Then look at this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7qZd2dG8uI
This was produced by coupling two goggles together and slowly lowering the temperature. The picture shows the electrons that the photocathode of the first goggle emits. The second goggle intensifies the image at the phosphor screen of the first goggle. Every imaged electron becomes a spot containing a huge number of photons that combine in a light spot. This is why you can see them. Of course, this is not the normal usage of a goggle. Normally they are applied separately. Still, this is interesting, because image intensifiers enable you to observe separate quanta. In this video, they are electrons that a photocathode emits. The same technology can show separate photons that range from infrared to gamma (X-ray) quanta.
Goggles have very simple electron optics. It is two planes placed close to each other. An electric potential of about 600 volts does the rest.
If you look at the video, you also see some small bright spots. These are impacts of high-energy quanta that arrive from space. These do not belong to the electrons emitted by the first goggle's photocathode. They probably are gamma quanta. Thus high energy photons. So, the video shows you many interesting phenomena that occur in the quantum world! Wait long enough. Near the end of the video, the dose of the emitted electrons gets very low. The frequency of the other impacting quanta stays the same.
Have fun,
Hans
- Badges
- Science topic