light).

Light wave formulas

We consider a light wave which propagates in a medium of refractive index n = 1 (ie air or vacuum). Its characteristics are denoted as follows,

f: frequency in hertz (Hz)
`lambda`: wavelength in meter (m)
E: a photon energy in joule (J)
T: Temperature in Kelvin (K)
n: wavenumber in rad/m
ns: spectroscopic wavenumber in 1/m or m-1
c: speed of light in vacuum


Relationship between frequency and wavelength

`f = c/lambda`


Photon energy

`E = (h*c)/lambda`

h is the Planck constant, h = 6.62607015.10-34 J.s


Temperature

Temperature is calculated by using Wien law formula which establishes a relationship between the temperature of a body emitting radiation and the wavelength of peak emission `lambda_max`.

`T = (2.8977719 * 10^(-3))/ lambda_max`

with T in Kelvin and `lambda_max` in meter.


Wavenumber

The wavenumber also called angular wavenumber is calculated as follows,

`n=(2*pi)/lambda`


Spectroscopic wavenumber

`ns=1/lambda`

See also

Wave Calculators
Physics Calculators
Unit Converters