- #1
mwirth
- 4
- 0
Sure, everyone knows that the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflexion.
My question is rather aimed at the atomic level.
What is the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and matter? Why can a layer of metal (a mirror) reflect light? Does the interaction occur at the electron sheath? Can electron level changes be responsible? (I think not, how could the angle be preserved?)
Would an electric field achieve the same? (Never heard of it, never seen it.)
I asked a few fellow students this question, but no one could answer it. (No, it's not some kind of homework, we don't have physics any more. It's just my personal interest.)
I couldn't find anything useful on the web either, as all pages seem to focus on the macroscopic level.
I would appreciate any kind of answer, links to web pages, or whatever.
Greetings
Marcel Wirth
mawirth at student dot inf dot ethz dot ch
My question is rather aimed at the atomic level.
What is the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and matter? Why can a layer of metal (a mirror) reflect light? Does the interaction occur at the electron sheath? Can electron level changes be responsible? (I think not, how could the angle be preserved?)
Would an electric field achieve the same? (Never heard of it, never seen it.)
I asked a few fellow students this question, but no one could answer it. (No, it's not some kind of homework, we don't have physics any more. It's just my personal interest.)
I couldn't find anything useful on the web either, as all pages seem to focus on the macroscopic level.
I would appreciate any kind of answer, links to web pages, or whatever.
Greetings
Marcel Wirth
mawirth at student dot inf dot ethz dot ch