Universal percent of existing electromagnetic radiation?

[fretbuzz]

Generally, what wavelengths does the highest concentration of electromagnetic radiation appear as? Meaning what is the percent makeup of all (or estimated) electromagnetic energy being emitted in our entire universe? I would assume that the early universe had higher levels of cosmic/x-ray wavelength radiation when everything was in an intensely excited state, but as the universe "cools down" I suspect majority percentages to fall to the lower wavelengths.

So, in this era of the universe, what is the percent of all different general wavelength classifications being emitted? What wavelengths have the highest concentrations right now in our universe?

Radio waves: %
Microwaves: %
IR: %
Visible light: %
UV: %
X-Ray: %
Cosmic: %
__________
+ 100%


It was just a random question I had. Also, say I had a square mile of land here on Earth. If I started a timer, how long would it take for a single cosmic ray photon to pass through my square mile plan? Just trying to get an idea of how much cosmic radiation bombards our planet.

[Shadout Mapes]

I'm not sure how much of an effect this has on the percentages, but it's worth mentioning that the question is very dependent on frame of reference. Due to the doppler effect, different frames of reference perceive different wavelengths/energies (of course, energy is generally not conserved in frame transformations). If it means anything, I hear a lot about how radio astronomy has been very successful in detecting many things in the universe, so I would guess radio radiation is common. Also, cosmic rays are NOT electromagnetic radiation, they are usually protons, and never photons.

[fretbuzz]

Sorry, I guess I meant gamma instead of cosmic. I always considered those 2 to be the same thing. Apparently I'm hugely mistaken.

The shifts in the electromagnetic spectrum from one's view is a good point. I hadn't thought of that. Ahh, the universe works is strange ways. I guess the question of percents is irrelevant now, except for a higher being who doesn't detect all these relative shifts and can see in undistorted clarity.

[danreil]

except for a higher being who doesn't detect all these relative shifts and can see in undistorted clarity.

That statement doesn't make any sense. Even if there were some "higher being who sees in undistorted clarity" (which is highly dubious), this being better see Doppler shifts, or else its not seeing reality, as the shift in wavelength that occurs from the Doppler shift is not some artificial construct that limits our understanding of the "true" Universe, but is what wavelength the light(or wave in general) is really at when perceived by an observer. The Doppler shift is a universal phenomenon of waves, and only expresses that emitted wavelength is dependent on relative velocity.

[fretbuzz]

That statement doesn't make any sense. Even if there were some "higher being who sees in undistorted clarity" (which is highly dubious), this being better see Doppler shifts, or else its not seeing reality, as the shift in wavelength that occurs from the Doppler shift is not some artificial construct that limits our understanding of the "true" Universe, but is what wavelength the light(or wave in general) is really at when perceived by an observer. The Doppler shift is a universal phenomenon of waves, and only expresses that emitted wavelength is dependent on relative velocity.

wow, thank you for refreshing my memory. the statement was hypothetical.