6. Electromagnetic waves

Abstract

‘Electromagnetic waves’ considers the history of the scientific investigation into the electromagnetic spectrum, including Einstein’s insight into the quantized nature of electromagnetic radiation. It explains that the only difference between light, radio waves, and all the other forms of electromagnetic radiation is the length of the fictitious-but-convenient waves or, equivalently, the energy of the photons involved. These different energies lead to different mechanisms for the formation and absorption of the different kinds of radiation, and it is this which gives rise to their different behaviours. Radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, light, ultraviolet light, X-rays, and gamma rays are all discussed.