Planck temperature

Planck temperature, denoted by TP, is the unit of temperature in the system of natural units known as Planck units.

It serves as the defining unit of the Planck temperature scale. In this scale the magnitude of the Planck temperature is equal to 1, while that of absolute zero is 0. Unlike Planck length and Planck time, which are defined as the smallest possible measurable units of length and time, Planck temperature is defined as the largest possible measurable unit of temperature. Other temperatures can be converted to Planck temperature units. For example, 0 °C = 273.15 K = 1.9279 × 10−30TP.

The Planck temperature in Fahrenheit is 2.55*1032 degrees Fahrenheit (255 nonillion degrees Fahrenheit).

Definition

The Planck temperature is defined as:

T_\text{P} = \frac{m_\text{P} c^2}{k} = \sqrt{\frac{\hbar c^5}{G k^2}} = 1.416833(85) × 1032 K / - where:

The two digits between the parentheses are used to denote the standard error of the last two digits of the estimated value.[1]

Significance

As for most of Planck units, a Planck temperature of 1 (unity) is a fundamental limit of quantum theory, in combination with gravitation, as presently understood. In other words, the wavelength of an object can be calculated by its temperature. If an object were to reach the temperature of 1.41 x 1032 Kelvin (TP), the radiation it would emit would have a wavelength of 1.616 x 10−26 nanometers (Planck length), at which point quantum gravitational effects become relevant. At temperatures greater than or equal to TP, current physical theory breaks down because we lack a theory of quantum gravity.[2]

See also

Notes and references

  1. ↑ "CODATA Value: Planck temperature". The NIST Reference on Constants, Units, and Uncertainty. NIST. Retrieved 2011-10-12.
  2. ↑ Nova: Absolute Hot

External links

Look up planck temperature in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.