- #1
sriecewit
- 14
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What does it mean, "Electron absorbs a photon" ?
Hi Guys,
I'm new to QED, and I was going through wikipedia link.
I didn't understand what does it mean when they say an electron absorbs a photon.
All I was taught in school, is that the process involves a shift in the energy level of an electron upon absorption of a photon of a specific energy (whose energy is equal to the difference in the energy levels).
But I get some crazy thoughts.
1) Does the mass of an electron increase?
2) Does speed of an electron decrease, since it has gained mass?
3) Once an electron absorbs a photon of specific frequency, and later when it emits one, it has to be of the same frequency?
I'm not sure if that sounds stupid, but any help is appreciated.
Thanks,
Srini
Hi Guys,
I'm new to QED, and I was going through wikipedia link.
I didn't understand what does it mean when they say an electron absorbs a photon.
All I was taught in school, is that the process involves a shift in the energy level of an electron upon absorption of a photon of a specific energy (whose energy is equal to the difference in the energy levels).
But I get some crazy thoughts.
1) Does the mass of an electron increase?
2) Does speed of an electron decrease, since it has gained mass?
3) Once an electron absorbs a photon of specific frequency, and later when it emits one, it has to be of the same frequency?
I'm not sure if that sounds stupid, but any help is appreciated.
Thanks,
Srini