Light wave
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