Difference between revisions of "Redshift"
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| − | The '''redshift''' of a given object is a measure of the amount that the wavelength of its emitted or reflected electromagnetic radiation has increased. This increase in wavelength is due to the relative motion of a source with respect to an observer; a light emitting source moving away from an observer will have its spectrum shifted toward longer (in optical light, redder) wavelengths. In practice this is analogous to the Doppler shifting of sound waves emitted from a moving source. Light emitted from a source moving towards an observer will experience a blueshift. | + | The '''redshift''' of a given object is a measure of the amount that the [[wavelength]] of its emitted or reflected electromagnetic radiation has increased.<ref name=britannica>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/science/redshift|title=Redshift|accessdate=2019-04-02}}</ref> This increase in wavelength is prevailingly interpreted as due to the relative motion of a source with respect to an [[Scientific observation|observer]]; a [[light]] emitting source moving away from an observer will have its spectrum shifted toward longer (in [[visible light|optical light]], redder) wavelengths. In practice this is analogous to the [[Doppler effect|Doppler shifting]] of sound waves emitted from a moving source. Light emitted from a source moving towards an observer will experience a blueshift. In the case of redshift, however, most of the redshift is believed to be due not to the object moving through space, but to the expansion of space itself. |
| + | |||
| + | ==Mathematics== | ||
| + | The redshift, ''Z'', of an object as measured by an observer is defined as,<ref name=swin>{{cite web|url=http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/cosmos/c/cosmological+redshift|title=Cosmological Redshift|accessdate=2019-04-02}}</ref> | ||
| + | :<math> | ||
| + | 1 + Z \equiv \frac{\lambda_\mathrm{observed}}{\lambda_\mathrm{emitted}} | ||
| + | </math> | ||
| + | where the <math>\lambda_\mathrm{emitted}</math> is the wavelength of light emitted by the object and <math>\lambda_\mathrm{observed}</math> is the wavelength measured by the observed. The recessional velocity, ''v'', of an object can be determined from its redshift to be,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Astro/redshf.html|title=Red shift|accessdate=2019-04-02}}</ref> | ||
| + | :<math> | ||
| + | \frac{v}{c} = \frac{(z+1)^2 - 1}{(z+1)^2 + 1} | ||
| + | </math> | ||
| + | where ''c'' is the [[speed of light]]. At small recessional velocities/redshifts, the formula can be simplified to,<ref name=swin/> | ||
| + | :<math> | ||
| + | z \approx \frac{v}{c} | ||
| + | </math> | ||
== Support for the Big Bang theory == | == Support for the Big Bang theory == | ||
| − | The Hubble redshift in | + | The Hubble redshift in absorption and emission lines in the spectra of distant cosmic objects, discovered by [[Edwin Hubble]] in 1929, is claimed as a source of evidence for the [[Big Bang theory]].<ref>{{cite web |title=A relation between distance and radial velocity among extra-galactic nebulae |author=Edwin Hubble |date=January 17, 1929 |publisher=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |pages=15: 168–173|url=http://www.pnas.org/content/15/3/168.short |accessdate=June 9, 2013}}</ref> The redshift, the expanded wavelength of light, suggests that these objects are moving away from Earth due to the [[Expanding universe|expansion of the universe]]. It also suggests that the universe is undergoing accelerating expansion for an unknown reason. |
| − | |||
| − | == | + | Actually the reason is known and confirmed by Supernova Cosmology Project team in 1998 with accuracy to one standard deviation (the second term of [[Taylor series]] of Hubble "constant" as function of time is causing the illusion of accelerating expansion of space with |
| + | :<math>\frac{\mathrm{d}H}{\mathrm{d}t}=-\frac{H_o^2}{2}</math>, | ||
| + | where <math>{\mathrm{d}H} / {\mathrm{d}t}</math> is apparent acceleration of expansion of space, | ||
| + | :<math>H_o=\frac{c}{R_E}</math>, | ||
| + | is Hubble constant, ''c'' is [[speed of light]] in [[vacuum]], and ''R''<sub>E</sub> is "Einstein radius", or radius of [[curvature of space]], about 13 billion light years). | ||
| − | + | ==Alternative Interpretations of the Redshift== | |
| − | :<math> | + | The redshift phenomenon pertains to observation of spectra of [[light]] emitted from luminous bodies such as [[nebulae]] (stellar systems). The true nature of light is however still uncertain. With current body of knowledge, the light can be portrayed as out-spreading electromagnetic wave or as travelling in bullet-like parcels of energy called quanta. Waves have various wavelengths; quanta carry different amounts of energy. Since the same phenomenon can be described by both concepts, it is regarded as evidence that there is some underlying connection between them. This connection is expressed in the very fundamental relation between the energy-content of a quantum and the equivalent wavelength: |
| − | + | :''energy x wavelength = constant'' | |
| + | :<math>E{\lambda} = \mathrm{constant}</math> | ||
| + | Because of this relation, two possible effects can be identified: | ||
| + | *a.) Increase of wavelength <math style="vertical-align:-10%;">{\lambda}</math> implies a decrease in Energy ''E''; If the primary change is in wavelength, then the red-shifts are probably velocity-shifts, what is nowadays prevailing interpretation. | ||
| + | *b.) Reduction of Energy ''E'' implies an increase of wavelength <math style="vertical-align:-10%;">{\lambda}</math>; The primary change might be also a loss of energy, which would be observed as redshift. | ||
| + | As in either case it is only increased wavelength what is observed, there is no direct way of determining which of the two above effects is fundamental. | ||
| + | In order to be able to distinguish between two alternatives, a critical empirical test is needed that would establish whether or not a luminous body is receding.<ref name="Observational Approach">{{cite web | ||
| + | |title=The Observational Approach to Cosmology | ||
| + | |author=Edwin Hubble | ||
| + | |publisher=Oxford University Press | ||
| + | |year = 1937 | ||
| + | |url= http://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/level5/Sept04/Hubble/Hubble_contents.html | ||
| + | |access date=27.09.2012}}</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | *[[Expanding universe]] | ||
| + | *[[Cosmological constant]] | ||
| + | *[[Hubble Law]] | ||
| − | + | [[Category:Astronomy]] | |
| + | [[Category:Cosmology]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Physics]] | ||
| − | + | ==References== | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
| + | |||
[[Category:Astronomy]] | [[Category:Astronomy]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Cosmology]] | ||
Latest revision as of 17:55, April 2, 2019
The redshift of a given object is a measure of the amount that the wavelength of its emitted or reflected electromagnetic radiation has increased.[1] This increase in wavelength is prevailingly interpreted as due to the relative motion of a source with respect to an observer; a light emitting source moving away from an observer will have its spectrum shifted toward longer (in optical light, redder) wavelengths. In practice this is analogous to the Doppler shifting of sound waves emitted from a moving source. Light emitted from a source moving towards an observer will experience a blueshift. In the case of redshift, however, most of the redshift is believed to be due not to the object moving through space, but to the expansion of space itself.
Mathematics
The redshift, Z, of an object as measured by an observer is defined as,[2]
- <math>
1 + Z \equiv \frac{\lambda_\mathrm{observed}}{\lambda_\mathrm{emitted}} </math> where the <math>\lambda_\mathrm{emitted}</math> is the wavelength of light emitted by the object and <math>\lambda_\mathrm{observed}</math> is the wavelength measured by the observed. The recessional velocity, v, of an object can be determined from its redshift to be,[3]
- <math>
\frac{v}{c} = \frac{(z+1)^2 - 1}{(z+1)^2 + 1} </math> where c is the speed of light. At small recessional velocities/redshifts, the formula can be simplified to,[2]
- <math>
z \approx \frac{v}{c} </math>
Support for the Big Bang theory
The Hubble redshift in absorption and emission lines in the spectra of distant cosmic objects, discovered by Edwin Hubble in 1929, is claimed as a source of evidence for the Big Bang theory.[4] The redshift, the expanded wavelength of light, suggests that these objects are moving away from Earth due to the expansion of the universe. It also suggests that the universe is undergoing accelerating expansion for an unknown reason.
Actually the reason is known and confirmed by Supernova Cosmology Project team in 1998 with accuracy to one standard deviation (the second term of Taylor series of Hubble "constant" as function of time is causing the illusion of accelerating expansion of space with
- <math>\frac{\mathrm{d}H}{\mathrm{d}t}=-\frac{H_o^2}{2}</math>,
where <math>{\mathrm{d}H} / {\mathrm{d}t}</math> is apparent acceleration of expansion of space,
- <math>H_o=\frac{c}{R_E}</math>,
is Hubble constant, c is speed of light in vacuum, and RE is "Einstein radius", or radius of curvature of space, about 13 billion light years).
Alternative Interpretations of the Redshift
The redshift phenomenon pertains to observation of spectra of light emitted from luminous bodies such as nebulae (stellar systems). The true nature of light is however still uncertain. With current body of knowledge, the light can be portrayed as out-spreading electromagnetic wave or as travelling in bullet-like parcels of energy called quanta. Waves have various wavelengths; quanta carry different amounts of energy. Since the same phenomenon can be described by both concepts, it is regarded as evidence that there is some underlying connection between them. This connection is expressed in the very fundamental relation between the energy-content of a quantum and the equivalent wavelength:
- energy x wavelength = constant
- <math>E{\lambda} = \mathrm{constant}</math>
Because of this relation, two possible effects can be identified:
- a.) Increase of wavelength <math style="vertical-align:-10%;">{\lambda}</math> implies a decrease in Energy E; If the primary change is in wavelength, then the red-shifts are probably velocity-shifts, what is nowadays prevailing interpretation.
- b.) Reduction of Energy E implies an increase of wavelength <math style="vertical-align:-10%;">{\lambda}</math>; The primary change might be also a loss of energy, which would be observed as redshift.
As in either case it is only increased wavelength what is observed, there is no direct way of determining which of the two above effects is fundamental. In order to be able to distinguish between two alternatives, a critical empirical test is needed that would establish whether or not a luminous body is receding.[5]
See also
References
- ↑ Redshift. Retrieved on 2019-04-02.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cosmological Redshift. Retrieved on 2019-04-02.
- ↑ Red shift. Retrieved on 2019-04-02.
- ↑ Edwin Hubble (January 17, 1929). A relation between distance and radial velocity among extra-galactic nebulae 15: 168–173. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Retrieved on June 9, 2013.
- ↑ Edwin Hubble (1937). The Observational Approach to Cosmology. Oxford University Press.