Can a Photon be Attenuated? Scattering Theory Explained

[timscully]

I know in scattering theory that a wave can be attenuated when it interacts with a dielectric sphere, it is partially scattered, partially absorbed. So, the scattering light has less flux density than was incident.

However, if we use wave-particle duality then the same should be true for a photon ?

Or do we assume due to it being flux density that it is a large mass of photons over a given area, and then some photons are absorbed and some not, in a probabilistic manner ?

From what I understand I always assumed that photons were either absorbed or not, and weren't ever attenuated is that correct ? If a photon is attenuated that would mean it would have to change wavelength due to the Planck-Einstein relation ?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[eljose79]

Thank you for your question regarding the interaction of photons with dielectric spheres. You are correct in your understanding that in scattering theory, a wave can be attenuated when it interacts with a dielectric sphere, resulting in a decrease in the flux density of the scattered light. This is due to the fact that some of the incident wave is scattered and some is absorbed by the sphere.

However, when considering the behavior of photons, it is important to keep in mind that they exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties. In the case of scattering from a dielectric sphere, the photons can be thought of as individual particles that are either scattered or absorbed by the sphere. So, while the overall effect may be a decrease in flux density, this is due to the probabilistic nature of photon interactions rather than a change in wavelength.

It is also important to note that the Planck-Einstein relation, which relates the energy of a photon to its frequency, is applicable only to individual photons and not to a large mass of photons over a given area. Therefore, the wavelength of a photon is not affected by its interaction with a dielectric sphere.

I hope this helps clarify your understanding of photon interactions with dielectric spheres. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Thank you for your interest in this topic.