blackbodies
Ideal radiation emitters
Blackbodies are idealized objects in physics that absorb all electromagnetic radiation that strikes them, reflecting nothing.
Despite the name, a perfect blackbody at high temperature glows brilliantly—it's called black because it absorbs rather than reflects.
The concept is fundamental to thermodynamics and quantum mechanics: The sun approximates a blackbody radiator.
Stars, furnaces, and even the cosmic microwave background are analyzed as blackbodies.
Energy propagation through space
- PlanckQuantum theory's founder
- spectrumContinuous range of values
- emitterThing that gives off
- absorberThing that takes in
thermal · cavity · quantum · photons · infrared · ultraviolet · emission · wavelength
Devices that detect input
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
- furnaceEnclosed heat-producing structure
- emissivityThermal radiation ratio
- infrared detectorsInstruments sensing heat radiation
thermal imaging · radiance · temperature measurement · coating · optical · absorbers · heat transfer · industrial
Luminous celestial bodies
- stellarOf or like celestial bodies
- sunEarth's primary star
- redshiftWavelength stretch from recession
- luminosityIntrinsic brightness of source
temperature · spectral · universe · big bang · thermal radiation · Kelvin · supergiant · photosphere
radiation
Energy propagation through space
absorber · thermal · cavity · quantum · photons · infrared · ultraviolet · emission · wavelength · temperature
sensors
Devices that detect input
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
- furnaceEnclosed heat-producing structure
- emissivityThermal radiation ratio
infrared detectors · thermal imaging · radiance · temperature measurement · coating · optical · absorbers · heat transfer · industrial · spectroscopy
stars
Luminous celestial bodies
luminosity · temperature · spectral · universe · big bang · thermal radiation · Kelvin · supergiant · photosphere · celestial