Albert Einstein 23 - Einstein's Revolutionary Paper Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon

For over two centuries,
Scientists had regarded light as waves.
Albert's scientific paper
‘On a Heuristic point of view concerning
The production and transformation of light'
That dealt with Quantum Hypothesis
Laid the foundation of new physics -
The Quantum theory.
This was a very significant paper that
Pointed and established light
As a collection of particles -
‘Light Quanta' and not waves.

There is more to light than
The colours we perceive!
Visible light is called ‘Electromagnetic Radiation.'
Red light has the lowest energy and
The longest wave length of all visible light.
‘Infrared waves' are invisible with lower energy.
TV's remote control would be a good example.
The shorter wavelengths below the Infrared waves
Are the ‘Microwaves' which can heat and cook food
By making the water molecules in it, vibrate rapidly.
At longer wavelengths there are ‘Radio waves,
Which transmit radio signals.

‘All the above light waves theories were established
By scientists of the earlier centuries.
It was the higher end of spectrum
That caused problems for physicists in1800's.
At energies higher than violet light,
There is ‘Ultraviolet light' or UV radiation.
The particles of ultraviolet light hit the surface of a metal
Causing an electric current to flow.
This is the Ultraviolet photoelectric effect.
He also showed that the size of the current
Does not depend on the intensity of light,
Shining on to the metal.'

Einstein's paper on the photoelectric effect
Compared radiation to a gas.
He came up with light quantum hypothesis:
"Radiation behaves like energy quanta of energy E=hf."
Though it took few well-known physicists
To discuss, debate, experiment,
On Einstein's Quantum theory,
The end result was success -over a period of time.
Most of the scientists conceded and bowed down
To Einstein's super research and reasoning.
He was hailed as a genius by the physicists
And applauded for his classic logical conclusion.

A Biographical Poem