Skip to main content
Course and syllabus guidance

University Advanced Quantum Mechanics · topic UAQM-12.03

The Einstein relations and Planck's law as outputs

Connect the ideas, make your working visible, and test the result. Use the hints when you need a starting point; open the full solution after your attempt.

Further practice

Work through a fresh case before tackling the extension.

Further practice · 01

The Einstein relations and Planck's law as outputs: predict a finite change

The Einstein relations, A/B₂₁ = ħω³/(π²c³) and g₁B₁₂ = g₂B₂₁, fix the absorption and stimulated-emission coefficients B from the spontaneous rate A; with the quantised field they follow from the photon factors n̄ and n̄ + 1, and Planck's law follows from them. Use the supplied topic model Y_out = nf/(nf+s), where Y_out is STIMULATED SHARE OF EMISSION (dimensionless). The output symbol Y_out is distinct from all input symbols. ^ denotes a power; π = 3.141592653589793. nf is Field photons per mode n̄, dimensionless. Keep hw (Level spacing ħω/kT) = 0.7; s (Vacuum term (1 quantised, 0 classical)) = 1 fixed. For this exercise use only 0.469687 ≤ nf ≤ 3.58031 on this continuous branch. A grid of test settings is an input restriction for this exercise, not by itself a claim of physical quantisation. This calculation retains the topic model's stated assumptions; it does not extend them to a different physical setup. Calculate Y_out at nf = 1.15402 and 1.58951. Find the signed output change ΔY_out and the average sensitivity ΔY_out/Δnf across this interval. State whether the response increases or decreases; distinguish this interval average from a derivative at one point.

Explore the question data

STIMULATED SHARE OF EMISSION against nf

Predictions from the supplied The Einstein relations and Planck's law as outputs model, with all other inputs fixed as stated in the question. 5 calibration points support a trend comparison; they are not measured data or a straight-line law.

Vertical axis (y): STIMULATED SHARE OF EMISSION

STIMULATED SHARE OF EMISSION against nfPredictions from the supplied The Einstein relations and Planck's law as outputs model, with all other inputs fixed as stated in the question. 5 calibration points support a trend comparison; they are not measured data or a straight-line law. Horizontal axis: nf: Field photons per mode n̄. Vertical axis: STIMULATED SHARE OF EMISSION. Exact values are available in the data table below.0.30110.42590.55060.67540.80020.34531.1852.0252.8653.705xy

Horizontal axis (x): nf: Field photons per mode n̄

Axes show the supplied calibration interval; the origin may lie outside the plot.

Reading 1nf: Field photons per mode n̄: 0.4697STIMULATED SHARE OF EMISSION: 0.3196
Read the exact data as a table
STIMULATED SHARE OF EMISSION against nf — supplied values
nf: Field photons per mode n̄STIMULATED SHARE OF EMISSION
0.46968750.31958324473740163
1.247343750.5550302440381006
2.0250.6694214876033058
2.802656250.7370259275999507
3.58031250.7816742853244184

These are the supplied values, not a worked answer. No fitted trend is drawn.

Show a hint

Substitute each value of nf separately while keeping every other input fixed, then subtract in the same order.

Reveal the worked solution
  1. At nf = 1.15402, substitute into Y_out = nf/(nf+s): Y₀ = 0.535753.
  2. At nf = 1.58951, the same fixed-parameter model gives Y₁ = 0.613827.
  3. Signed change: ΔY_out = Y₁ − Y₀ = 0.0780741; the input change is Δnf = 0.435488.
  4. Average sensitivity is ΔY_out/Δnf = 0.17928 1 per unit input. Its positive sign means that this response increases over the specified interval.
  5. This is a secant slope between two settings. It equals a point derivative only for a locally linear relation or in a justified small-interval limit.

Answer Y₀ = 0.535753, Y₁ = 0.613827; ΔY_out = 0.0780741; average sensitivity = 0.17928 1 per unit input.

Compare the assumptions, method and units with your attempt. Explain any correction before trying another question.

Extra challenging questions

Work through the linked stages and explain what each result means.

Extra challenging · 01

The Einstein relations and Planck's law as outputs: infer an input with uncertainty

The Einstein relations, A/B₂₁ = ħω³/(π²c³) and g₁B₁₂ = g₂B₂₁, fix the absorption and stimulated-emission coefficients B from the spontaneous rate A; with the quantised field they follow from the photon factors n̄ and n̄ + 1, and Planck's law follows from them. Use the supplied topic model Y_out = nf/(nf+s), where Y_out is STIMULATED SHARE OF EMISSION (dimensionless). The output symbol Y_out is distinct from all input symbols. ^ denotes a power; π = 3.141592653589793. nf is Field photons per mode n̄, dimensionless. Keep hw (Level spacing ħω/kT) = 0.7; s (Vacuum term (1 quantised, 0 classical)) = 1 fixed. For this exercise use only 0.469687 ≤ nf ≤ 3.58031 on this continuous branch. A grid of test settings is an input restriction for this exercise, not by itself a claim of physical quantisation. This calculation retains the topic model's stated assumptions; it does not extend them to a different physical setup. A reading gives Y_out = 0.70301459, with a bounded reading uncertainty ±0.011799. Treat the model and all fixed inputs as exact for this exercise; the bound is not a standard deviation. First estimate the unknown nf by straight-line interpolation between the two endpoint predictions. Then solve the actual model on the stated branch to an absolute input tolerance of 0.000311062, using a numerical bracket if required. Find the full input interval consistent with the bounded reading uncertainty and compare it with a symmetric input-error assumption. Do not assume that the supplied calibration points prove monotonicity outside this branch.

Explore the question data

STIMULATED SHARE OF EMISSION against nf

Predictions from the supplied The Einstein relations and Planck's law as outputs model, with all other inputs fixed as stated in the question. 5 calibration points support a trend comparison; they are not measured data or a straight-line law.

Vertical axis (y): STIMULATED SHARE OF EMISSION

STIMULATED SHARE OF EMISSION against nfPredictions from the supplied The Einstein relations and Planck's law as outputs model, with all other inputs fixed as stated in the question. 5 calibration points support a trend comparison; they are not measured data or a straight-line law. Horizontal axis: nf: Field photons per mode n̄. Vertical axis: STIMULATED SHARE OF EMISSION. Exact values are available in the data table below.0.30110.42590.55060.67540.80020.34531.1852.0252.8653.705xy

Horizontal axis (x): nf: Field photons per mode n̄

Axes show the supplied calibration interval; the origin may lie outside the plot.

Reading 1nf: Field photons per mode n̄: 0.4697STIMULATED SHARE OF EMISSION: 0.3196
Read the exact data as a table
STIMULATED SHARE OF EMISSION against nf — supplied values
nf: Field photons per mode n̄STIMULATED SHARE OF EMISSION
0.46968750.31958324473740163
1.247343750.5550302440381006
2.0250.6694214876033058
2.802656250.7370259275999507
3.58031250.7816742853244184

These are the supplied values, not a worked answer. No fitted trend is drawn.

Show a hint

The model's endpoint predictions bracket the reading. Solve Y_out(nf) = Y_measured and then solve again at Y_measured − u and Y_measured + u; a nonlinear inverse can give unequal input deviations.

Reveal the worked solution
  1. Endpoint predictions are Y_out(0.469687) = 0.319583 and Y_out(3.58031) = 0.781674. The target lies between them. On the selected branch the response is strictly increasing.
  2. Endpoint interpolation gives nf_line = 0.469687 + (0.703015 − 0.319583)(3.58031 − 0.469687)/(0.781674 − 0.319583) = 3.0508. This estimates the inverse of the endpoint chord, rather than assuming that chord is the physical model.
  3. Use the actual equation, not the chord, and bracket its root. Evaluating the midpoint and retaining the sign-changing half-interval gives nf = 2.36717; substituting back gives Y_out = 0.70301459.
  4. The interpolation error in the input is |nf_line − nf| = 0.683636. This is larger than the requested numerical tolerance.
  5. Invert both limits Y_out = 0.69121559 and 0.71481359. Sort the roots even if the response decreases: 2.23851 ≤ nf ≤ 2.50648.
  6. The lower and upper input deviations are 0.128663 and 0.13931. They differ because the inverse response is nonlinear; a symmetric error bar would only be a local approximation. This interval includes reading uncertainty only, not model error or uncertainty in fixed inputs.

Answer nf ≈ 2.36717; compatible interval [2.23851, 2.50648]. Endpoint interpolation gives 3.0508.

Compare the assumptions, method and units with your attempt. Explain any correction before trying another question.