Today
Spectra
Thermal Radiation
Wiens Law
Stefan-Boltzmann Law
Kirchoffs Laws
Emission and Absorption
Spectra & Composition
Spectrum
Intensity
Originally, the range of colors obtained by
passing sunlight through a glass prism
Quantitatively, the Intensity of electromagnetic
radiation as a function of wavelength
Wavelength
Spectrum of an astrophysical object.
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Production of light
Why do stars shine?
Theyre hot!
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Thermal Radiation
Nearly all large, dense objects emit thermal
radiation, including stars, planets, and you.
An objects thermal radiation spectrum depends
on only one property: its temperature.
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Properties of Thermal Radiation
1. Hotter objects emit more light at all frequencies per
unit area.
2. Hotter objects emit photons with a higher average
energy.
Intensity
Spectrum:
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Wavelength
Wiens Law
pT = 2.9 x 106 nm K
p is the wavelength of maximum emission
(in nanometers nano = 10-9)
T is temperature (in degrees Kelvin)
As T increases, wavelength decreases.
So hot object blue; cool objects red.
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2 Examples:
Human body
T = 310 K
2.9 106 nm K
= 10, 000 nm
p =
310 K
We radiate in the infrared
The Sun
T = 5,800 K
2.9 106 nm K
= 500 nm
p =
5800 K
The sun radiates visible light
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Properties of Thermal Radiation
1. Hotter objects emit photons with a higher average
energy.
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Stefan-Boltzmann Law
2
L = 4R T
surface area
of a sphere
L = Luminosity (power radiated)
R = Radius (e.g., of a star)
T = Temperature (of radiating surface, in K)
= Stefan-Boltzmann constant
just a number to make units work right
L R2 T 4
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The absolute brightness of a star depends
on its size (R) and temperature (T).
Properties of Thermal Radiation
1. Hotter objects emit more light at all frequencies per
unit area.
Total luminosity is the area under the curve
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Apparent & Absolute brightness
Apparent brightness
What we perceive & measure at the telescope
Absolute brightness
called Luminosity (L)
Physical power emitted by object
Energy radiated per unit time
L
apparent
b=
brightness
4d2
How bright we perceive a star to be
depends on both its intrinsic luminosity and its distance from us.
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Inverse square law
The intensity of light diminishes with the
inverse square of the distance from the source
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Inverse square law
Just a geometrical effect
Light from a point source (e.g., a light bulb or a
star) gets spread out in all directions.
diminishes by the surface are of the sphere is fills
apparent
brightness
L
b=
4d2
How bright we perceive a star to be
depends on both its intrinsic luminosity and its distance from us.
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Three basic types of spectra
Continuous Spectrum
Intensity
Emission Line Spectrum
Absorption Line Spectrum
Wavelength
Spectra of astrophysical objects are usually combinations of
these three basic types.
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Continuous Spectrum
The spectrum of a common (incandescent) light
bulb spans all visible wavelengths, without
interruption.
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Kirchoffs Laws
Hot, dense objects emit a
continuous spectrum
e.g., a light bulb
light of all colors & wavelengths
follows thermal distribution
obeys Wiens & Steffan-Boltzmann Laws.
Hot, diffuse gas emits light only at specific
wavelengths.
emission line spectrum
e.g., a neon light
A cool gas obscuring a continuum source
will absorb specific wavelengths
absorption line spectrum
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e.g., a star
Emission Line Spectrum
A thin or low-density cloud of gas emits light only at
specific wavelengths that depend on its composition and
temperature, producing a spectrum with bright emission
lines.
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Kirchoffs Laws
Hot, dense objects emit a
continuous spectrum
e.g., a light bulb
light of all colors & wavelengths
follows thermal distribution
obeys Wiens & Steffan-Boltzmann Laws.
Hot, diffuse gas emits light only at specific
wavelengths.
emission line spectrum
e.g., a neon light
A cool gas obscuring a continuum source
will absorb specific wavelengths
absorption line spectrum
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e.g., a star
Absorption Line Spectrum
A cloud of gas between us and a light bulb can absorb light
of specific wavelengths, leaving dark absorption lines in
the spectrum.
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Kirchoffs Laws
Hot, dense objects emit a
continuous spectrum
e.g., a light bulb
light of all colors & wavelengths
follows thermal distribution
obeys Wiens & Steffan-Boltzmann Laws.
Hot, diffuse gas emits light only at specific
wavelengths.
emission line spectrum
e.g., a neon light
A cool gas obscuring a continuum source
will absorb specific wavelengths
absorption line spectrum
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e.g., a star
How does light tell us what
things are made of?
Spectrum of the Sun
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Atomic Terminology
Atomic Number = # of protons in nucleus
Atomic Mass Number = # of protons + neutrons
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Atomic Terminology
Isotope: same # of protons but different # of
neutrons (4He, 3He)
Molecules: consist of two or more atoms (H2O, CO2)
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Chemical Fingerprints
Each type of atom
has a unique set of
energy levels.
Each transition
corresponds to a
unique photon
energy, frequency,
and wavelength.
Energy levels of hydrogen
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Possible Electron orbits
Energy levels of hydrogen
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Transitions between orbits
release energy (photons)
Energy levels of hydrogen
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Chemical Fingerprints
Downward
transitions produce
a unique pattern of
emission lines.
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Chemical Fingerprints
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Atoms can absorb
photons with those
same energies, so
upward transitions
produce absorption
lines.
Chemical Fingerprints
Each type of atom has a unique spectral fingerprint.
05_Compmysterygas
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Chemical Fingerprints
Observing the fingerprints in a spectrum tells us
which kinds of atoms are present.
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Example: Solar Spectrum
All the dark regions are absorption lines due to all the elements
in the suns atmosphere. The strengths of the lines tell us about the
suns composition and other physical properties.
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Solar composition
73% Hydrogen
25% Helium
2% everything else
metals
Other stars similar
H & He most common stuff in the universe
Helium was discovered in the spectrum of the sun
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Interpreting an Actual Spectrum
By carefully studying the features in a
spectrum, we can learn a great deal about
the object that created it.
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What is this object?
Reflected Sunlight:
Continuous spectrum of
visible light is like the
Suns except that some of
the blue light has been
absorbedobject must
look red
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What is this object?
Thermal Radiation:
Infrared spectrum peaks
at a wavelength
corresponding to a
temperature of 225 K
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What is this object?
Carbon Dioxide: these
Absorption lines are the
fingerprint of CO2
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What is this object?
Ultraviolet Emission Lines:
Indicate a hot emitting gas
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What is this object? Mars!
Hot upper atmosphere
Carbon Dioxide in atmosphere
Reflected Sunlight:
Mars is red
Infrared peak
wavelength tells us
T = 225 K
We can learn an enormous amount from spectra:
temperature, density, and composition
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