- #1
yeshi
- 4
- 0
Hello,
there is a subject of wave propagation and collapse that has plagued me for some time, and although i must have heard about it, my memories are probably skewed ( i studied EE and had high frequency, physics of materials and nuclear/quantum physics sometime in 1970s :) as subjects). In the online textbooks i was unable to find an answer. My views are somewhat of an EE, that holds fast to antenna and fields, etc. :tongue:
Question:
When the wave propagates - let's say a single photon - it is my understanding that it will discharge when a resonant candidate (absorber) is reached in space(time) and will ionise an atom by changing an electron in some of its orbitals.
If we look at a wave as a propagating phenomenon traveling from the emitter at speed c (media dependant) then it has a wavefront, maybe an expanding sphere in vacuum or some other form.
Does it mean that the wave can collapse only if the wavefront meets a potential recipient (atom) on its expansion, or can the discharge happen WITHIN the already transversed volume of the field? In other words, is the wave collapse always happening when the absorber is reached along the wavefront expansion?
thank you in advance
there is a subject of wave propagation and collapse that has plagued me for some time, and although i must have heard about it, my memories are probably skewed ( i studied EE and had high frequency, physics of materials and nuclear/quantum physics sometime in 1970s :) as subjects). In the online textbooks i was unable to find an answer. My views are somewhat of an EE, that holds fast to antenna and fields, etc. :tongue:
Question:
When the wave propagates - let's say a single photon - it is my understanding that it will discharge when a resonant candidate (absorber) is reached in space(time) and will ionise an atom by changing an electron in some of its orbitals.
If we look at a wave as a propagating phenomenon traveling from the emitter at speed c (media dependant) then it has a wavefront, maybe an expanding sphere in vacuum or some other form.
Does it mean that the wave can collapse only if the wavefront meets a potential recipient (atom) on its expansion, or can the discharge happen WITHIN the already transversed volume of the field? In other words, is the wave collapse always happening when the absorber is reached along the wavefront expansion?
thank you in advance