Question

Which of the following phenomenon can not be explained by quantum theory of light? (A) Emission of radiation from black body (B) Photo electric effect (C) Polarization (D) Crompton effect

Short answer

The phenomenon that cannot be explained by the quantum theory of light is (C) Polarization, as it relies on the wave nature of light rather than its particle nature (photons).

Step-by-step solution

Analyze the Phenomena

Before we go into details of each phenomenon, let's recall that quantum theory of light explains phenomena based on the concept of photons (discrete packets of energy) and does not use the wave nature of light, which would involve concepts like interference, diffraction, and polarization. (A) Emission of radiation from a black body can be described using Planck's radiation law, which states that the energy emitted by a black body is quantized and depends on the frequency of the radiation. This phenomenon can be explained by the quantum theory of light, as it deals with the energy of photons. (B) Photoelectric effect is the emission of electrons from a material when it absorbs energy from incident light. Einstein used the quantum theory of light to explain the photoelectric effect by stating that light is comprised of photons, and these photons carry a discrete amount of energy. This energy is absorbed by the electrons, which then get ejected from the material. (C) Polarization is the phenomenon where light waves oscillate in a specific plane. Polarization is typically explained using the wave nature of light, as it involves the orientation of light's electric field. (D) Compton effect is the scattering of photons by electrons in a material. This phenomenon can be explained using the quantum theory of light as it deals with the interactions between photons and electrons, both of which can be described using particle theories.

Identify the Phenomenon That Cannot Be Explained by Quantum Theory of Light

As we have analyzed each phenomenon, we now see that the only phenomenon that is not explained by the quantum theory of light is (C) Polarization. Polarization is typically explained using the wave nature of light, which is not part of the quantum theory. Thus, the answer to this question is: (C) Polarization