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 formul
a and the Kirchhoff's law. Temperature shifts of the spectral peak of
the emission band with increasing temperature are calculated by a quan
tum mechanical model, where the radiation is induced by an electron tr
ansition between two potentials and the spectral shape and shifts are
determined by the Boltzmann factor in the potentials.