On the Radiative Equilibrium Condition and the Thermal Radiation

Abstract

Experimental examination of the reflection of light at the surface of noble metals at high temperature shows non existence of the radiative equilibrium condition and the induced emission. Interpretation of the thermal radiation is given without using the Planck's radiation formula and the Kirchhoff's law. Temperature shifts of the spectral peak of the emission band with increasing temperature are calculated by a quantum mechanical model, where the radiation is induced by an electron transition between two potentials and the spectral shape and shifts are determined by the Boltzmann factor in the potentials.